{"nrhp_refnum":"78000734","name":"Summit Soda Springs","other_names":["Old Soda Springs"],"category":"district","location":{"address":"SE of Soda Springs","address_restricted":false,"city":"Soda Springs","county":"Placer County","state":"CA","lat":39.246310868500075,"lon":-120.3261140411613,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1978-12-15","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Architecture","Social History"],"significance_levels":["state"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A rustic mountain summer retreat and former resort district near Soda Springs in Placer County, California, built between 1872 and 1898 around natural soda springs and a meadow. It began as Mark Hopkins' summer retreat.","why_significant":"The nomination argues it has architectural and historic significance. The stone chalet by Henry Schulze reflects the late 19th century rustic tradition and Richardsonian ideas, and the complex illustrates a prominent California family's mountain retreat and resort. It also shows a contrast in building types from the 1872 hotel to the 1898 chalet.","narrative":"Summit Soda Springs is a mountain retreat in Placer County, California, set in a natural meadow among tall pines, firs and cedars and built around numerous soda springs. Mark Hopkins, Treasurer of the Central Pacific Railroad and one of the \"Big Four,\" acquired the site in 1871 and built a log summer house there in 1873. A three-story hotel, leased to William Jones in 1872, hosted up to 85 guests until it burned in 1898. Timothy Hopkins later had a hand-cut granite chalet built, designed by San Francisco architect Henry Schulze. Surviving elements include the log house, chalet, log barn, soda well houses, a concrete fountain, guest cottages, miles of stone walls and cobblestone paths. The property was listed for its architecture, which reflects the late 19th century rustic tradition and its use of natural materials, and for its role as a summer retreat and resort frequented by prominent Californians. The chalet retains much of its original furnishing and interior woodwork.","period_of_significance":"1872 to 1898","architect_builder":"Stone chalet, Henry A. Schulze (San Francisco architect)","architectural_style":"Late 19th century rustic tradition (Richardsonian principles in the stone chalet)","criteria":[],"status_note":"Remaining buildings include two guest cottages, the Hopkins Cottage, the stone chalet, log barn, soda well houses, tool shop and fountain; the 1872 hotel burned in 1898. The form says the complex retains its original integrity and lists present use as private residence.","vacant_flag":false,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:55:31.640211-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_CA/78000734.pdf"},"photo":null,"district":null,"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/123860415","wikipedia":null,"wikidata":null},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/california/placer-county/summit-soda-springs-78000734/"}