Places, Earth
The Dutton Hotel

State Parks, Historic Sites, and Museums need your help.

Throughout the country, important state parks, historic sites, homes, buildings, and museums are in trouble. Because of the recent rise in gasoline prices and the general world-wide financial collapse, state parks, historic sites, and museums are in danger of closing. Some are being forced to sell off artifacts and property. Most operate on a thin margin and will not weather these hard times without your help.

Places Earth recently encountered closed state parks in Arizona and California is threatening to close all state parks. The story is similar throughout the country.

Places Earth urges everyone to support these vital and important public resources any way you can. Please find a worthy local or distant historic site or museum that is in financial danger and donate your treasure, time, and talent. Write to your governor and other elected officials telling them to find a way to keep these parks open. It will be your loss.

Public Service Announcement

Back	Monterey County Main Page

The Dutton Hotel

The Dutton Hotel was built by Antonio Ramirez in 1849 along El Camino Real between Mission San Antonio de Padua and Mission Nuestra Sonora de la Soledad. It became the nucleus of the town of Jolon. We stumbled upon this ruin while on our way to Mission San Antonio de Padua. What is left of the historic Dutton Hotel is now covered above to protect it from rain which would otherwise melt the adobe walls.

Antonio Ramirez built a home in 1849 and remodeled into an inn as early as 1850. In 1871, Ramirez sold the building and it changed hands three more times before Loutenant George Dutton and Captain Thomas Tidall bought the property in 1876. Dutton bought out Tidall in 1878, then he further remodeled the building by adding a second story and wood frame structures at either end. The inn was home to Jolon's first Post Office and Dutton added a store and saloon. The two-story adobe Dutton Hotel dominated the village of Jolon (pronounced holon). The Southern Pacific Railroad ended at Soledad and passengers transferred to the Coast Line Stage Company. There were several stage stops, inns, and stores along the 36 miles before reaching the town of Jolon near the present day entrance to Fort Hunter Liggett Military Installation which now surrounds Mission San Antonio de Padua. The route had been a major artery to the gold fields of California. By 1876, Jolon had become a thriving town but in 1886, the railroad pushed through to King City and El Camino Real fell into disuse. The nearby Los Burros Mines played out soon after and business at the Dutton Hotel fell off.

In 1929, the town of Jolon burned to the ground leaving only the Dutton Hotel, the Tidball Store, the school, and Saint Luke's Church. About this same time, William Randolph Hearst Jr. purchased the surrounding land and removed the Dutton Hotel's outbuildings and many other town structures. Jolon went into decline, and became a virtual ghost town by 1940. In 1940, the War Department purchased several ranches in the area in anticipation of training troops for World War Two. The adobe was used as a bivouac area. Vandalism and exposure to the elemants reduced this once proud adobe to a ruin.

The Dutton Hotel, Stagecoach Station was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971 or 1976*, Building #71000166). Its periods of significance were: 1850-1874, 1875-1899, 1900-1924, 1925-1949.

The Dutton Hotel is located along the Jolon Road between King City and Jolon. The hotel ruins are now located on lands that are part of Fort Hunter Liggett Military Installation and such is owned by the Federal Government.

*The National Register of Historic Places website says 1971, the plaque at the site says 1976.

Northeast.

East.

North side.

Southeast.

Northeast corner.

Northeast corner.

Door.

Doors.

Monterey County Main Page

This page last updated: Sunday, 16-Aug-2009 08:29:13 CDT

Note: This is not the official site for any of the places shown in Places Earth. Places Earth is not responsible for accuracy of the information. Hours of operations, prices, exhibits, and sometimes locations are subject to change without notice.

Support this Web Site This web site started because of my love for Architecture and interest in History. This web site is for your benefit and I make no profit on it. I don't allow paid advertising. This site is supported primarily from my regular paycheck as a Set Designer and there haven' been many this year. My wife sells Gold Canyon products at www.valleygirlcandles.com and I sell art at www.klimages.com. A non-tax deductable donation to help cover the cost of operating this web site may be made to Kesign Design Consulting through PayPal ...
Valley Girl Candles	Or, donations can be mailed to the address on the contact page.	Valley Girl Candles

This site maintained by Kenneth A. Larson.
Copyright © 2004 - 2010, Kenneth A. Larson. All Rights Reserved.
Website content including photographic and graphic images may not be redistributed for use on another website.

This site is a non-commercial alternative to my commercial design portfolio site. This site's only purpose is for your enjoyment. There is no advertising and I make no profit. If you are in the need of a designer, please check my commercial site www.kesigndesign.com.

Places, Earth The Dutton Hotel

State Parks, Historic Sites, and Museums need your help.

The Dutton Hotel

This page last updated: Sunday, 16-Aug-2009 08:29:13 CDT

Places, Earth
The Dutton Hotel