Wilbur Hot Springs historic lodge hit by fire Historic Wilbur retreat closed - 'still standing'

The fire in the lodge at Wilbur Hot Springs apparently started in the kitchen. The fire in the lodge at Wilbur Hot Springs apparently started in the kitchen. Photo: Rainbow And Zan Rubin Photo: Rainbow And Zan Rubin Image 1 of / 9 Caption Close Wilbur Hot Springs historic lodge hit by fire 1 / 9 Back to Gallery

A fire raged through the historic lodge at Wilbur Hot Springs on Saturday, destroying much of the funky retreat in rugged Colusa County that's provided solace for legions of harried and achy Bay Area residents.

The fire, reported around 10 a.m., ravaged the two-story lodge, a rustic wooden structure built in 1863 and remodeled in the 1970s. The fire apparently started in the kitchen and quickly engulfed the second floor.

"It's still standing, but there's definitely some work to be done," said Kent Boes, a firefighter with the Williams Fire Protection Authority, a volunteer crew that helped douse the flames.

The facility's owners could not be reached for comment, but the website says the retreat is closed, staff is not taking reservations and the phones are down.

Firefighters evacuated about 60 people from the retreat. No one was injured, Boes said.

Fans of Wilbur's quiet isolation and age-old healing baths were devastated by the news.

"It had an intangible peacefulness about it," said Ray Yokoi, a yoga instructor from Oakland who frequented Wilbur. "People were very respectful, and the staff was attentive. It had a Zen-like feel, but without a bunch of Buddha statues."

For centuries, American Indians attributed healing powers to the bubbling, scalding springs along Sulphur Creek.

In the mid-1800s, settlers built a hotel and resort at Wilbur, capitalizing on the hot-springs rage that captivated wealthy pleasure-seekers in San Francisco and beyond.

But local residents, as well, loved Wilbur.

Billijean Durst, secretary of the Colusa County Historical Society, remembers picnics and overnights there as a kid.

"My parents went there, too. And their parents before them," she said. "People said if you took the hot baths, it'd be good for arthritis. ... Plus it was nice to get away from the valley sometimes."

Wilbur Hot Springs is about 2 1/2 hours north of San Francisco, 22 miles west of Williams, in the oak-filled foothills of the Coast Range. The retreat includes a bevy of clothing-optional hot baths, cool springs and saunas, flanked by decks offering mountain views.

Richard Miller, a San Francisco psychologist, bought Wilbur in the 1970s and transformed it into a therapeutic retreat for those interested in Gestalt and other consciousness- raising techniques.

The lodge included a wraparound porch, about 20 guest rooms, several shared bathrooms and a communal kitchen. The dining room was filled with simple wooden furniture and old black-and-white photos, creating a cozy feel, Yokoi said.

"You'd end up sharing food and conversations with people," he said. "It was a comfortable setting, but also very natural."

The property also includes a 1,560-acre nature preserve, as well as numerous outbuildings, all of which were spared in the fire, Boes said.

Wilbur had a fire scare in August 2012 when the Walker Fire roared through the Coast Range, narrowly missing the retreat, thanks to firefighters' efforts.

Several of the Williams volunteer firefighting crew spent Saturday night at Wilbur to make sure the flames did not reignite.

"We saw a few glows and got them out," Boes said. "The staff were so appreciative. They invited us back to use the hot springs some day. I plan on it."