FIRE & THE BIG TREES

Historic Tales of Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park: 

Big Trees Grove

Landmark History Series published by the History Press, part of Arcadia Publishing

Historic Tales of Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park: Big Trees Grove, traces the evolution of the first redwood resort. When Joseph Warren Welch purchased a grove of coast redwoods in the Santa Cruz Mountains in 1867, he became the first to preserve a redwood forest for public recreation. Visiting the redwoods in nineteenth-century California meant coming to Big Trees Grove. The resort managed by the Welch family for 60 years is where the public got to know the redwoods and where they fell in love with them. 

Fires this summer damaged nearly 40% of the magnificent redwood forests of this region. Fire touched the area’s two state parks which contain old growth redwoods: Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park and Big Basin Redwoods State Park. Though fire, sadly devastated Big Basin, California’s first state park, it left untouched the historic heart of Henry Cowell, the site of Big Trees Grove resort.

The coast redwoods are survivors. They are imbued with tannic acid which provides them with a greater ability to withstand fire, as well as insects and disease. The redwoods also have the astounding ability to sprout from their roots. These attributes enabled the redwoods to endure and survive fires for thousands of years. 

Fire last swept through Big Trees Grove in 1867 - Author's Personal Collection

From the beginning, fire played a role in shaping the redwood forest and the history of both parks. For 15,000 years Native people often set fires to foster the region’s abundant food resources. A fire last swept through Big Trees Grove in 1867 and may be the reason why Joseph Warren Welch, rather than a logger, was able to purchase the grove. The remnants of that last fire are seen today in the big tree’s singed bark and fire etched hollows. Though this year’s fires were more intense than those of the past, hope is found in the fact that the same pattern of regeneration that Big Trees Grove experienced over the past 150 years, will soon commence among the redwoods of its sister park, Big Basin. 

The very existence of Big Basin Redwoods State Park is linked to the history of the Big Trees Grove resort. A fire in 1899 played a pivotal role in the redwood preservation movement. The fire, which raged through the eastern portion of the Santa Cruz Mountains, was halted in an uniquely California manner and inspired a British magazine to publish an article entitled, “How A Forest Fire Was Extinguished With Wine.” The article’s images were provided by San Jose photographer, Andrew P. Hill. To better demonstrate the immensity of the fire, Hill planned to take photographs of living redwoods at the world renown redwood resort, Big Trees Grove. When confronted by resort personnel, Hill refused to pay the 25-cent admission fee and was unceremoniously kicked out of the resort. That incident led to famed, local journalist Josephine Clifford McCrackin to pen a blistering editorial criticizing the resort owners, but more importantly, advocating for the public ownership of the redwoods. The movement to preserve the redwoods led to the establishment in 1902 of the first California State park, Big Basin. 

The development of Big Trees Grove resort set the stage for preservation. As a world renown resort for sixty years, Big Trees Grove introduced thousands to the majesty of the redwoods. Historic Tales of Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park - Big Trees Grove recounts the stories of the first redwood tourists and the awe-inspiring landscape they helped preserve for future generations.  

For Media Inquiries Contact:  Sarah Haynes  843.853.2070 x199 shaynes@arcadiapublishing.com