American Hotel
Exterior
Card room
Dining room
Dining room
Honeymoon suite
Honeymoon suite
View down Yellow Grade Rd.
The American Hotel itself was built during the peak of the mining boom and served as a central hub for miners and visitors. It offered lodging and a gathering place in what was otherwise a remote and rugged area. Over the years, the town's population dwindled as mining activities decreased, leading Cerro Gordo to eventually become a ghost town.
Today, the American Hotel and the town of Cerro Gordo are often visited by history enthusiasts and tourists looking to explore the remains of the once-thriving mining community. The hotel, like much of the town, is preserved to maintain its historic character, offering a glimpse into the past life of the American West's mining era.
Update
June 15, 2020 - Then came the explosions of propane tanks as flames engulfed the hotel. In a cruel irony, Underwood said, “The American Hotel opened on June 15, 1871, and it burned to the ground 149 years to the day later on June 15, 2020.”~ L.A. Times, June 21, 2020
