In 1861 a gold prospector by the name of Sisson fell in love with Strawberry Valley - a quaint mountain meadow at the foot of Mt. Shasta in far northern California. He opened an inn near the town now called Mt. Shasta City. This inn overlooked the wild berry patches nearby that were frequented by both black bears and people alike. Tired travelers soon became aware of Sisson's fabulous hospitality and the inn became a well-known stopover. Large portions of quality food in an interesting and friendly atmosphere became the standard that people expected on their visits