It was an enormous gamble. Building a mountain retreat for wealthy aristocrats was, by no means, a sure thing. But the family of nine siblings formed a solemn pact unto themselves to do just that. The retreat had all the amenities, including horseback riding, guided hunting, a country club, and its own lake. The centerpiece was to be a world class resort. But the most valuable asset of all was already there. The Family had acquired a large piece of pristine wilderness in California's remote north coastal mountains. They called their Family Mission the "Grand Project." But it would become formally known as HOTEL BENBOW. This is the story of its creation.