Kevin Kiley: “I wish to mark and celebrate the centennial anniversary of the Dow Hotel and Dow Villa Motel located in my district in…”

“I wish to mark and celebrate the centennial anniversary of the Dow Hotel and Dow Villa Motel located in my district in Inyo County, California. Over a century ago, in 1923, Walter and Maude Dow built the hotel to provide lodging for big movie crews that were filming the stunning eastern Sierras. Today, the hotel still hosts guests from the film industry as well as tourists visiting the nearby natural attractions. In 1957, Joe and Verna Bonham and Ivan and Barbara Turner took over ownership and played an integral role in expanding the hotel's facilities. With their leadership, an adjacent motel named ``The Dow Villa Motel'' was built and additional sections were constructed, expanding the hotel's overall capabilities by more than double, from 20 rooms to 50. With a core value of being a family-operated hotel, it was then sold in 1978 to the Bonham's daughters, Lynne Bunn and Jeanne Willey, who still own it today. The historic Dow Hotel overlooks a magnificent view of the Sierra and Mt. Whitney and is well known for its hospitality and charming atmosphere. It holds countless memories and historical significance for the area, having hosted producers, directors, and stars, including Clayton Moore, John Wayne, Roy Rogers, and many more. One hundred years ago, Walter and Maude Dow saw the economic benefit of having movie business in the region and responded by building what has become a treasured and iconic landmark for the Lone Pine community.…”