Whole page on Willow Creek by Chet Schwarzkoff. photos of "The Forks" which is the 299/96 intersection; Ranger Chef Hotelling's Hone; Willow creek lodge; Camp Kimtu Commissary; the historic old Willow Creek Hotel; Gambi's Resort gas station; Brizards 75 yr old store. Willow Creek was a pack train stopover during the gold mining era on New River. Orig. called China Flat. Paul Brizard said that Charlie Brown started the Willow Creek Hotel in the late 1860's. Paul's father, Alexander, bought the Willow Creek store from Tom Campbell in the early 1870's. Paul went 1st to Willow creek in 1888 by horseback on the Lord-Ellis Trail. This was named for Willow Lord & Ed Ellis(who had a store in Blue Lake). The first road to Willow creek went via Bald Mtn, Barry's Ranch & Three Creeks was built about 1890. The Lord-Ellis Road (now 299) was built in 1920.