Shepherds of the buildings, you know. Eight years later the story has a certain irony to it. Tourism is now one of the fastest-growing industries in Humboldt County, and Carter is at the forefront. He and his wife have hosted visitors from all over the world, including a fair number of celebrities. And when Wine Spectator hit the streets last month, phone inquiries picked up and several guests flew into Humboldt County specifically to check out the restaurant and its wine list.
People come here, who used to only drive through, and they spend maybe two, three or four days.
You couldn't even find a guide book that had the Eureka Inn as a place to stay or go to. But they usually didn't mention anything, and we had to actually call everybody up and tell them to come up here and see this beautiful area called Humboldt County. Even with the distinction of being a Grand Award winner, it takes work to keep the rooms occupied. The dark brown Victorian was based on a design by Joseph C. Newsom, the architect who designed the Carson Mansion, located a few blocks away. Carter said it took all his savings to finish the project.