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All the United States California Port Costa The Burlington Hotel
The Burlington Hotel is permanently closed.

This entry remains in the Atlas as a record of its history, but it is no longer accessible to visitors.

The Burlington Hotel

A historic hotel in an old California railroad town with a rowdy reputation.

Port Costa, California

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Shannon O'Haire
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The front door of the hotel   Shannon Ohaire / Atlas Obscura User
The tracks next to the hotel   Shannon Ohaire / Atlas Obscura User
Bordello dispute sign   Shannon Ohaire / Atlas Obscura User
The Burlington Hotel   Shannon Ohaire / Atlas Obscura User
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About

The Burlington Hotel, one of the oldest operating hotels in California, is a throwback to an exciting era of unruly railroad workers and busy ports.

The Burlington Hotel opened its doors in 1883 at the height of Port Costa's 15 minutes of fame. Port Costa, California, was a busy town located directly on the Transcontinental railroad, a popular port for the off-loading of wheat. The only thing separating the Burlington Hotel from the deep waters of the Carquinez Strait where the docks (which have since burned; there are still pilings in some places) used to be is a bit of gravel and some railroad tracks. There were businesses built on the docks-- boarding houses, saloons, shops--but the Burlington would have been the place "in town" where people who wanted to avoid the riff-raff would have stayed. 

In the 1930s, Port Costa went from boom to bust when the Benicia Bridge was built, immediately ending the need for the train ferries that supported the waterfront town.  By the early 1960's, population was down to around 350 people and all that remained was the Burlington, a train station, and a few antique shops scattered here and there. It was during that era that the Burlington was abandoned and slated for demolition.  

Then came the infamous Warehouse Cafe which opened across the street and has always had a reputation for rambunctious behavior and strong drink. It has been the cause of many a patron stumbling into the Burlington for a tipsy tryst or a place to sleep it off, obliterating its drinkers since the day it opened and helping to restore the hotel's lagging business. The Warehouse and Hotel are no longer connected, and the Burlington has a lobby where guests check in. The historic hotel is now being restored, and there is a lovely lobby and a cafe with coffee and fresh baked goodies on the weekends.

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Hotels Brothels Railroads Bats Haunted Boats Trains Places To Stay Animals

Know Before You Go

there is no public transportation into Port Costa. Port Costa and the Burlington can be reached by car from I-80 through the town of Crockett or from Highway 4 via McEwen Road. It can also be reached through the back roads of the canyons by car, bike or motorcycle.

Community Contributors

Added By

Shannon Ohaire

Edited By

Rachel, vickyval

  • Rachel
  • vickyval

Published

June 26, 2014

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Sources
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_Costa,_California
  • http://thehotelburlington.com/
  • http://www.thehotelburlington.com/#history
  • http://www.thenationalhotel.com/
The Burlington Hotel
2 Canyon Lake Drive
Port Costa, California, 94569
United States
38.04663, -122.183661
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Nearby Places

The Warehouse Cafe

Port Costa, California

miles away

Wreckage of the S.S. Garden City

Crockett, California

miles away

Grave of ConcepciĂłn ArgĂĽello

Benicia, California

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Port Costa

Port Costa

California

Places 2

Nearby Places

The Warehouse Cafe

Port Costa, California

miles away

Wreckage of the S.S. Garden City

Crockett, California

miles away

Grave of ConcepciĂłn ArgĂĽello

Benicia, California

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Port Costa

Port Costa

California

Places 2

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