“I saw that the Topaz Lodge’s remoteness is a large part of its charm. Travelers on U.S. 395 would stop in, and residents of the little towns speckling the area were long-time regulars, driving 20 or 30 miles to eat and gamble, from places such as Walker, Coleville, and Sonora, California. Some were long-timers, regulars for 30 years or more.Topaz Lake, itself, was a hidden gem. As Rob said, it was “too much of a secret.” There was good trout fishing, and the lake was large enough for boating. Campers, hikers and mountain bikers frequented the lake in season. It was an outdoor-lover’s paradise.”
– Robert Cashell: Call Me Mayor, Or Anything You Like, 2010