Not to be confused with the populated place named Pinto, or Pinto Creek Station, Pinto House was a hotel and station located on the old Lincoln Highway, but existed many years before. Newspaper articles remark, when it was purchased by Mr. N. Smith in 1879, that it was already an "old and established hotel."
Since it is later included as a stop on the old Lincoln Highway-- a known route-- we can safely assume the site is close by that road, which is now US 50 more or less. It is very likely that Pinto House was at the location of the former Schaefer Ranch.
The Pinto House
This old established hotel has just been leased by Mr. N. Smith, and has been refitted and refurbished. Mr. Smith is an old landlord, and understands his business thoroughly. The establishment is furnished with the best eatables and drinkables that can be purchased on the market. Brother Smith invites the traveling public to give him a call.
-Eureka Daily Sentinel, January 22, 1879
Mr. Smith, apparently a firm believer in advertising, ran his own ads saying virtually the same thing.
PINTO HOUSE
THE UNDERSIGNED HAS LEASED, REFITTED, and refurnished this old established wayside hotel, and will, at all times, use his best endeavor to maintain its previous good reputation. The TABLE is always supplied with the best, and the BAR has only the best LIQUORS AND CIGARS in the market. HAY AND BARLEY furnished to teamsters and traders. Call and see me.
N. Smith, proprietor.
Pinto, January 21, 1870
-Eureka Sentinel, April 29, 1879
MAY HIS SHADOW NEVER GROW LESS
THe jolly countenance of Brother Smith, of the Pinto House, Pinto, beamed upon us yesterday. He came to announce that the baby was in flourishing condition, and he felt so happy over the affair that he "set 'em up" to the boys in the Sentenel office first class style. Our local was the only one who preserved his equilibrium, as we are strictly temperate, and not even the merits of that champagne could tempt us from virtue's path (?).
-Eureka Daily Sentinel, March 7, 1879
In addition, the Pinto House was the host to numerous dances, parties, and shindigs all of which were heavily advertised and attended, ads from some of which are displayed under PHOTOGRAPHS below. Mr. Smith later went on to run the St. Louis Restaurant (1883), the Knight Boarding House (1884), and the Eureka Bakery (1886) in Eureka, even serving as a county commissioner.
By the time the Lincoln HIghway came into being, however, Pinto House was only listed as a source for water.