Stockton photographer publishes books on Byron Hot Springs

By Roni Gehlke
Correspondent

At the end of the 1800s and early 1900s the property was a playground for the rich and famous, offering a lavish hotel and restaurant. During World War II, while the buildings were still in operating form, the property was used as a Japanese internment camp.

Today the property is fenced off, sporting "no trespassing signs" to keeping the public at bay. The only thing left is the rubble of broken down buildings and rust, but to some that offers its own beauty.

In 2000 a Stockton resident, Kim Romena, was driving through Byron and decided to check out the property she remembered from visiting on Halloween in 1970.

She had just purchased a new camera in May of 2000 and was always looking for new scenes to photograph. She was left disappointed, though, as no one was around to help her find out how to get into the property and have a closer look.

"I was determined, though," Romena remembers. "I kept going back and looking for someone who could help get the key to the gate."

Later that year she was able to find the owners of the Byron Hot Springs property and was given permission to go out and document the property on film.

"The first five years the photos were taken in black and white," she said.

Romena noted that she was really taken by the stark sight of broken down buildings and the old palm trees, which were dramatic images in black and white.

"I like telling a story through my pictures," she said. "I like the rust and the broken windows."

Romena later decided that it was time to compile a book with her pictures. "With the Internet companies I discovered, it makes it easier to get books published," she said.
Romena knew that there would be people who would like to see the property, but she had no idea if she would sell a couple or thousands of books, so she started off small.

Once the first book was finished in late 2007, she began working on a second book with additional photographs. The second both book features mostly photographs, both in color and black and white, of the inside of the Byron Hot Springs building and surrounding property.

"These books are my photo journey on the property of historic Byron Hot Springs Resort and Spa. I spent seven years photographing what remains of a time gone by," Romena explained. "Byron Hot Springs is rich in history dating back to the mid-1800. I try to capture the beauty and elegance that lured people to this place."

Romena had not been inside the property for a couple of years until recently when the owners hosted an event to help promote Alexander Corbin's new book "The History of Camp Tracy."

"There were so many changes," she said. "There was a fire that took out one of the smaller buildings and one of the few oak trees had fallen in a storm."

After seeing this she decided to ask the owners if she could get inside the property once again to take new pictures. This past week she had a chance to get inside and took advantage of the overcast light to begin a new storytelling journey of the property.

Romena also has printed post cards and individual photographs from the site.

"With the current economy it is easier for some just to buy the individuals rather than the whole book," she said.

She was happy to see her booth at the recent East County Historical Society museum opener garner interest from the public.

"For me it is all about doing anything I can to help. I hate to see this property go the vandals, which is exactly what is happening. There is so much more graffiti there than there was just a few years ago."

Anyone interested in purchasing a copy of Romena's "Byron Hot Springs" Volumes 1 and 2 can go to www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/470452 , or contact Romena at photography@byronhotsprings.com. For more information on the resort, see www.byronhotsprings.com.