Camp Nelson was named for John Milton Nelson, who came to California in 1850 and in 1886 homesteaded there and built a cabin near that spot. He had first visited in the 1860s while traveling over the Jordan Trail to the Owens Valley. The resort had first been used by the Yaudanche Yokuts as a summer village they called Ketilmuh. In the late 1880s it was known as Prohibition Valley, and in the 1890s that name gave way to the fame of Mr. Nelson's Camp. By 1901 a hotel and store were operating, a sawmill had been packed in from Springville, and cabins were being built for summer homes. People came from the hot lower regions to spend time in the pinery fishing, hunting, or enjoying the cool unhurried atmosphere. In 1906 a new two-story log hotel with 12 rooms was completed, in 1907 a road was built to Camp Wishon 8 miles from Nelson's, in 1909 John M. Nelson died at age 78, in 1922 the road to Camp Nelson from The Forks was completed, in 1927 the log hotel burned and a new lodge was begun, in 1931 a mutual water company was organized, in 1947 electricity reached Camp Nelson, and in 1956 a telephone line arrived.