The Slinkey family came into full flower when it bought the Clifton Hotel in Sausalito in 1882 and renamed it the "El Monte". The main hotel building reached three stories high and being up on the hill above the ferry dock and railroad station, the site of the El Monte gave a majestic welcome to Sausalito visitors. A number of smaller guest cottages dotted the grounds and fine views were available to the guests.

1882

Commerce and Industries of the Pacific Coast, published this year by Hittel lists "Hotels: Saucelito, CA: El Monte Hotel, JE Slinkey, Proprietor."

April 29, 1882: San Francisco News Letter and California Advertiser of April 29, 1882, page 19: "Mr. J.E. Slinkey, who for many years past has been the proprietor of the Overland House, Sacramento street, has just become proprietor of the El Monte Hotel (formerly the Clifton House), Sausalito. With his accustomed energy and sagacity, Mr. Slinkey has refurnished and renovated the entire establishment, sparing neither trouble nor expense in making it a first-class Summer resort. The renovation has been in progress for some little time past, and being now about complete, the hotel will be opened for the reception of guests on Monday, May 1st."

In the same issue on page two is an ad for the hotel: "El Monte Hotel, Late Clifton House, Sausalito, Cal. The nearest Summer Resort outside of San Francisco. Accomodations First Class Commutation Tickets, $3 per month. J.E. Slinkey, Proprietor."

June 8, 1882: Ad in the San Francisco Daily Evening Bulletin, page one: "'El Monte' Hotel, Sausalito, Cal. (Formerly the Clifton House.) The nearest family summer resort outside of San Francsico. - J.E. Slinkey, Proprietor." This same ad runs on May 6, May 13, June 3, and June 10 of that year.

Mention of Sausalito, Slinkey, and the El Monte in the humerous Summer Saunterings, by "Derrick Dodd" of the San Francisco Post in 1882:

"Saucelito proper consists of a number of verdurous rolling hills, facing the sea on one side and the bay on the other, and liberally dotted with cottages and tomato cans. The latter are generously interspersed with pop bottles and peanut shells, the sure aftermath of the cheap and noisy species of picnic. In fact, were it not for what has been aptly called the "predatory picnic" of the period, Saucelito would have no particular reason for existing at all, and may safely be said to rely chiefly for support upon the perennial outpourings of the "Ancient Order of Boiler-Makers," the "United Buttonhole Workers," the "Auriferous Soap-boilers," and other social organizations of prominence.

"Saucelito possesses two wharves, two stores, two alleged hotels and the butt-end of a railroad, which seeks to entice the unwary traveler still further into the hostile picnic country. We say "alleged" hotels, because there is no official record of any one ever having stopped at either, although the last boat to the city in the afternoon is always carefully started with a view of leaving as many belated passengers as possible subject to the doom of remaining all night in the place, or hiring a plunger to take them across at twenty dollars the trip--the latter alternative being generally selected. This reference to the hotels, however, does not include the famous Rety's Restaurant, which is, after all, about all there is of the place and the chief object of interest to visitors, if we except mine host, Slinkey's just re-started hotel, the El Monte, on the hill-top, which overlooks a superb view, and is quite a revelation in hotel-keeping to the saucy--well, the Saucelitans."