Chester is the commercial hub of Lake Almanor
and northern Plumas County. Home to 3,000 year-round
residents, Lake Almanor area serves many times that number
of visitors during summer and winter.

Naturally rustic, Chester just sort of happened as buildings
clustered to provide restaurants, gambling halls and other services
for the ranchers that pioneered the country. The town is tamer now and
has excellent restaurants, shops, professional services, library, churches,
full medical and dental services, an excellent lighted utility airport with jet
capability, motels, banks and service stations. But mostly Chester takes
pride in what it doesn't have: no traffic signal lights, not one elevator;
in fact, few buildings with more than one story.