Sam Brannan, California’s first millionaire, saw great potential in the geyser lands of upper Napa Valley as the perfect location for a luxurious resort catering to his affluent San Francisco friends. During a lively gathering, when asked how he planned to achieve this, Brannan famously declared, “I’m going to make it the Calistoga of Sarafornia!”—a playful twist on what he meant to say: the “Saratoga of California,” inspired by the renowned Saratoga Springs in New York. And so, the town—and eventually the diner—took on the name "Calistoga."