The tourism business had an early start on Bowen Island— the close proximity that made it so ideal for resouce extraction made it a close holiday get-away for Vancouver residents. The Howe Sound Hotel at Hood Point  (late 1890’s) was the first hotel open to the public on Bowen Island, and was mainly used by loggers. The forests and beaches on the east side of the island provided perfect camp grounds, and settlers already established on the island capitalized on the visitors by building attractions; the Dorman's constructed a merry-go-round at the Snug Cove. Bowen's land began to be cleared and altered for picnic grounds; the first resort era would soon be here.