The Pepperwood Cove part lakeside land was originally used by First Nations Pomo for ceremonies, hunting, gathering and seasonal habitation until contact with the Spanish and subsequent Yankees. The land was then used for trapping, homesteading and small scale minerals exploration. It was acquired by the Russ Family of San Francisco around 1910 some years before highway access and electrical power came in and was primarily used as a hunting retreat for the Russ men. Pepperwood Cove became its' name.

Pepperwood Cove and surrounding hills and ridges was run as the Circle R Spur - a guest ranch, for a brief time in the 60s. The original five bedroom redwood house built around the turn of the century called 'Russ House' by the Russ Family burned down in 1987.