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 How could a man spend so much of his life on one thing, suffer such humiliation, experience so much success and be so intensely involved and then just walk away?
It’s a quandary. But it turns out, the Sutro Tunnel was more a testament to his determination and creativity, than to his personal dedication to one project. Once the tunnel was completed, he saw that problems and complications were ahead. He sold off his interest and headed back to California, where many other projects lie ahead for him, and where his fortune would truly be made.
Once back in San Francisco he continued his entrepreneurial ways. He bought land and built a modest home that eventually was expanded and refined as Sutro Heights. The gardens there became a public attraction, filled with flowers, trees, shrubs and statuary.
 He loved the views of the ocean and over the years built not one… but 3 different versions of what became the famous "Cliff House."
He bought up land in the outlying areas along the ocean that would prove very valuable real estate investments.
He continued to use his engineering talents to once again tunnel — this time from the ocean to establish — first an aquarium and then an elaborate and financially successful public bath.
The Sutro Baths were heated salt water pools complete with laundry facilities that could handle as many as 20 thousand bathing suits and 40 thousand towels in a day. It even included luxury-viewing areas.
Once again he became known as a major employer. In fact that notoriety is what pulled him into politics.
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