Crestline, CA

This is part two of Crestline Village: Crestline Village and Homes in Crestline Village.

In my last post about Crestline Village I spoke about some of the features of the houses here. There is so much more that part two is here! Because so many of our homes were built a long time ago, you need to make sure that before you do any remodeling you get a qualified contractor to look at the house, even above your initial home inspection. A lot of these cabins probably haven't had the electrical and plumbing updated in a while, so it's important that you find out exactly what's going on before you start messing with it! Many Village homes and other cabins here in the mountains didn't have proper electricity installed, depending of course on the age and generational history of the home and they used to use oil and gas lanterns for light. Always check and see if the plugs and lighting will work for you in the home you are intending to purchase, or the feasibility of adding in wiring for new lighting. Our breakers kept tripping when we had too many modern conveniences on: microwave and the washer and the computer with a light or two. It may be as simple as installing a slightly larger breaker, or even a new breaker. Again, ask an electrician!

Our Crestline Village home was built in 1925, with an addition in 1936. We haven't begun remodeling anything really serious enough to get a permit. We took down some of the original tongue and groove paneling to create some more open spaces between the two living rooms, and tore down a half wall so it seems like our home is bigger than it is! Our fireplace was built on top of a pile of rocks that goes underneath the house into the basement, and the main fireplace is a beautiful natural stone(that still needs to be seriously cleaned). I don't know what the original builders were thinking when they built this place(I'd love to find out, as well as get some old time photos of my house) but they built the fireplace in the center of the house, and the chimney goes through the middle of the master bedroom. Someone over the years covered the brick with wallpaper and then tongue and groove pine paneling so it looks neat, but in the middle of the room? Seriously? So our room is almost cut into two.

These older Crestline Villagehomes usually have narrow internal staircases that were built where they could fit them. I have been in many of these cabins and have to duck going up and down the stairs, and it almost becomes a game of limbo. I believe that people must have been shorter back in the early 20s, because this is a prevalent feature. Many homes in the Village and elsewhere on the mountain also do not have bedroom closets. They used to use armoires, but it is still a bedroom! There are also cabins that have a loft style bedroom also. Lofts=bedroom. Go to any downtown area in the world, and a loft is considered a space that is habitable and sleep-able(!), so don't discount a loft sleeping arrangement unless it truly won't fit your needs. You may be able to wall a loft off or put in a door, depending.

Working on your cabin here in Crestlineis fun and rewarding if you have a passion for shining up old pennies. Our home was all wood and gross old carpet when we bought it, and it was a true old cabin. We have removed the carpet and discovered the original hardwood flooring that is now a feature of our house. All of the walls are wood and the ceiling is wood, and it was kind of blah. Ok, really blah.

For those of you that know me you know that I am a creative, colorful personality(mess) and that had to change for sure! We did, after much debate, decide to paint some of our wood walls to create an updated yet vintage cottage/cabin feel. We've added some funky modern print curtains and rugs and have all antique furniture(found around Crestline Village at the antique shops and even refinished some things found by the side of the road) and it is nearer to being US. That is the most fun about having a home or a cabin, that you can create your own space(pay attention first time home-buyers: $8000 tax break from Uncle Sam goes only until November 30th and you're running out of time).

Ok, again, since this post is already long, I will have to do another part of Crestline Village, A Local's Guide. If you have any questions about purchasing a home here in Crestline, Crestline Village or elsewhere in the Lake Arrowhead area please email me at steeleofalifetime@gmail.com.

You can also visit my websites www.HomesForSaleInCrestline.com, www.CrestlineForeclosures.com and www.thelakearrowheadwoods.com .

Take care!

Amy

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ALL PICTURES COPYRIGHTED BY AMY STEELE AND MAY NOT BE USED IN ANY MANNER WHATSOEVER

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The Arrowhead Highlands area of Crestline is on the south east border of Crestline, and runs along Crest Forest Drive closest to highway 18 and Lake Gregory Drive.  This historic part of Crestline(well, all of Crestline is historic, really!) used to be the only route to get into the town of Crestline, until the highway 138 Crestline Cutoff was constructed.  This route is now Lake Gregory Drive, and there was a stop called Lee's Garage (Crestline by Rhea-Francis Tetley)on the highway for travelers to get food, gas and to use a restroom.  It was built next to Sphinx rock, which is still there today and has been in many silent movies that were made here in Crestline and elsewhere on the mountain. 

The building is still there, and is known as the Cliffhanger restaurant.  The building was in the movie Next with Nicolas Cage and Jessica Biel most recently, and currently is up for sale.  On a very clear day you can see the ocean and Catalina island.  It is really a spectacular view from this lookout, when you are able to see the valley below, as well as Lake Elsinore and much of the Inland Empire laid out at your feet. 

 The Arrowhead Highlands was going to be developed as another mini vacationers club with croquet, tennis,a pool, horseshoes, clubhouse and more.  However with the Depression, funding for the project didn't materialize and this subdivision became just an area for cabins and homes. 

The Arrowhead Higlands are the highest point in Crestline, at an altitude of 5174 feet.  This area does get more snow that the town of Crestline, due to it being slightly higher but also because it is located close to the rim of the mountain and the updrafts from down in the valley blow the snow heavy on this side.  I will drive around some days after it's snowed and take some really fabulous pictures of the ice that has formed on the Highlands trees and shrubs.  The ice can make some beautiful sculptures!

There are many unique homes in the Arrowhead Highlands, and this area is quiet and semi-secluded with gorgeous stands of spruce and cedars. Because this area is higher up on the rim of Crestline, when the fog rolls in it comes through here first.  Seeing the trees emerge from the fog, and smelling the wet forest smell is truly a treat.  Many homes here have really fabulous views, either of the ridgelines around Crestline, Lake Gregorydown in the town of Crestline, the night lights of the San Bernardino valley, the ocean and Catalina island. To live here in the Arrowhead Highlands is truly it's own unique experience.

To find out about homes that are currently for sale in the Arrowhead Highlands, or elsewhere in Crestline and Lake Arrowhead, please email me at steeleofalifetime@gmail.com. 

Take care and God Bless!

Amy

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ALL IMAGES ARE SUBJECT TO COPYRIGHT AND MAY NOT BE USED UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.

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Crestline Local's Insider Guide to: Crestline Village and homes in Crestline Village are a close community of older homes, many that were built in the early 20th century. Many are cabins that were built for people who came up here to the mountains to live while they worked at the saw mills and other forestry activities, eventually used for vacation homes and now mainly full time living. Crestline Villageis made up of a single street through town with shops and restaurants on either side, along with a post office, grocery store, and hardware store that seem to reflect the smallness of ourit as well as the more laid back lifestyle. There isn't a single stoplight to be found, and most days the only light traffic that occurs is when the local school bus drives through town to drop off the kids from school.

The cabins in Crestline Village are usually smaller as far as square footage goes, with many that have been added onto at some point in the past. It's not surprising to walk through a Village house and wonder what the previous owners were thinking when they built it or added onto it! Due to the nature of these cabins being as old as some of them are, many have not been updated at all as far as current building standards and codes, and some do need work. I have seen cabins in the village that were partially built onto a pile of local rocks that were mortared together to make up the foundation. Many do not have a true foundation of a concrete slab, and are built on a pier and post constructions, with partial masonry or the ever favorite pile of rocks.

Since there was no such thing as central airback in the day, most homes up here do not have air conditioning. Nor do you really need it here in Crestline and elsewhere on the mountain if you have nice windows that you can leave open, with some ceiling fans and maybe a fan in the window to create a lovely cross breeze. In the summertime, our temperatures are mostly 20 degrees cooler than elsewhere in the Inland Empire and Orange county. It is a pleasure to come up where it's always cooler!

As far as heating, these cabins have wood burning stoves or regular brick or rock fireplaces, and many have been updated to include gas furnaces. With winter temperatures dipping into the teens on the coldest winters, you need to make sure your Crestline Cabin has a good heat source, and if it's an older cabin, plenty of insulation and other upgrades like dual pane windows and weatherstripping. It's important to make sure your heat stays in your home! Our cabin didn't have a lick of insulation when we first bought it, and our first winter gas bills were in the high $200 range for a 960 square foot home! The very next summer we insulated the basement and have saved literally hundreds of dollars in only one season!

Speaking of basements, many Crestline Village cabins have a basement or a build up. The difference is that a basement is finished off into a usable space, usually accessible from the interior of the home. A build up is just the space beneath the cabin, and is usually a dirt floor used for storage. MAKE SURE THIS SPACE IS ALWAYS INSULATED. You lose a ton of heat into the underside of your cabin if you do not. Obviously a finished basement that can be used as extra living space will add money to your home.

Crestline Village living is very simple, but we have everything here for the full-timer or part-timer. There is a grocery store called Goodwins that has been serving the community for decades. We have a bowling alley that serves great pizza and buffalo chicken wings and is fun to go to on a Friday, or any evening! The alley just opened up a Subway also, which has been very busy! We have a lot of really neat antique stores that I've got a lot of my furniture from, as well as an excellent used book store. There are various business, CPA, attorney, real estate, tanning salon, deli, and several very good restaurants.

I have never had a bad meal here in Crestline Villageat any of the restaurants. They are all really good! We have a Mexican food place called Cocina de Tony's that has a great outdoor lakeview seating area, several American-style diners: Crestline Cafe, Loose Caboose, and Hungry Bear Restaurant, a Chinese food restaurant called Mandarin Gardens, an Italian restaurant called Francescos, The A Burger which makes great burgers and shakes, a Round Table Pizza, and two fast food places Subway and McDonalds. There are two coffee shops, Paradise Coffe and Lake Gregory Coffee Co. The latter during the summertime has their Al Fresco Fridays where they have good happy hour style food and you can grab a cold beer, glass of wine or coffee beverage. It's nice to sit outside and people watch!

This is only part one. Crestline Village is a small town, but our simple way of life up here has more to offer! Make sure you look for part 2!

And as always if you are looking for more information or would like lists of homes that are available for sale here in Crestline and Crestline Village, please email me at steeleofalifetime@gmail.com or call! Please also visit my websites at www.HomesForSaleinCrestline.com and www.CrestlineForeclosures.com.

Take care and God bless!

Amy

ALL IMAGES SUBJECT TO COPYRIGHT BY AMY STEELE AND MAY NOT BE USED UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES

San Moritz homes in Crestline, Ca are the homes and area right around the beautiful Lake Gregory. The homes of San Moritz began as the exclusive area of Crestline where you were a member of the beautiful San Moritz Lodge, with the ability to utilize the facility and be considered a San Moritz property owner.

The Club San Moritz was incorporated in 1939 with the purpose of promoting "art, amusements and entertainment; to provide club accomodations; to promote physical and social welfare of members and their families and guests; to bring together, unite and cement friendships and fraternal associations among such persons as may be admitted to membership therein."(Moritz Yodeler, November 1955, from the walls of the San Moritz lodge).

At the time in the early 50s, owning a piece of San Moritz was the "in" thing to do. You were able to brag to your friends about having a vacation cabin in the exclusive San Moritz area of Crestline. Your membership in the club allowed you to use the facilities without charge. They had dancing, volleyball, croquet, fishing, shuffleboard, beach swimming, tennis, boating, ping-pong, horseshoes, bridge, canasta, checkers, chess, chinese checkers, tetherball, movies, picnic grounds, swings and teeter-totters(Moritz Yodeler, November 1955, from the walls of the San Moritz lodge).

The lodge is a county run facility, and for reservations of the lodge for weddings, reunions, and other functions, visit here.

The lodge is simply beautiful, and as you walk into the foyer you feel and smell the history of the mountains. You can hear the ghosts of the music and dancing and laughter of all the parties and shindigs that the San Moritz lodge has hosted. THe picture below shows the predecessor to the lodge and Lake Gregory. The clubhouse was renovated into the San Moritz lodge, and Lake Gregory was made much bigger, and in 1938 was filled in 3 days with the worst winter weather ever on record at that time.

Lake Gregory is a San Bernardino County park, open to the public for fishing, boating(rentals of rowboats only),swimming, barbequeing, hiking, horseshoes and now with it's very own Crestline Dog Park, which opened in June of 2009. The Lake Gregory park is over 150 acres and is open year round. The boat house is only open from the last weekend of April until the third weekend of October. The swim beach generally opens Memorial day weekend and closes Labor Day weekend. For the fees associated with Lake Gregory, visit here.

There are many homes that are available in the San Moritz subdivision. They range in price from under $100,000 upwards of $400,000, depending on the home, the view, the age, and of course the condition of the home. With an active REO market, cabins in this area of Crestline are more attainable to folks looking to purchase a cabin or home for vacation or full time living. To be placed on an email list of all homes available in the San Moritz area, please email me at steeleofalifetime@gmail.com. Make sure you put in your email that you are interested in the San Moritz subdivision, the minimum number of bedrooms and baths you'd like, the max price, and if you're willing to take on a fixer or prefer minimal work or turnkey!

Please visit my websites for Crestline, www.HomesForSaleInCrestline.com and www.CrestlineForeclosures.com

ALL IMAGES COPYRIGHTED BY AMY STEELE, AND CANNOT BE USED IN ANY MANNER.

CRESTLINE