| It's not hard to see why Lake Arrowhead has | | | | animal paw prints look like. |
| always been popular with the movie stars - | | | | |
| it's close to Los Angeles, yet light years | | | | Of course there are still more trails just a |
| away in attitude. The people with money are | | | | few miles further into the mountains where |
| here, all right, but there is also an element | | | | the Big Bear Lake resort community offers |
| of small-town America, complete with families | | | | many recreational activities of its own. |
| and, yes, even family values. | | | | There are dozens of lodging facilities in the |
| | | | area as well - many more than Lake Arrowhead |
| We were walking the waterfront trail in front | | | | - creating a different atmosphere and |
| of the Lake Arrowhead Resort and ran into one | | | | experience altogether. Big Bear has more |
| of the town fathers - a guy whose job it was | | | | activities and lodgings; Arrowhead is |
| to walk some 20 miles around the lake, | | | | quieter, more residential and quite a bit |
| checking to make sure the trails were not | | | | easier to reach from Los Angeles. |
| only passable, but pristine as any | | | | |
| semi-exclusive enclave ought to be. He talked | | | | While looking through the local magazines, we |
| about the movie stars who live in Arrowhead | | | | noticed an ad for a place called Wildhaven, a |
| as everyday, good people. He talked about his | | | | ranch devoted to the rehabilitation of sick |
| daughter winning the national water-ski | | | | or injured animals. It's not the kind of |
| championship, and how water-skiing was | | | | place you can just drop in, pay your |
| followed just as closely here as football or | | | | admission and see the animals. You have to |
| basketball might be followed in the | | | | call ahead of time and find out when they are |
| Heartland. | | | | scheduling their presentations and tours - |
| | | | which usually is on weekends. |
| Well, okay, Lake Arrowhead is not exactly Des | | | | |
| Moines, Iowa. But it does have a small-town | | | | Wildhaven is well worth this little bit of |
| feel - in a Southern California kind of way. | | | | extra hassle. Located just three miles from |
| | | | the Lake Arrowhead Resort, the drive takes |
| We went to Lake Arrowhead to spend a weekend | | | | you into some "backwoods" residential areas, |
| at the newly renovated Lake Arrowhead Resort, | | | | then through the forests and up some hills |
| the biggest and best-located resort in the | | | | until you come to an area that was devastated |
| area that has just taken a quantum leap in | | | | by fire in October 2003. It's here on a |
| its overall appeal to getaway travelers. | | | | hillside that Wildhaven directors Roger and |
| Prior to the recent renovation, the resort | | | | Diane Williams saw their facility greatly |
| was getting a little tired and starting to | | | | damaged by the fire and have since rebuilt |
| show its age. But it's amazing the things you | | | | the 30-acre compound to house a variety of |
| can do with $17 million -- the resort's | | | | animals indigenous to the San Bernardino |
| undergone a total transformation. | | | | Mountains. |
| | | | |
| All of the 173 guest rooms were re-done, | | | | The Williams offer a complete presentation in |
| along with the restaurant, bar and spa. New | | | | a small theater where they bring out various |
| swiveling plasma TV's, walk-in showers and | | | | small creatures and explain where they came |
| just an overall sense of luxury and class are | | | | from and how they are progressing in their |
| evident in the guest rooms. Some of the rooms | | | | rehabilitation. Most interesting are the |
| have gorgeous views of the lake; others look | | | | personal details that Diane provides about |
| out on the alpine forests. The new | | | | how, as a little girl growing up in a |
| restaurant, BIN189, also is at least a notch | | | | troubled home, she found that animals helped |
| or two better than its predecessor, partially | | | | give her solace and a reason for living. She |
| due to the efforts of Stewart Redhead, the | | | | knew then that caring for animals would be |
| new executive chef who was trained in New | | | | her life-long work. |
| Orleans before serving in the same city as | | | | |
| Executive Chef of the W Hotel. | | | | Many of the animals at Wildhaven will not be |
| | | | able to re-enter the wild because they may |
| It's no wonder that June Lockhart makes the | | | | have limited physical ability - such as a |
| Lake Arrowhead Resort her home when she | | | | bird's inability to fly - or because they |
| visits her childhood haunt of Lake Arrowhead. | | | | have become too domesticated. During one |
| Her friend Peter Henry is General Manager at | | | | demonstration, the resident mule deer was |
| the resort, the latest in a series of upscale | | | | eating out of the trainer's hand and showing |
| lodgings where he has presided. | | | | no fear of the group of human onlookers. As |
| | | | Roger explained, "he wouldn't last an hour |
| Aside from the obvious charms that come with | | | | during hunting season." |
| a mountain lake plopped in the middle of a | | | | |
| scenic forest, Lake Arrowhead has a fun | | | | Owls, raccoons, bobcats, coyotes, eagles - |
| business district called the Lake Arrowhead | | | | there were plenty of species to observe |
| Village. Not your typical shopping center, | | | | during our visit. Especially entertaining |
| the village somehow combines high-end | | | | were the two black bears doing their tricks |
| boutiques with tourist shops and carnival | | | | and playing in their bathtubs while visitors |
| rides to appeal to just about any type of | | | | watched from just a few feet away outside |
| person who may visit. It's a five-minute walk | | | | their cage. All and all, this proved to be an |
| from Lake Arrowhead Resort to the village, | | | | ideal family activity that was both fun and |
| where you can also find several different | | | | informative. |
| eateries and, in the warmer months, listen to | | | | |
| live music in a fairly elaborate concert | | | | Wildhaven is just another reason why you |
| area. While we were there, the Rockit | | | | might consider Lake Arrowhead for your next |
| Scientists kept the crowd rocking as they | | | | family vacation. There is plenty of luxury |
| swigged micro-brews just footsteps from the | | | | and ambiance for the adults, but it's also a |
| dance floor. | | | | chance to visit the Great Outdoors - and |
| | | | teach your kids a little bit about how it all |
| To get an even better view of the lake, | | | | got there. |
| visitors can board the Arrowhead Queen, a | | | | |
| Louisiana-style paddle-wheeler that takes | | | | AT A GLANCE |
| guests on a 50-minute tour of the lake. On a | | | | |
| busy summer day, you'll see lots of small | | | | WHERE: Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear are |
| boats, many of them towing water skiers. And, | | | | located about two hours east of Los Angeles |
| it's fun to look at the expensive waterfront | | | | and reached by driving a scenic, albeit |
| homes and imagine what it would be like to | | | | curvy, highway northeast out of San |
| have a lake in your backyard. | | | | Bernardino. |
| | | | |
| There also are plenty of hiking trails in the | | | | WHAT: Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear share the |
| Lake Arrowhead area - trips of various | | | | same woodsy feel and plunging winter |
| lengths and degrees of difficulty. The lake | | | | temperatures. Arrowhead is smaller, a bit |
| is at 5,100 feet elevation and is nestled in | | | | quaint and is a quiet romantic getaway. Big |
| a forest of pine, cedar and dogwood that give | | | | Bear offers a larger city, but many more |
| way occasionally to excellent views of the | | | | choices for dining and lodging. Both offer a |
| San Bernardino Mountains. A very easy trail | | | | variety of shops and boutiques. |
| to start with is at the Heap's Peak | | | | |
| Arboretum, easily accessed on Highway 18. | | | | WHEN: Year-round. The shoulder seasons are |
| This half-mile interpretive trail identifies | | | | less crowded, but both summer and winter are |
| some of the 2,000 species of flora and nearly | | | | popular because of the area's many outdoor |
| 400 species of fauna found in these | | | | activities. |
| picturesque mountains. You'll enjoy views | | | | |
| that offer a reminder of why the Lake | | | | WHY: A complete contrast from the Southern |
| Arrowhead area has been chosen as a backdrop | | | | California climate and lifestyle, yet just an |
| for so many motion pictures. There also is a | | | | hour or so from balmy places like Palm |
| special kids trail that shows what various | | | | Springs. |