What a fun find during a walk around downtown Escondido. There are some colorful new murals and I was delighted to happen on this beautiful mural depicting historical books. Of course, seeing the very first book published about the mountain, ‘Palomar From Teepee to Telescope’, was very exciting.
Author, Catherine Wood named her cabin ‘Wood Pile Inn’. She enjoyed her friendships and adventures up here so much she published the very first book on Palomar History in 1937. Her family inherited her cabin and enjoyed it for many years. They left so many of her things and they were fun to discover to stage for the new owners to enjoy. Click to see a photo of Catherine with her sister, and a peek of her cabin.
GOOD NEWS!!! Wood Pile Inn has been restored and preserved as an absolutely charming vacation rental. I’m quite certain Catherine would be thrilled with the modern kitchen and bath. The roof no longer leaks and … oh, something else is different… it is insulated!!! Oh, and those windows have two sheets of glass! And two big decks for dining in the forest! And the stone fireplace has an insert now so it keeps the cabin very toasty in the winter. And, look, her typewriter is in the corner… how very inspiring!
Oh, you must see how charming it is and I know you’ll want to book your stay to slip away to Wood Pile Inn!
Where can you get her book? The Palomar Mountain General Store, of course. It is also available on line through used bookstores and our Palomar Historian has a pdf available at no charge through his webpage.
Where is the mural? In Escondido, on the west side of Kalmia, just north of Grand Avenue, painted on the side of a building. Guessing that book is about 11 feet tall. Wouldn’t Catherine be pleased?
Bonnie Phelps, Realtor and lover of cabins and books and all things Palomar
760-533-1742
Palomar Mountain News 
Bonnie, I don’t know what we would do without you. Your love and sharing of Palomar Mountain is just amazing. Thanks so much.
By: Lafe A Ball on January 16, 2025
at 4:34 pm