Peaceful, private never-ending views are waiting for you at Mountain View Lodge. The owner finished moving out and it is sparkling clean, just waiting for you. We have plotted easements on file and a septic cert so you could be in pretty quick. Click for lots of new photos and be sure to watch the video below. Clouds with rain and a tease of snow have been hanging out the past few days but now we have sunny sky heading our way.
As most of you know, the Solar Eclipse is to be tomorrow, Monday April 8th 2024. We have clear sky promised and thought it would be fun to meet up and watch together!
The total time is between 10 am and noon. The ‘deepest point’ where the sun is most hidden is to be about 11:15 am. This area of the country we only get to see a partial eclipse. Click for local info.
One of our Mountain neighbors, Mike Pique is on a road trip and is in Texas to see the full eclipse with friends. Before he left, he dropped off some safety glasses and I have a couple extras for us to share. It is dangerous to view without these glasses. Click for more info to have fun during the eclipse without glasses.
You can view from anywhere, but if you pop by to share our glasses, we’ll be here, down in our meadow, or maybe walk across the road to the lookout opposite Fern Meadow Road. Remember your jacket! It’s chilly! We still have snow on the ground but roads are totally clear.
Just a few short weeks ago, I had that cowboy out putting up signs for 5 new listings posted within 24 hours. That sure made my phone ring! Such a whirlwind of many showings and offers gave me the chance to meet some really nice folks that would all love to be our next new neighbors. Inspectors and repairmen have been up, back-to-back, between snow storms, writing inspection reports, pumping and certifying septic systems, cleaning chimneys, repairing plumbing, furnace repair, handyman work, cleaning, rodent exclusion and appraisers. It is amazing, appraisals have come in over the offering price!!! Now we have friends helping friends moving up to this wonderful mountain!
The first cabin to change owners was Wee Bit of Scotch. They are renting a cabin to be up for the big storm coming this weekend. The little hamlet of Happy Holler has full timers joining us. Today new owners got their keys to Chef’s Dream. We have patient buyers for Step Back in Time as we’re clearing up some ownership issues. (Watch for a post real soon that might be helpful for others to avoid title challenges in the future!) The beautiful view home on 77 acres has some very happy buyers anxiously waiting to call it their own in a couple weeks.
Mountain View Lodge had movers up for the last of the furniture. I had fun with a walk-about in the snow, treated to amazingly beautiful clouds. Will update the photos soon.
And, new a listing for 48 acres of land with a fabulous view is waiting to make dreams come true!
So many buyers want their own piece of paradise on Palomar! Have you been thinking about selling? Let’s connect!
Bonnie Phelps, Realtor on the Highway to the Stars
Snow at the top of the South Grade a couple days ago. Now more to come!
Are YOU available to plow snow this weekend? Another big storm is promised starting Thursday night. Our little community could sure use some more neighbors with tractors and snow plows, especially on Crestline and Birch Hill area. The two main plowing folks will be out of town. I will be turning around a name and phone number of one tractor guy I just got off the phone with. However, he said he can help get the berms down only as he doesn’t have chains to go down the roads. Just hoping to include some other options. Anyone else open to being on the list for plowing the next week or so? Thanks, Bonnie Phelps 760-533-1742
Many of you know the editor of the Valley Center Roadrunner, David Ross. He owned a cabin up here for a few years. He wrote some delightful posts about being a ‘Mountain Man’. (Thinking we need to turn those around one of these days.) We always enjoy Dave’s special stories this time of year:
From: Valley Center Roadrunner, Editor, David Ross
In a significant and unexpected development, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has announced plans to build a new regional airport in Valley Center, a small town in San Diego County. The new airport, which has been dubbed the “Valley Center Regional Airport,” will be located on a preserved plot of land within the Park Circle development. According to Caltrans officials, the new airport will provide a much-needed boost to the local economy and improve air travel options for residents in the surrounding areas. Local casinos are expressing interest for a private charter terminal for their VIP guests. The airport is expected to serve an estimated 20,000 passengers per year and around a hundred new jobs. “We are thrilled to bring this exciting project to Valley Center,” said Caltrans Director, Toks Omishakin. “This airport will not only enhance air travel options but also stimulate economic growth and development in the region.”
Fire Marshal Jim Davidson told The Roadrunner, “We’re really excited they selected this location so close to our fire station.”
The Valley Center Regional Airport is expected to feature a single runway, a terminal building, 24 pump gas station, and amenities such as restaurants, shops, and car rental services in conjunction with the Park Circle retail center. Construction is set to begin in August 2024 and is expected to take approximately three years to complete.
Before residents express their concerns about noise and traffic impacts, Caltrans officials have assured the public that the airport will be designed with safety and sustainability in mind. “The runway can be used as an emergency exit in case of evacuations. We haven’t figured that part out yet, but when we do the residents will be the first to know how we expect to accomplish this. Maybe add roundabouts to the end of the runways”, said the Director. This announcement marks a significant milestone for Valley Center and the surrounding region, promising to bring new opportunities and growth to the area. Stay tuned for further updates but since this is an April Fool, we doubt this project will ever take off!
The forecast still says we are to have only a dusting but reality is much different! When clients showed up at 11, we had about an inch of snow at our place on State Park Road. Everyone climbed in my 4wd and we went to see Mountain View Lodge on Crestline. 15 or 20 minutes later there was at least 4 inches of snow on the ground. Now a lot more. None of the roads are plowed yet!
Just off the phone with wonderful Andy at the County Road Station. This snow still isn’t in the forecast!!! Andy already had his crew on their way up from Valley Center to start plowing. Oh!!! I just saw staff from the Christian Conference Center go by with their plow!!! After many tries, the buyer’s agent in his nice all-wheel-drive is on his way home!
Don’t trust the forecast for this storm and a tip for the Crestline folks to be sure to park out on the main road, back in, with a shovel in your vehicle for the berm, wiper’s up. The main roads will start getting plowed within the hour, I’m guessing.
Bonnie Phelps, Realtor showing properties in the Snow!
It was such a surprise to open up this week’s Valley Center Roadrunner and see this old (very old) family photo; The best dad and mom there ever was, my brother Tom and his sister with long hair. Fifty years ago, editor and publisher Van Quackenbush, interviewed my dad, the new pastor at the Valley Center Community Church and included the story in first issue of the paper. Most of you have driven by the building, now a pharmacy, many times on your way up the mountain.
If only my folks could see the church now. Along with other friends from Palomar, we attend the new campus on Cole Grade Road and YOU are invited to visit this Sunday for Easter! Valley Center Community Church has three services for Easter at 8:00, 9:30 and 11:00. We’ll be there at 9:30 with mountain neighbors and love to see you.
Bonnie Phelps and Family
The entire paper from 50 years ago was reprinted in Thursday’s issue. You’ll see the local market had eggs for 59 cents a dozen and pork chops on sale for 89 cents each. Ah, the good old days!
Like your own copy of the paper? It’s available at the new Rincon Market and Roadrunner office. I’m quite sure they would do a happy dance if you subscribe through their website. Thank you David Ross, current editor for including the paper from 50 years ago. And thanks for all the great articles over the years about Palomar Mountain.
Our friends at the Palomar Mountain General Store are open today and Monday for your shopping pleasure. They will be closed tomorrow, on Sunday.
Just took the photo of the daffodils greeting you under sunny sky, before they are perhaps covered in snow tomorrow. All week we have been promised ‘lots of snow coming down with a big storm from Alaska’. Then it changed to ‘an atmospheric river with tons of rain’. Yesterday they were promising ‘maybe 5 or so inches of snow’. Now it looks like maybe only a couple inches of snow and a pretty gentle storm heading our way: https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=33.31119170000005&lon=-116.85450199999997#.XN4rAshKhPY
No matter how fancy your 4wd is or how new your snow tires are, just in case, it does always make sense to back in and park where you know for sure positive you can get out. I had a quick visit with Ann Sowards and earlier Tom Salzar chimed in with the same advice. Our last storm had a few neighbors very inconvenienced when they parked with confidence right at their cabins.
Driving up the South Grade tonight, these interesting clouds caught our eye so we pulled over. What do you see in these clouds? A very old oak tree? A bear pulling an elephant’s trunk? You just never know what you’ll see in the clouds from our beautiful mountain.
You might want to talk to Dan! He is with Western Exterminator and came up to inspect one of my listings. We got to talking as Palomar has a new-to-me pest problem. In my 24 years of being a Realtor, I had not come across Pack Rats until recently. Ohmygoodness! Those rodents are professional hoarders! They build huge nests! If you are missing anything, you might find it in their nests!!! Looking for your jewelry, poker chips, playing cards, hair clips or cash? Check the pact rat nest!
Dan’s company does ‘Whole Home Rodent Proofing, guaranteed for a year’ and just finished a job on a large home up here. They exclude the rodents from your home or cabin, can sanitize, install new insulation and wood repair, where needed, then check traps for up to four consecutive weeks or as needed. They have a by-monthly, full-service pest and an optional mosquito control service. Call Dan at 760-410-9401
Palomar Mountain News 