The Summit Inn was a historic U.S. Route 66 roadside diner built in 1952, located at the summit of Cajon Pass in San Bernardino County, California. The building was destroyed by the Blue Cut Fire on August 16, 2016.[2] The building's current owners plan to rebuild the restaurant, as it appeared before the fire.[3]
The original Summit Inn was in operation in 1928[4] and takes its name from its original location at the summit of the Cajon Pass between the westbound and eastbound lanes of US 66.
The present location in unincorporated Oak Hills, California, had been in operation since 1952 when 66 was rerouted along a somewhat lower elevation. 1953-era postcards depict a Horseless Carriage Rally at the Summit Inn which included vintage Ford Model T's.[5]
Cecil “C.A.” Stevens bought the station and restaurant from original builder Burt Riley in 1966; he'd wanted just the Texacofilling station on the site but agreed to buy both if Hilda Fish, a German woman who ran the restaurant, were willing to stay to run the place. Hilda Fish retired in 2002[6] and is now deceased.[7]
On March 27, 2014, an intoxicated driver, Jayson Ernest Johnson of Riverside, California, was arrested for crashing a stolen van into the restaurant, causing $200,000 in damage.[9] The driver pled guilty to a lesser charge and received a suspended sentence. The entire kitchen was rebuilt using an insurance payout and the restaurant re-opened at the end of July 2014.[10] The vintage building which once served as a Texaco station remained on the property, although gasoline was no longer sold there. The Summit Inn's small gift shop still sold Texaco-related memorabilia and a great many original metal oil company signs decorated the rest of the interior. Other signs included two circa 1939 Standard Oil signs featuring Mickey Mouse and a genuine reflectorized US 66 highway shield.
On July 1, 2016, the business was sold to Katherine Juarez and her brother, Otto Recinos, who moved to the area after selling family real estate holdings in Los Angeles.[3]
Business modelEdit
The menu at the Summit Inn was typical, inexpensive and satisfying roadside fare, but with a twist: Ostrich and buffalo products were also served, including an ostrich egg omelette and "buffalo burgers."[13]
During the restaurant's operating hours, the original red neon "SUMMIT INN" sign flashed on and off to beckon drivers on present-day Interstate 15. Antique cars could occasionally be spotted in the parking lot.[14]
2016 fireEdit
On August 16, 2016, the diner was destroyed by the Blue Cut Fire.[15] The current owners of the business plan to rebuild, making it appear as identical to the old building as possible.[3]
ReferencesEdit
^Nick Freeth; Paul Taylor (2001-07-01). Traveling Route 66. p. Books.359. ISBN9780806133263. Retrieved 2012-08-24.
^ abcSteinberg, Jim (17 August 2016). "Summit Inn destroyed by Blue Cut fire but new owners say they will rebuild". San Bernardino Sun. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
^Alice Eby Hall (2009-09-02). The Cajon Pass. p. 83. ISBN9780738570754. Retrieved 2012-08-24.
^John Howard Weeks (2012-02-27). Mojave Desert. p. 24. ISBN9780738588872. Retrieved 2012-08-24.
^ abStrickland, Sharon (2009-09-08). "Get your fill on Route 66". Hesperia Star. Retrieved 2012-08-24.
^Claudia Heller; Alan Heller (2012-05-22). Life on Route 66: Personal Accounts Along the Mother Road to California. p. 21. ISBN9781609496227. Retrieved 2012-08-24.
^Russell A. Olsen (2011-11-15). Route 66 Lost & Found: Mother Road Ruins and Relics: The Ultimate Collection. p. 146. ISBN9780760339985. Retrieved 2012-08-24.
^. blog.pe.com. Archived from the original on 2014-03-27.
^Johnson, Shea. "Iconic Summit Inn diner in Oak Hills reopens".
^Summit Inn Review | The Mojave Desert. Fodor's Restaurant Reviews. Retrieved 2012-08-24.
^Marian Clark; Michael Wallis (2003-03-01). The Route 66 Cookbook: Comfort Food from the Mother Road. p. 22. ISBN9781571781284. Retrieved 2012-08-24.
^Sara Benson (2009-04-01). California. p. 677. ISBN9781741047394. Retrieved 2012-08-24.
^Glen Duncan (2005-10-12). Route 66 in California. California Route 66 Preservation Foundation. p. 42. ISBN9780738530376. Retrieved 2012-08-24.
^"Southern California wildfire destroys iconic inn". CNN. 20 August 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
October 19, 2023
summit, historic, hotel, resort, located, farmington, pennsylvania, historic, resort, historic, route, roadside, diner, built, 1952, located, summit, cajon, pass, bernardino, county, california, building, destroyed, blue, fire, august, 2016, building, current,. For the historic hotel resort located in Farmington Pennsylvania see Historic Summit Inn Resort The Summit Inn was a historic U S Route 66 roadside diner built in 1952 located at the summit of Cajon Pass in San Bernardino County California The building was destroyed by the Blue Cut Fire on August 16 2016 2 The building s current owners plan to rebuild the restaurant as it appeared before the fire 3 Summit InnA booth inside the Summit InnGeneral informationAddress5970 Mariposa RoadTown or cityOak Hills CaliforniaCountryUnited States of AmericaCoordinates34 21 33 N 117 26 07 W 34 3591 N 117 4352 W 34 3591 117 4352Elevation4 260 feet 1 300 m 1 Opened1952OwnerKatherine Juarez and Otto RecinosTechnical detailsFloor count1Design and constructionMain contractorBurton and Dorothy RileyOther informationParkingon siteThe Answer Box an antique coin operated fortune telling machineAntique automotive service sign on the old Texaco garage Contents 1 History 2 Business model 3 2016 fire 4 ReferencesHistory EditThe original Summit Inn was in operation in 1928 4 and takes its name from its original location at the summit of the Cajon Pass between the westbound and eastbound lanes of US 66 The present location in unincorporated Oak Hills California had been in operation since 1952 when 66 was rerouted along a somewhat lower elevation 1953 era postcards depict a Horseless Carriage Rally at the Summit Inn which included vintage Ford Model T s 5 Cecil C A Stevens bought the station and restaurant from original builder Burt Riley in 1966 he d wanted just the Texaco filling station on the site but agreed to buy both if Hilda Fish a German woman who ran the restaurant were willing to stay to run the place Hilda Fish retired in 2002 6 and is now deceased 7 Route 66 in the area was obliterated by Interstate 15 in California by 1970 8 On March 27 2014 an intoxicated driver Jayson Ernest Johnson of Riverside California was arrested for crashing a stolen van into the restaurant causing 200 000 in damage 9 The driver pled guilty to a lesser charge and received a suspended sentence The entire kitchen was rebuilt using an insurance payout and the restaurant re opened at the end of July 2014 10 The vintage building which once served as a Texaco station remained on the property although gasoline was no longer sold there The Summit Inn s small gift shop still sold Texaco related memorabilia and a great many original metal oil company signs decorated the rest of the interior Other signs included two circa 1939 Standard Oil signs featuring Mickey Mouse and a genuine reflectorized US 66 highway shield Notable clients included Elvis Presley who kicked the jukebox as it had none of his records at the time an oversight soon fixed 11 and left without eating 12 actor Pierce Brosnan Pearl Bailey Clint Eastwood and Danny Thomas 6 On July 1 2016 the business was sold to Katherine Juarez and her brother Otto Recinos who moved to the area after selling family real estate holdings in Los Angeles 3 Business model EditThe menu at the Summit Inn was typical inexpensive and satisfying roadside fare but with a twist Ostrich and buffalo products were also served including an ostrich egg omelette and buffalo burgers 13 During the restaurant s operating hours the original red neon SUMMIT INN sign flashed on and off to beckon drivers on present day Interstate 15 Antique cars could occasionally be spotted in the parking lot 14 2016 fire EditOn August 16 2016 the diner was destroyed by the Blue Cut Fire 15 The current owners of the business plan to rebuild making it appear as identical to the old building as possible 3 References Edit Nick Freeth Paul Taylor 2001 07 01 Traveling Route 66 p Books 359 ISBN 9780806133263 Retrieved 2012 08 24 Todd Mokhtari on Twitter a b c Steinberg Jim 17 August 2016 Summit Inn destroyed by Blue Cut fire but new owners say they will rebuild San Bernardino Sun Retrieved 24 August 2016 Alice Eby Hall 2009 09 02 The Cajon Pass p 83 ISBN 9780738570754 Retrieved 2012 08 24 John Howard Weeks 2012 02 27 Mojave Desert p 24 ISBN 9780738588872 Retrieved 2012 08 24 a b Strickland Sharon 2009 09 08 Get your fill on Route 66 Hesperia Star Retrieved 2012 08 24 Claudia Heller Alan Heller 2012 05 22 Life on Route 66 Personal Accounts Along the Mother Road to California p 21 ISBN 9781609496227 Retrieved 2012 08 24 Russell A Olsen 2011 11 15 Route 66 Lost amp Found Mother Road Ruins and Relics The Ultimate Collection p 146 ISBN 9780760339985 Retrieved 2012 08 24 RIVERSIDE Stolen vehicle found smashed into restaurant blog pe com Archived from the original on 2014 03 27 Johnson Shea Iconic Summit Inn diner in Oak Hills reopens Summit Inn Review The Mojave Desert Fodor s Restaurant Reviews Retrieved 2012 08 24 Marian Clark Michael Wallis 2003 03 01 The Route 66 Cookbook Comfort Food from the Mother Road p 22 ISBN 9781571781284 Retrieved 2012 08 24 Sara Benson 2009 04 01 California p 677 ISBN 9781741047394 Retrieved 2012 08 24 Glen Duncan 2005 10 12 Route 66 in California California Route 66 Preservation Foundation p 42 ISBN 9780738530376 Retrieved 2012 08 24 Southern California wildfire destroys iconic inn CNN 20 August 2016 Retrieved 20 August 2016 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Summit Inn amp oldid 1171646616, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
