The Calico House Restaurant re-opened Tuesday, July 1st under new management. After being closed for nearly six months, the new Leasee, Daryl Schendel, has great plans to put the place on the map. And not just for visitors to Calico Ghost Town! Schendel has purchased an 8' smoker and the aromas of slow-cooked tri-tip, ribs and chicken blew over Calico and on into areas around Barstow.
After an official ribbon-cutting last Tuesday, attendees were invited to sample the barbeque offerings and after one bite, those who were there knew that this place was going to be a success. The meats are seasoned with a St. Louis rub and slow cooked until the flavor is completely soaked into the meats and the aromas cover the town. Mouthwatering is the best description!
Schendel has kept the same staff that previously worked at the Calico House Restaurant under the previous management. They know the operation and are geared towards giving great customer service. He will operate the restaurant from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on weekends and major events, will keep open until 8 p.m. Those entering the park after 4 p.m. will not have to pay the park entry fee to dine at the restaurant.
Calico Ghost Town is a tourist destination. Tourists from foreign nations are sure to enjoy sampling the unique flavors of Western fare.
Schendel also plans to open a bakery adjacent to the restaurant carrying breads and pastries heretofore not easily accessed in this area. The bakery is scheduled to open in late fall.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Friday, June 13, 2008
$5 Per Gallon - A Camping Enthusiast's Challenge
As gas prices inch closer to $5 a gallon owners of recreational vehicles are stymied to find the ways and means to take them on the road. Only last fall, when gas was over the $3 gallon mark, RV owners were still traveling across the country in their Bounders and Fleetwoods enjoying the sites and natural wonders along the way.
At an eye-popping $4.60 a gallon in California, many owners are now parking their beloved RVs. While it may not be possible to go the distance in a motor home or camper any more, it does not mean that these vehicles need to be dry-docked until the gas prices come down.
While trips to Florida, Montana or Canada may no longer be affordable, there are alternatives that die-hard campers can take to give them the camping experience away from home at a reasonable cost.
San Bernardino County has several regional parks with great camping facilities. Moabi, right across the Colorado River from Laughlin, NV and Lake Havasu, AZ, provides camping opportunities on finger peninsulas with waterfront views. With its prime location on the water, Moabi also offers boating and watersports. The park boasts 7 boat launches, a marina, gas dock and convenience store and beautiful scenery. It also features mobile home sites for those who wish to stay for awhile.
Calico Ghost Town is 146 miles away from Park Moabi. Established in 1881 during California's silver rush, one-third of the original buildings in Calico are still standing. The rest of the buildings have been restored to capture the same look as the original edifices. Calico Ghost Town is a throw-back to an Old West mining town. There one can walk history visiting the old one-room school house, touring Maggie's Mine and the Mystery Shack watching water run uphill. Walking up and down Main Street you will see the blacksmith's shop, the old fire engine and stagecoach, and Sheriff's office. There is a narrow-guage railroad train that one can ride around the town and you can try your hand at panning for gold, too. There are shops and food service at Calico Ghost Town and during the year there are several special events that take place in the town. This is an ideal place to camp. Calico offers full and partial hook-up options as well as cabins and bunkhouses.
Drive down 57 miles south of Calico and you will find the jewel of the desert - Mojave Narrows Regional Park. Located in Victorville, near Apple Valley, this 840-acre park is on the largest strand of riparian wetland along the Mojave River Basin. There are two lakes with year-around fishing. The park also rents rowboats and pedalboats. Drive up to the entrance of this park and you are met by grazing horses to the right and up a little further you'll see camels and even an alpaca! Horses and ponies are available for rent and can be taken for a ride on the park's equestrian trails. Mojave Narrows has scenic picnic facilities complete with barbeque grills and a nearby playground. The zero depth pool waterpark provides refreshing, wet fun for kids and adults alike. This park is getting national recognition for having over 15,000 varities of watchable wildlife.
Three regional parks within a total of 200 miles of each other can give the camping enthusiast a great vacation with a different experience in each park. Close enough to one another that the trip is affordable. By mapping a visit to these three parks, campers can still enjoy a recreational adventure closer to home yet still feel like they have gotten far away.
For more information about these and other San Bernardino County Regional Parks visit http://www.county-parks.com/
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Recreational Solutions to High Gas Prices
High gas prices are derailing travel plans for many California families. Airline prices have risen so much and cut back services that flying has become a luxury. And even at that, with most airlines now charging for a window or aisle seat, snack food and for each bag you check in, the thought of boarding a plane doesn't sound as attractive as it once did.
Jumping in the family car and taking a trip across state lines, let alone 500-1,000 miles from home, has made people think again about summer vacation plans.
Regional parks offer a solution to this dilemma, offering a variety of activities. California's San Bernardino County Regional Parks feature swimming, fishing, and picnicking; and in several locations there are provisions for RV and tent camping. Many of the parks feature water slides and/or zero depth pools. Aside from these common elements, the individual parks in this system also have unique features giving more options for people traveling within the area to take advantage.
If you like to ride horses, both Prado in Chino and Mojave Narrows in Victorville have equestrian activities. Prado also features an 18-hole championship golf course, an archery field, and an Olympic shooting range.
Moabi Regional Park is located in Needles, CA right across the Colorado River from Laughlin, NV and Lake Havasu, AZ. Moabi offers boaters and water-ski enthusiasts the ideal spot for recreation. The park is equipped with a marina, convenience store and soon will offer a restaurant and bar.
Lake Gregory Regional Park, located in Crestline, CA just south of Lake Arrowhead, is set in an alpine location and has the advantage of being up to 30-degrees cooler in the summer when temperatures are breaking through the 100-degree mark in cities below. Among its features is a fitness trail and a lodge in which to hold meetings, banquets, weddings, receptions and reunions. The park also features white sandy beaches around its lake area.
One of the most unique parks in the County's Regional Park system is Calico Ghost Town. Formed back in the 1880's when California was in its silver heyday, Calico was a silver rush mining town. One third of its original buildings still stand; and the others have been restored to capture the same essence. This place is truly a step back in time when men wore gun holsters and women wore long skirts and bustles. Calico features Maggie's Mine, a Mystery Shack where water runs uphill, a narrow gauge mining train, panning for gold and the old one-room school house. You can walk Main Street and be transported back to a time of horse-drawn carriages and fire engines, saloons and gunfights in the street. Calico is host to several special events throughout the year. While this park does not feature swimming,fishing or picnic facilities, they do have camping, camping cabins and bunkhouses as well as areas for off-road vehicles.
In San Bernardino County there are several ways to still enjoy recreational adventures and get away from home at a reasonable cost. The County's Regional Parks provide an answer to enjoying life even in hard economic times.
For San Bernardino County Regional Park locations and phone listings visit http://www.county-parks.com/
Jumping in the family car and taking a trip across state lines, let alone 500-1,000 miles from home, has made people think again about summer vacation plans.
Regional parks offer a solution to this dilemma, offering a variety of activities. California's San Bernardino County Regional Parks feature swimming, fishing, and picnicking; and in several locations there are provisions for RV and tent camping. Many of the parks feature water slides and/or zero depth pools. Aside from these common elements, the individual parks in this system also have unique features giving more options for people traveling within the area to take advantage.
If you like to ride horses, both Prado in Chino and Mojave Narrows in Victorville have equestrian activities. Prado also features an 18-hole championship golf course, an archery field, and an Olympic shooting range.
Moabi Regional Park is located in Needles, CA right across the Colorado River from Laughlin, NV and Lake Havasu, AZ. Moabi offers boaters and water-ski enthusiasts the ideal spot for recreation. The park is equipped with a marina, convenience store and soon will offer a restaurant and bar.
Lake Gregory Regional Park, located in Crestline, CA just south of Lake Arrowhead, is set in an alpine location and has the advantage of being up to 30-degrees cooler in the summer when temperatures are breaking through the 100-degree mark in cities below. Among its features is a fitness trail and a lodge in which to hold meetings, banquets, weddings, receptions and reunions. The park also features white sandy beaches around its lake area.
One of the most unique parks in the County's Regional Park system is Calico Ghost Town. Formed back in the 1880's when California was in its silver heyday, Calico was a silver rush mining town. One third of its original buildings still stand; and the others have been restored to capture the same essence. This place is truly a step back in time when men wore gun holsters and women wore long skirts and bustles. Calico features Maggie's Mine, a Mystery Shack where water runs uphill, a narrow gauge mining train, panning for gold and the old one-room school house. You can walk Main Street and be transported back to a time of horse-drawn carriages and fire engines, saloons and gunfights in the street. Calico is host to several special events throughout the year. While this park does not feature swimming,fishing or picnic facilities, they do have camping, camping cabins and bunkhouses as well as areas for off-road vehicles.
In San Bernardino County there are several ways to still enjoy recreational adventures and get away from home at a reasonable cost. The County's Regional Parks provide an answer to enjoying life even in hard economic times.
For San Bernardino County Regional Park locations and phone listings visit http://www.county-parks.com/
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