Amid the bad news about the historic Summit Inn restaurant burning down, a sliver of good news emerged Wednesday night — its owners plan to rebuild.
The San Bernardino County Sun reported:
But new owners Katherine Juarez and her brother Otto Recinos, who recently purchased the restaurant, want to bring it back.
“We plan to rebuild it just as it was,” Juarez said Wednesday.
The sale of the property was completed July 1 and Juarez said she and her brother will rebuild.
A restaurant wasn’t the only thing destroyed. The Summit Inn’s longtime general manager, who lived nearby, lost her home in the fire, as well.
The Blue Cut wildfire that destroyed the Route 66 landmark near Oak Hills, California, continued to rage out of control. As of late Wednesday, it had burned more than 25,000 acres and was 4 percent contained. Even veteran firefighters were startled by the blaze’s intensity.
Valuable memorabilia undoubtedly was lost in the Summit Inn blaze. But as Dawn Welch, the longtime owner of the equally iconic Rock Cafe in Stroud, Oklahoma, would attest, new memories can rise from the ashes. A fire destroyed her historic restaurant in 2008. Welch persevered, rebuilt and reopened the Rock Cafe within a year. Welch spends a lot of time in California nowadays; maybe she and the Summit Inn’s owners can commiserate.
The Summit Inn changed owners just a few weeks ago. Juarez and Recinos bought the restaurant, motel, office and antique shop for about $1 million from longtime owner C.A. Stevens, right before his 50th anniversary there.
The Summit Inn had operated at its present site since 1952, although its roots at the summit of Cajon Pass go back to the late 1920s. Celebrities who had eaten there included Elvis Presley, Pierce Brosnan, Clint Eastwood and Danny Thomas.
(Image of Summit Inn in 2008 by danpadilla via Flickr)
Terrific news! When the restaurant reopens, the San Diego Miata Club will be there to help celebrate!
Ate there several times over the years. What a loss. Sorry for the owners and certainly hope they do rebuild.
Our hearts go out to all in CA, If we can help with a furnished mountain home in AZ let us know, it is available for a couple of months our treat, no smoking residence,to help the prior General Manager of the Summit Inn that lost her home, Bless you all, 66 Kingman Container guy.
I was taking a cross country bicycle trip that began this past May 1. Was also raising money for MS as part of my ride. My trip took me along Route 66 going east from Santa Monica.
My lunch stop on day two was at The Summit Inn. Food and service was excellent. When I told my waitress I was riding to raise awareness for MS, not only did she pay for my lunch – she also made a nice donation for the cause. I will never forget her kindness and generosity.
So happy to hear that you’re rebuilding! When you guys reopen, I’ll make a special trip out and have dinner! God bless you:)
I’ve thought about this a bit and I can’t think of a restaurant on 66 that I like better. I liked the architecture – sort of eichler-ish post and beam design. I liked the light – it was always bright and pleasant in there. I liked the smell, the feel, the pleasant employees and the good food and fast service. I can’t think of any other place on 66 that comes even close.
As an added bonus, it was sort of a prize to claim at the top of the hill – whether on a bike or in a car. And it was a last stop in the calm desert before descending into the insanity of the LA basin.
I hope the replacement is identical, down to the narrow bathroom doors.
Dennis Toeppen