Former owner of Summit Inn at top of Cajon Pass dies at age 88

C.A. Stevens, the longtime owner of the Summit Inn restaurant at the top of Cajon Pass in Southern California, died Feb. 5 after contracting COVID-19. He was 88. Stevens owned the restaurant and an adjacent motel along old Route 66 for nearly 50 years until he sold it in 2016. A month after the sale … Continue reading Former owner of Summit Inn at top of Cajon Pass dies at age 88

An interview with Jim Conkle

Those who ever have spent any time with longtime Route 66 aficionado Jim Conkle will recognize many of the things he says about the Mother Road in this interview. The 25-minute interview was done by host Joan Rudder-Ward on the "Silver Sage" program, a weekly 30-minute cable-television show geared towards the age-50-and-older crowd. It's a … Continue reading An interview with Jim Conkle

Reconstruction of Summit Inn may begin in January

The co-owner of the wildfire-destroyed Summit Inn near Hesperia, California, said the rebuilding of the landmark Route 66 restaurant likely would begin in January. The Victorville Daily Press had some of the details about the coming reconstruction after reporting a fundraiser earlier this month netted $5,700 for the project. Summit Inn co-owner Otto Recinos told the Daily … Continue reading Reconstruction of Summit Inn may begin in January

Cleanup costs hamper Summit Inn rebuilding project

The owners of the Summit Inn faced higher-than-expected costs to clean up the property after a wildfire destroyed the restaurant in August. Otto Recinos, co-owner of the Route 66 landmark near Hesperia, California, told the Victorville Daily Press the cleanup cost $320,000. “The site had asbestos and lead,” Recinos said, “so we had to do a … Continue reading Cleanup costs hamper Summit Inn rebuilding project

Day of remembrance held for Summit Inn

The current owners of the Summit Inn held a memorial service Saturday at the charred site of the Route 66 restaurant that was destroyed by a ferocious wildfire in Southern California's Cajon Pass last month. The Victorville Daily Press reported: ... Owner Otto Recinos and his family invited the community to the site to share an opportunity … Continue reading Day of remembrance held for Summit Inn

Summit Inn owners plan to rebuild in 8-12 months

The owners of the Summit Inn restaurant plan to rebuild the Route 66 landmark eight to 12 months after a wildfire destroyed it earlier this month. The Victorville Daily Press reported co-owner Otto Recinos began this week salvaging what was left of the burned-out property near Oak Hills, California, at the top of Southern California's legendary Cajon … Continue reading Summit Inn owners plan to rebuild in 8-12 months

Owners of Summit Inn say they will rebuild

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 … Continue reading Owners of Summit Inn say they will rebuild

Wildfire destroys landmark Summit Inn

A fast-moving wildfire in Cajon Pass in Southern California destroyed the Route 66 landmark Summit Inn restaurant on Tuesday night, confirmed several media outlets in the Los Angeles region. The Los Angeles Times posted video from the scene as flames consumed the historic cafe. The Facebook page for the Oak Hills restaurant posted this message late … Continue reading Wildfire destroys landmark Summit Inn

Summit Inn ownership soon will change

The Summit Inn, situated off old Route 66 on the top of Cajon Pass in southern California, will change hands after almost 50 years under ownership by C.A. Stevens. The Victorville Daily Press reports the Otto Recinos family of nearby Wrightwood, California, bought the Route 66 restaurant, motel, office and antique shop for about $1 million. Closing on … Continue reading Summit Inn ownership soon will change

Elvis sightings on Route 66

The Marshfield Mail in Missouri published an extensive listing of Elvis Presley sightings and shows in the Show-Me State in 1956 -- the year he came into national prominence. The future King of Rock 'n' Roll's tours brought him to a few Route 66 landmarks that year. According to the newspaper. --- "By May 1956, Elvis was … Continue reading Elvis sightings on Route 66