Historic Summit Inn Sold


HISTORIC SALE

Summit Inn to change hands

Escrow expected to close at end of month, owner says

By Matthew Cabe, Staff Writer (Daily Press)

HESPERIA — C.A. Stevens — longtime owner of the Summit Inn Restaurant located at the top of the Cajon Pass — has sold the historic diner and property to a Wrightwood-based family.

Stevens, 84, told the Daily Press on Thursday that the restaurant, its adjacent eight-room motel, a manager’s office and the Summit Station Antique Shop were purchased by the Recinos family for approximately $1 million.

Escrow is expected to close June 30.

Otto Recinos, 41, described the new ownership as a “family operation” between his mother, Annabella Recinos, his sister, Katherine Juarez, and himself.

He told the Daily Press historical significance is what attracted his family to the diner that has been in business since 1952.

“We’re thinking of completely renovating it and taking it back to its original look,” Recinos said.

The historic Summit Inn sign at the top of the Cajon pass at dusk in this undated file photo. PHOTOS BY JAMES QUIGG, DAILY PRESS

The famed restaurant has been sold to the Wrightwood- based Recinos family.

 The motel, which has been closed for years, will be fully remodeled and reopened, according to Recinos, whose family purchased the Pines Motel in Wrightwood — a business that caters to Pacific Crest Trail hikers — in January.

“We plan to be open 24 hours a day, and have events on the weekends once a month,” Recinos said. “We’re going to have a big barbecue grill outside and have weekend rib and beer specials ... We’re optimistic. It’s a great place. C.A. is ready to retire, and he’s made it this many years. I think it will be good to bring some new energy in.”

The current staff of waitresses and cooks — many having worked at the Summit Inn for decades — will remain intact once the sale is finalized, according to Stevens.

“I made the deal on this that they keep the help,” he said. “I put it right in the contract. They keep all the help, and (Otto) said, ‘Oh yeah, we’d be crazy not to.’ He’s a pretty smart guy.”

Stevens purchased the Summit Inn on Friday the 13th in 1966 for $335,000.

Despite being four months shy of a proper golden anniversary, he said a celebration of his 50 years as owner is scheduled for early October.

— A feature article on C.A. Stevens and his Summit Inn memories will appear in Sunday’s edition of the Daily Press. — Matthew Cabe can be reached at MCabe@VVDailyPress.com or at 760-951-6254. Follow him on Twitter @DP_MatthewCabe