Below are magazine and newspaper articles about Rockwood Lodge, photos, our historical plaque, and an advertisement in a local paper.
(Much thanks to Mr. C.W. “Bill” Stark for sharing many documents, stories, and his precious time! And for treating me to sushi dinner at the Antler’s Inn, back when they had sushi, AND… for fixing my sliding glass door handle while he visited!).
To book a tour:
call, text, or email
310-844-5649
Kelly@RockwoodCabins.comÂ
Historical Plaque Transcription:
“Rockwood is entirely the craftsmanship of Arthur E Scoles, a civil engineer who was formerly employed by John D. Rockefeller. After retirement he began construction of the lodge in the fall of 1915, finally completing it in the fall of 1920. He spent nine months three days and eight hours in actual construction during this five-year period. He was inspired by memories of an old Norse hunting lodge where he spent many happy hours. Logs every kind of tree found in the San Bernardino Mountains including Sugar Pine, Yellow Pine, Jeffrey Pine, Cedar, Fir and Oak were used in its construction. Vermiculation of on the logs was intentionally produced by the propagation of worms.
Later the bark was removed and all the logs were twice boiled in oil as a preservative. During the course of construction and for many years after its completion, Rockwood has been the subject of stories in outdoor periodicals. The United States Forestry Department wrote Mr. Scoles complementing him upon the design of the lodge, stating that it was the most unique and artistic one known to them in the entire United States. They further estimated that over 65,000 people visited the lodge during its building period.
The above facts were given to Mr. and Mrs. Fred B. Ortman in a conversation with the builder on August 20, 1937, Mr. Scoles being at the time 76 years old. During the winter of 1938, Mrs. Ortman again visited Mr. Scoles to confirm the mystery that shrouded Rockwood for many many years. Was it true, that a small chest containing a book of over 8,000 signatures of visitors, together with the sum of gold was secreted in the masonry of Rockwood? Mr. Scoles simply smiled and nodded. Its hiding place, known only to himself, is his cherished memory of happier days. It is the secret of Rockwood.”
Featured in Media:
Historical Homes Magazine, year unknown, written by Pam Jones. (This article is a prized gift from Bill Stark, former owner of Rockwood Lodge).
Sunday, August 24, 1952 – Long Beach Independent Press Telegram (from Newspapers.com)
This is how the full article looked in the Long Beach Independent Press Telegram:
When Bill Stark put Rockwood Lodge up for sale, below is the ad he ran in the Mountain Shopper in 1996:
Photos of Bill Stark (far left), Patricia Stark, and a few of his friends in 1980. Bill said these were his Elementary School friends. You can see that Rockwood Lodge hasn’t changed much since then!
To book a tour:
call, text, or email
310-844-5649
Kelly@RockwoodCabins.comÂ
Permit #CA20180688