109.79.104.45: Adding a reference

2025-04-20T16:48:34Z

Adding a reference

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{{Short description|Historic U.S. Route 66 roadside diner}}
{{for|the historic hotel resort located in Farmington, Pennsylvania|Historic Summit Inn Resort}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{infobox building
| name = Summit Inn
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
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| status =
| image = Summit_Inn_Interior.jpg
| image_alt =
| image_size =
| caption = A booth inside the Summit Inn
| map_type =
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| map_caption =
| altitude = {{convert|4260|ft|m}}<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jvTB7tIUUwoC&pg=PA359 |title=Traveling Route 66 |author1=Nick Freeth |author2=Paul Taylor |page=Books.359 |date= 2001-07-01|access-date=2012-08-24|isbn=9780806133263}}</ref>
| building_type =
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| structural_system =
| cost =
| ren_cost =
| client =
| owner = Katherine Juarez and Otto Recinos
| current_tenants =
| landlord =
| location =
| address = 5970 Mariposa Road
| location_town = [[Oak Hills, San Bernardino County, California|Oak Hills, California]]
| location_country = [[United States of America]]
| coordinates = {{coord|34.3591|-117.4352|region:US-CA|display=inline}}
| groundbreaking_date =
| start_date =
| completion_date =
| opened_date = 1952
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| floor_count = 1
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| architect =
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| quantity_surveyor =
| main_contractor = Burton and Dorothy Riley
| awards =
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| parking = on-site
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}}

[[Image:The_Answer_Box.jpg|thumb|The "Answer Box," an antique coin-operated fortune-telling machine]]
[[Image:Buick_Service_Old_Texaco_Building_Summit_Inn.jpg|thumb|Antique automotive service sign on the old Texaco garage]]
The '''Summit Inn''' was a historic [[U.S. Route 66]] roadside diner built in 1952, located at the summit of [[Cajon Pass]] in [[San Bernardino County]], [[California]]. The building was destroyed by the [[Blue Cut Fire]] on August 16, 2016.<ref name=KNBCTwitter>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/Todd_Mokhtari/status/765740210814582784|title=Todd Mokhtari on Twitter}}</ref> The building's current owners plan to rebuild the restaurant, as it appeared before the fire.<ref name="Rebuild">{{cite news|last=Steinberg |first=Jim |url=http://www.sbsun.com/business/20160817/summit-inn-destroyed-by-blue-cut-fire-but-new-owners-say-they-will-rebuild |title=Summit Inn destroyed by Blue Cut fire but new owners say they will rebuild |publisher=[[San Bernardino Sun]] |date=17 August 2016 |access-date=24 August 2016}}</ref>

==History==
The original Summit Inn was in operation in 1928<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jUPlGM-qosgC&pg=PA83 |title=The Cajon Pass |author=Alice Eby Hall |page=83 |date= 2009-09-02|access-date=2012-08-24|isbn=9780738570754}}</ref> and takes its name from its original location at the summit of the [[Cajon Pass]] between the westbound and eastbound lanes of US 66.

The present location in unincorporated Oak Hills, California, had been in operation since 1952 when 66 was rerouted along a somewhat lower elevation. 1953-era postcards depict a Horseless Carriage Rally at the Summit Inn which included vintage Ford [[Model T]]'s.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gwIWnouNf6gC&pg=PA24 |title=Mojave Desert |author=John Howard Weeks |page=24 |date=2012-02-27 |access-date=2012-08-24|isbn=9780738588872}}</ref>

Cecil “C.A.” Stevens bought the station and restaurant from original builder Burt Riley in 1966; he'd wanted just the [[Texaco]] [[filling station]] on the site but agreed to buy both if Hilda Fish, a German woman who ran the restaurant, were willing to stay to run the place. Hilda Fish retired in 2002<ref name="hesperiastar">{{cite news|last=Strickland |first=Sharon |url=http://www.hesperiastar.com/news/one-2909-inn-summit.html |title=Get your fill on Route 66 |publisher=Hesperia Star |date=2009-09-08 |access-date=2012-08-24}}</ref> and is now deceased.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=M6A45lkTk8YC&pg=PA21 |title=Life on Route 66: Personal Accounts Along the Mother Road to California |author1=Claudia Heller |author2=Alan Heller |page=21 |date=2012-05-22 |access-date=2012-08-24|isbn=9781609496227}}</ref>

Route 66 in the area was obliterated by [[Interstate 15 in California]] by 1970.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=znQWlnkMVvUC&pg=PA146 |title=Route 66 Lost & Found: Mother Road Ruins and Relics: The Ultimate Collection |author=Russell A. Olsen |page=146 |date=2011-11-15 |access-date=2012-08-24|isbn=9780760339985}}</ref>

On March 27, 2014, an intoxicated driver, Jayson Ernest Johnson of [[Riverside, California]], was arrested for crashing a stolen van into the restaurant, causing $200,000 in damage.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.pe.com/crime/2014/03/27/riverside-stolen-vehicle-found-smashed-into-restaurant/ |title=RIVERSIDE: Stolen vehicle found smashed into restaurant |website=blog.pe.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327183718/http://blog.pe.com/crime/2014/03/27/riverside-stolen-vehicle-found-smashed-into-restaurant/ |archive-date=2014-03-27}}</ref> The driver [[plea bargain|pled guilty to a lesser charge]] and received a suspended sentence. The entire kitchen was rebuilt using an [[property insurance|insurance]] payout and the restaurant re-opened at the end of July 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vvdailypress.com/article/20140801/NEWS/140809990|title=Iconic Summit Inn diner in Oak Hills reopens|first=Shea|last=Johnson}}</ref>
The vintage building which once served as a [[Texaco]] station remained on the property, although gasoline was no longer sold there. The Summit Inn's small gift shop still sold Texaco-related memorabilia and a great many original metal oil company signs decorated the rest of the interior. Other signs included two circa 1939 [[Standard Oil]] signs featuring [[Mickey Mouse]] and a genuine reflectorized US 66 highway shield.

Notable clients included [[Elvis Presley]] (who kicked the [[jukebox]] as it had none of his records at the time – an oversight soon fixed<ref>{{cite book|url=http://www.fodors.com/world/north-america/usa/california/the-mojave-desert/review-429197.html |title=Summit Inn Review | The Mojave Desert |publisher=Fodor's Restaurant Reviews |access-date=2012-08-24}}</ref> – and left without eating<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3mPr1WEUw6gC&pg=PR22 |title=The Route 66 Cookbook: Comfort Food from the Mother Road |author1=Marian Clark |author2=Michael Wallis |page=22 |date= 2003-03-01|access-date=2012-08-24|isbn=9781571781284}}</ref>), actor [[Pierce Brosnan]], [[Pearl Bailey]], [[Clint Eastwood]] and [[Danny Thomas]].<ref name="hesperiastar"/>

On July 1, 2016, the business was sold to Katherine Juarez and her brother, Otto Recinos, who moved to the area after selling family real estate holdings in [[Los Angeles]].<ref name="Rebuild"/>

==In popular culture==
The 2006 game [[Mother 3]] has a low quality photo of the café unused in the files.<ref>https://tcrf.net/Mother_3/Unused_Graphics</ref>

==Business model==
The menu at the Summit Inn was typical, inexpensive and satisfying roadside fare, but with a twist: [[Ostrich]] and [[American Bison|buffalo]] products were also served, including an ostrich egg [[omelette]] and "buffalo [[hamburger|burgers]]."<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Fi7jfn8lmyAC&pg=PA677 |title=California |author=Sara Benson |page=677 |date= 2009-04-01|access-date=2012-08-24|isbn=9781741047394}}</ref>

During the restaurant's operating hours, the original red neon "SUMMIT INN" sign flashed on and off to beckon drivers on present-day [[Interstate 15 in California|Interstate 15]]. Antique cars could occasionally be spotted in the parking lot.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rUDRHuV1UgMC&pg=PA42 |title=Route 66 in California |author=Glen Duncan |publisher=California Route 66 Preservation Foundation |page=42 |date= 2005-10-12|access-date=2012-08-24|isbn=9780738530376}}</ref>

==2016 fire==
On August 16, 2016, the diner was destroyed by the [[Blue Cut Fire]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/19/us/california-blue-cut-wildfire/index.html | title=Southern California wildfire destroys iconic inn | publisher=CNN | date=20 August 2016 | access-date=20 August 2016}}</ref> The current owners of the business plan to rebuild, making it appear as identical to the old building as possible.<ref name="Rebuild"/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Buildings and structures in San Bernardino County, California]]
[[Category:Burned hotels in the United States]]
[[Category:Defunct diners in the United States]]
[[Category:U.S. Route 66 in California]]
[[Category:Restaurants in California]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions along U.S. Route 66]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in San Bernardino County, California]]
[[Category:Restaurants established in 1952]]
[[Category:1952 establishments in California]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures demolished in 2016]]
[[Category:Diners in California]]

Summit Inn - Revision history

109.79.104.45: Adding a reference