By RHEA-FRANCES TETLEY
Staff Writer
The Perch – a retreat center and resort that can host up to 46 overnight and nearly 80 for a daytime event – held a ribbon cutting ceremony on April 4, sponsored by the Crestline Chamber of Commerce.
When built in the 1930, it was known as the Mile High Resort. Over the past couple of years, the buildings have been totally remodeled and upgraded into a wedding venue, a writer’s retreat or family reunion location. It has 22 bedrooms and 27 beds, with additional indoor and outdoor spaces for events and activities, such as meetings, yoga, painting or weddings. Each cabin has a kitchen, except for the gathering buildings, where they often offer yoga.
About 25 people attended the ribbon cutting at The Perch in Twin Peaks.
Owners Blake Mooney and his sister-in-law Sandra Charet cut the ribbon, representing the couples who own the resort. The extended family has owned and lived in the Lake Arrowhead area for almost 50 years. The decided to buy this property when it came on the market in 2018 and first opened 10 of the cabins for short-term rentals while they completed the project. They have switched the property’s use to a retreat center, as they found that larger groups were seeking a location to gather.
Charet moved from New Jersey to Los Angeles in 2017 and encouraged the family to do “something together.” This resort and conference center has been the family project since, taking one-and-a-half years to renovate while she and her husband lived in the front cabin.
They have activities or entertainment to offer to the groups, such as painting classes by Molly, star gazing, opportunities for photography or Arrowhead Queen cruises on Lake Arrowhead.
At the ribbon cutting, Supervisor Dawn Rowe’s Field Representative Robin Bull stated how inspiring the location is and, although conveniently located right on the main road, it is so quiet it feels like it is in the middle of nowhere.
Louis Boehle, president of the Crestline Chamber of Commerce, congratulated Mooney and Charet, both of whom are members of the Crestline Chamber of Commerce, and encouraged them to comment on the natural beauty of the area and on achieving such a milestone in bringing back this historic property into such a needed amenity for the area.
Blake Mooney and Sandra Charet, owners of The Perch, with Robin Bull and Louis Boehle.
“It’s beautiful here and nice to be out in the country and celebrate this new business,” said Boehle. The Mile High Resort was a recognized destination in the past and he hopes it will become so again.
Mooney said he intends to do some research on his family history to see if he has any relationship to James Mooney who steadfastly persevered and got Little Bear Lake Built, financing it out of his own pocket, after the other financiers cashed out, despite legal and financial setbacks to create the beautiful Lake Arrowhead we enjoy today.
“The history of the construction of Lake Arrowhead was filled with setbacks and this resort has survived for a good reason as well, and we hope to bring it full circle back into a contributing part of the mountain community,” said Mooney.
An artist retreat weekend will be held on May 5. The Perch is a boutique retreat, located on Resort Loop Circle at 25807 State Highway 189 in Twin Peaks. Contact them at (909) 914-4946 and see their extensive website at www.theperchattwinpeaks.com for additional details on how to secure a reservation.
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