By RHEA-FRANCES TETLEY
Staff Writer
The Crestline Chamber of Commerce is celebrating their newly renovated visitors center this Friday, May 23, at 9:00 a.m. with a ribbon cutting at their office, located at 24385 Lake Drive on Lake Gregory’s north shore.
This renovation has been more than two years in the making, as they also were required to make numerous building repairs after the rear deck collapsed off the back of the building during the big snowstorm two winters ago. The handicapped access needed to be replaced to enable everyone to access the high-off-the-ground building. The new, shiny aluminum ramp wraps around the building from the front parking lot as it reaches the new back door that overlooks the lake and the regional park.
Board member Dirk Rinker arranging the new decor at the Crestline Chamber of Commerce office.
Inside the new visitors center there will be new photos of the area decorating the walls. Interesting Crestline souvenir items will be available for purchase, just in time for summer.
“The entire community is invited to attend this special ribbon cutting and party,” said Crestline’s Chamber President Louis Boehle.
“The chamber’s board members have been working very hard for a long time to make this visitors center grand opening happen,” said Dirk Rinker, a member of the chamber’s board of directors. “There have been so many details to plan.
“We had to get the new handicapped ramp shipped from Louisiana and installed. There have been building repairs, new doors, new floors, new signage, redesigning the interior of the shop and even deciding what products will best serve our visitors,” Rinker said. “We started from the ground up. It’s very exciting to see the results of all our planning and hard work come together.”
Because the chamber is a major sponsor of the Crestline Highlanders, a vintage baseball team, there will be numerous items from that back-to-back championship team on display, including the 40-ounce wooden bats they use, a handmade ball, uniform and some newspaper clippings. The team was honored last year at the Le Grand Picnic and participates in the Jamboree Days parade; they play their home games on the Twin Peaks field all summer long.
The new access ramp at the Crestline Chamber office is now ready for use.
Also in the historical realm, there will be autographed books on the history of the mountain area that will be available for purchase. There will be brochures and handouts on the many local hiking trails, activities and the many things to see and do locally. The visitors center which will be open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. all summer long. The chamber office itself will continue to be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Tuesday through Friday.
The Crestline Magazine – which promotes local activities and places of interest with a map – will be released soon and will be available at the chamber office.
To continue offering their many events – including Corks & Hops, the Duck Derby, the Community Picnic and Jamboree Days – the chamber needs volunteers. Contact them by phone at (909) 338-2706, visit them at 24385 Lake Drive or send them a message at P.O. Box 926, Crestline, CA 92325.
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