By RHEA-FRANCES TETLEY
Staff Writer
Camp Commerce on Highway 173 in Lake Arrowhead hosted the Lake Arrowhead Communities Chamber of Commerce’s May mixer. During the evening of delicious barbecue sliders and s’mores around the fire, the chamber members got to tour the camp facilities and buildings under their tall trees.
The guests had the opportunity to make some camp crafts such as painted candle holders. The camp’s swimming pool is a rare amenity in these mountains and is obviously enjoyed by their campers. After the tour, as it got dark, the chamber members had the chance of a tour of the skies by telescope.
During the summer season, when Camp Commerce has their campers come up from the city to enjoy the clean air and clear skies, they often take their campers to local businesses for shopping, to the museum and activities to share the mountain with the visitors, encouraging them to return in the future.
The history of Camp Commerce shows a dedicated city not far from Los Angeles wanting to offer camping to their city kids and families. In 1961, the City of Commerce bought the Los Angeles Kiwanis camp in the San Bernardino Mountains for $45,000. However, that first Camp Commerce was on a highly visible fault so they looked for a better location. In the early 1980s, the City of Commerce leased another location until 1985 when the city purchased this 2.2-acre camp. Located on the main road only half a mile from the entrance to Lake Arrowhead Village, they can host up to 150 visitors at a time.
They have camp activities, a video game room, lots of outdoor games, plus a group dining room with a knotty pine interior. Their modern camping cabins have sturdy bunk beds and indoor bathrooms with showers. On weekends during the year when they do not have camp groups from the valley, they do rent out the camp to other groups to use.
During the mixer, gift baskets were given out. Because of limited parking at the camp, all of the chamber members were transported from the Lake Arrowhead Community Presbyterian Church where they had parked their cars.
The Lake Arrowhead Communities Chamber of Commerce has numerous seminars for business owners to take to improve the management of their businesses. It also offers several events such as the Brewfest and Home Tour to bring visitors to the area. They also publish a yearly business guide listing of their members to recommend services and businesses to visitors and locals to use.
For more information on the Lake Arrowhead Communities Chamber of Commerce, call them at (909) 336-1546 or see their website, www.lakearrowheadchamber.com, for upcoming events.
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