Have you ever wondered about the history of the park in the center of town? It started as part of the original Idyllwild Inn in 1904, and was part of the 2nd Idyllwild Inn in 1945, both of which burned down. By the time they were building the 3rd Idyllwild Inn, the current owner, Eleanor Johnson, was tired of all the fires and devastation and vowed to make the center section into a park. She oversaw the building of short rock walls, plantings of all types, and even a big pine tree which later grew into our beloved “Christmas Tree”. She even had a fountain installed in the center of the park.

By 1961, the park was completed just in time to be part of the filming of Elvis Presley’s Kid Galahad movie. But constant up-keep and occasional vandalism started to wear Eleanor down. In 1974 the property was re-classified as “commercial” raising the tax rate, and Eleanor’s husband Jerry Johnson put up an ice cream and fast-food stand in 1977 called “The Tax Shelter”.

When Eleanor died in 1982, her fountain was no longer operational and the fast food stands morphed into a restaurant called Tahquitz Inn, then O’Sullivan’s (which was it’s name when I came here in 1994) and then Jo An’s in 1997. This is how it remained until 2017.

In 2017, Jo An’s was in decline and the current owners put the property on the market. They were advertising it as “the perfect place for a hotel”. Everyone had an opinion, and most agreed a hotel in the very center of town was a bad idea. Dave & Loie Butterfield, who had already purchased the property where the playground was, and the future Community Center and Amphitheater were already in the planning stages, purchased Jo An’s restaurant. Within a few short weeks, Shane Stewart and his crews were demolishing Jo An’s…BY HAND! Because the annual tree lighting ceremony was coming up, they didn’t want tractors in the middle of town.

By May of 2018, IDY Park was completed with new walkways, new rock walls, benches, some additional trees, and dedicated to Veterans and First Responders. The flag pole stands where JoAn’s restaurant was previously located. While the community center and amphitheater were still in the planning phases, both of which the Butterfield’s gave to this community, they purchased the land in the center of town, made it into a beautiful park for everyone to enjoy, just like Eleanor did back in 1946, and they continue to fund the upkeep and maintenance of the park today.

Remember how beautiful the trees in the park are at Christmas? Well this 4th of July all the trees will be lit-up again but all in white! Happy 4th of July Idyllwild. We are one lucky town! Thank you Dave & Loie (and Shane & Ashley too).

Friday June 28th
FREE Ice Cream Social
Idyllwild Nature Center
Hosted by Forest Folk &
Idyllwild Shuttle
2pm – 4pm

If you need transportation, please call
951-426-9688

Saturday June 29th
Garden Club Class
Gardening From The Ground Up
“Irrigation & Water Conservation”
Community Garden
Alderwood & N. Circle
9:00 am – 10:30 am

Today, Bob will focus on water conservation techniques you can use at home. We’ll build a simple drip irrigation system for use in the garden. The various types of tools and irrigation parts will be explained and used. Wondering how to start your water saving irrigation system? Don’t miss this class!

Saturday June 29th
Pride Celebration
St Hugh Episcopal Church
2pm – ?

Wednesday July 3rd
Kids Program
Idyllwild Library
11 am

Thursday July 4th – 6:00 pm
Friday July 5th – 3:00 pm
Rustic Theatre

Silent Movie with Live Accompanying Music.

Friday July 5th
Lighting of the Trees
IDY Park – Center of Town
4 pm – 9 pm

Saturday July 6th
FREE CONCERT
Butterfield Amphitheater
7:00 pm

26890 Hwy. 243
951-659-1122

Click Here to go to the
PCT Information Page

No remaining food deliveries in June
Next Food Delivery Thursday July 11th, 2024

MOUNTAIN AID
Need food or other items?
Want to help those who do?
Twice monthly food boxes for every budget.
By ordering a food box, you help pay for those who can’t pay.

Summer Pick-up will be at the Mormon Church on Tollgate
www.MountainAid.net

The New Bathrooms are OPEN!
Next door to the Idyllwild Gardens Nursery – Across the street from the Rustic Theatre.
Open Daily 9am – 5pm

Thank you to Shane & Ashley Stewart for donating the land for these bathrooms and to Stephanie Yost with ICC for her persistence with the County of Riverside to FINALLY get us public bathrooms. Thank you to the County of Riverside and Supervisor Manuel Perez for making this happen. It’s been a LONG time coming! Bathrooms will be locked at night. I’m not sure what time yet.

Hotel Information
Upcoming Weekends
www.IdyLodging.com

Body & Soul

Click Here for a list of Yoga, Pilates, Aerobics, Meditation & Hypnosis in Idyllwild.

All events, venues & programs run by
Idyllwild Community Center

Fit after 50
Free Exercise Class
Town Hall

Mondays
12-pm – 1pm

Tue/Wed/Thur
10am – 11am

Fridays
12-pm – 1pm

Mondays
Tai Chi Classes
10:30 – 11:30 am
Town Hall
$10 per class or $35 a month

FEEDING AMERICA
First Tuesday of each month.

Camp Idyllwild Cabaret
July 8 – 9
July 22 – Aug. 2
Town Hall