I say, “Yes.”
Owned by Cathy Weil, Gold Mountain Manor has been a bed and breakfast for thirty years, although, the actual building was built in 1928. It was beautifully milled from Ponderosa Pine on site.
Comfort is an understatement when it comes to staying at Gold Mountain Manor. The dimensions of friendliness, hospitality, and spirituality can only be enjoyed by the depth and appreciation of one’s awareness. When a person leaves red roses and daisies in your room, it soars beyond the polite formality of stranger to stranger. The polite hospitality begins to rub through to being treated as royalty with sparks of divine. Yes, there are divine elements at the Gold Mountain Manor. Even at a rudimentary level, most of the materials that house these walls come from The Creator… The Divine.
The signature fireplaces that are in each room consist of stones from Gold Mountain. Guy Maltey works with bark. He split a multitude of logs and placed wood splint in between all of the pieces of wood. All rooms are equipt with towel warmers and homemade organic milk bath scents that change by the seasons. GilChrist and Soames Spa Therapy offer complimentary toiletries… “Oh, yes.”
All of the stuffed animals, furniture, pillows, baskets, picture frames, piano, and guitar are what a rich person would buy. In fact, many of the items at the Gold Manor have to be searched for in particular places. Mass production is not something you would use in any way to describe Golden Manor. Words like unique and special run through your mind instead.
Charming Jacuzzi tubs tempt. I say, “Yes”. Massages are also offered… “Yes.” The picture of Pocahontas on a canoe with a solitary lily brings one to a time of the wonderful culture of First Nations People.
Clark Gable and Carol Lombard honeymooned in what is now called the Clark Gable Room here at the Gold Mountain Manor. The Ted Ducey Room, named after a wildlife writer and broadcaster, moved up here to Big Bear in the 20’s with his bride. He even had a tamed mountain lion and an eagle. Ted had a great habit of hanging out and sharing wildlife stories with people.
If you need extra luck, stay in the Lucky Baldwin Room. If you are unsure of whom Lucky Baldwin is…look him up. To give you a small taste, Lucky just so happens to be one of the greatest pioneers and builders of California.
There is a small Christmas tree in my room with White Point Christmas lights. Is this a reminder that everyday is Christmas? I say, “Yes.” With that in mind, every night is New Year’s Eve. Golden Manor is your gift eagerly waiting to be opened…
The Next Day
What a difference a day makes. Breakfast is served on a thick solid slab of wood table. There are equally giant chairs that are fit for a king.
Good cheer abounds at Gold Mountain Manor. Cathy, the owner is radiant and cheerful. She is taking away all of the edges of her diverse personality. I feel lucky to be in her presence and in her Golden Manor… Cathy is truly my type of gal. She’ll rub an old banister made of tree bark and say, “Doesn’t this feel good? I can imagine all of the hands that touched it since 1928.” She has a dog, Quila, which means, “Spirit Guide” in Innuit, a language spoken in Alaska. Quila is an Alaskan Klee Kai that looks like a miniature Alaskan Husky. Quila, the Spirit Guide, has his own distinct character. One of his eyes is the color of maple syrup and the other is light, sky blue. He dines on organic snap peas. For a little dog, he can eat as many as a child.
The Ted Ducey room is one of the most handsome rooms that I have ever stayed in. A young couple just had their honeymoon here off of the main living room with Guy Maltey fireplace. It is located in a discrete part of the house. In fact, you wouldn’t know there was a room around if you did not see a bright colored rendering of the bust of the Chief of a First Nation’s Tribe greeting you as you enter the Ted Ducey Room. You arrive in a sunken living room with a triangular desk. There is an orange, rose wall with First Nation’s rugs and blankets on the wall. A huge Jacuzzi square tub Panderosa with a wood panel sits throughout. Above your bedroom and lounge area is a very mountain regal bed made over twisted and angular shaped tree stumps. The big branches are ultra cool. With a flat screen television and DVD player, heater and air filtration system, it is really unnecessary to leave your room. On your personal porch, the beautiful views of trees and two twig rocking chairs along with a table sweetly call your name. Rocky Mountain High never looked so good.
You really have to gently look around the Gold Mountain Manor to fully digest its greatness. While you are at it, check out the 1902 Kimball Piano. The Gold Mountain Manor is unnoticed by many Big Bear residents despite the fact that it is a recreational haven. At Gold Mountain Manor, you can go snowshoeing, do altitude-training kayaking, hike, and top class bicycles are also available for mountain biking. When it comes to Gold Mountain Manor, just say…yes.
Rating—Supercool
