A San Diego Backcountry Retreat
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The Haylapa House is located on a small ranch east of San Diego, in the picturesque mountain community of Descanso which borders on Cuyamaca State Park. Descanso literally means "place of rest " and historically served as the winter camp for the local Indians for several hundreds of years because of the weather, the abundant water and oaks they harvested acorns from. Artists Lane McClelland and Laurie Roberts made it their permanent camp in 1990 along with their menagerie of cats, dogs , mules, donkeys, and birds. On it is an old storybook stone house, guesthouse and barn. In the beginning, to make ends meet, Lane and Laurie rented out the main houses and lived in a tipi which Laurie sewed up in the living room before the new tenant moved in. The following year, they renovated the barn where they now live. In 1992, they built a curious and cozy little round house out of strawbales they called a "Haylapa" which was used for reading, meditation and out of town guests. It wasn't long before people were requesting to see it or spend the night, so they decided to remodel and make it a vacation retreat. It has been featured on TV, in magazines and books about strawbale buildings and unusual architecture. The sense one gets upon entering the Haylapa is that it's time to mellow out, reflect and relax and enjoy the diversity of the San Diego backcountry. |
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Your Hosts Lane and Laurie are both San Diego natives and have always made their living creatively. Lane is a 4th generation woodworker and is well known for his custom willow furniture and rustic detailing which is prominent in the Haylapa. He and his partner have Roby-McClelland Rustic Design, a contracting business which does custom architectural detailing, furniture, stone work, log milling, strawbale construction and woodwork...all with a rustic flair. Their website is www.1888twigman.com . Laurie's creative work began in her early twenties welding and sculpting. Later she received her degree in environmental design and specialized in native plant gardens for which she became well known. More recently, she co-owned a digital imaging, custom framing & art restoration business in Little Italy . Currently, Laurie is doing design consulting for home and garden, oil painting and art restoration, and helping her father rewrite his book "Baja California Plant Field Guide". |
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accommodationsThe Haylapa is one large open room, with a palapa ceiling made from recycled tipi poles and willow twig. It is furnished with a queensize bed , a futon couch, furnishings and art made by the owners, TV, VCR, DVD and free internet connection. The kitchen is fully equipped . The countertops and night stands are made from pine killed in the Cedars fire. The sunken bathroom has a large clawfoot tub and "rain" shower with a view of Cuyamaca Peak . The private patio has a view of the surrounding mountains, an outdoor fireplace made from local stone, a pizza oven, and is securely fenced for your pets. For those of you staying longer than a few days, there are full laundry facilities available. It is ideal for two people looking for a private retreat. |
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DiningWe are a "bed but get your own breakfast" establishment but we encourage you to try our outdoor pizza oven. We'll provide you with our own homemade pizza dough, you bring whatever toppings you desire and we'll show you how to make the first one. You won't believe how good they taste.....and dining under the stars in front of a warm fire on a clear night is beyond words. We suggest making a few extras for the next day. If pizza's not your thing, there are several good restaurants in Alpine, Pine Valley or the Viejas Casino and Outlet which has a good buffet.
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Pets and EquinesHorses and dogs are welcome, but the fencing is not cat proof. In addition to the fenced patio, the Haylapa is sited in a fenced 2 1/2 acre compound of oaks, boulders and trails and is secure for your pets to play and explore. If you want to take a long hike with your dog, there is a trailhead nearby that accesses a expansive wilderness area that has no leash requirements. It is also a great place to horseback ride. If you want to bring your horses, we have corrals, a large pasture area (.25 acre) under the oaks for them to run and a place to park your trailer. We do not have hook-ups but if you are staying in the Haylapa and would like to have friends with rigs join you, they may park down by the corrals for an additional fee of $20. |
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| Things
To Do There are fabulous trails awaiting the equestrian, hiker or mountain biker including one that allows unleashed dogs. Sightseers will enjoy a jaunt to the old mining town of Julian where they can shop, eat some of their famous apple pie, or go winetasting . Just over the hill from Julian is Santa Ysabel which has a wonderful gallery which features local artists, the Weavers Guild, Dudleys Bakery and the old picturesque Santa Ysabel Mission. Animal lovers will enjoy visiting the awesome California Wolf Center or perhaps Lions, Tigers and Bears Animal Sanctuary . A drive over to Borrego Desert is always enjoyable, especially in the winter for hiking or visiting the Interpretive Center. For you out-of-towners who would like to visit San Diego's beaches, we are just 45 minutes away from the coast. If you want to experience a bit of Mexico's charms, we are 45 minutes from the quaint town of Tecate which has great food, shopping and pharmacies. If a spa is more to your liking, you can head over to Jacumba Hot Springs Resort which is a low key place with pools, sauna, natural hotsprings , masseuses, restaurant and bar. It makes a nice stop after a high desert ride or hike. On your way back from Jacumba, you must stop at the tiny Wisteria Candy Cottage which makes the best homemade chocolates and sweets you'll ever taste and has been in the same location for over 75 years. . For you gamblers and shoppers, the Viejas Casino and Outlet is a 15 minute drive west and has great restaurants and stores. If you like good beer, stop at the Alpine Brewery on your way up the hill to pick up a jug to enjoy with your pizza. Equestrians and motorcyclists will find McClintocks Saddles a worthwhile stop for custom leather accessories and tack. Anyone who loves wood or cooking will be amazed by a visit to Trynn Spoons, owned by artist Bill Chapelow, who makes fine art spoons, utensils and jewelry from exotic woods. If you would like to go trail riding and don't own a horse, you can reserve one at Kenner Stables near Julian. The quaint mexican town of Tecate is 40 minutes away and is a fun place to have a taste of south of the border experience. |
| Weather We are located at an elevation of 3400' and get one or two light snows per year. You can expect chilly nights in the winter. Mid summer temps can get into the 100's. Most of the year, we enjoy excellent weather and often are able to ride in T-shirts New Years Day ! Check weather.com to see our local forecast.
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Rates (two night minimum stay)$145 tax incl. based on double occupancy. Add $10 per stay per extra person up to four maximum. Horses ...............................$10 per animal Guest rig parking ( your guest)............. $20 no hook ups Pizza firing tutorial and crust (you supply favorite toppings)......$20 or free if you do it all yourselves with my written tutorial and you bring dough for crust. Major credit cards accepted. Call or e-mail for reservations. |
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| For more backcountry retreat photos click here |
To See More of Our Rustic Creations For Your Home and Garden Visit Http://www.1888twigman.com
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The Southern California Equestrian
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