Idyllwild–Pine Cove, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Idyllwild, Pine Cove, Fern Valley
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| Idyllwild–Pine Cove | |
Idyllwild
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Location within Riverside County and California
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 Idyllwild, Pine Cove, Fern Valley
Location in southern California
Idyllwild, Pine Cove, Fern Valley
Location in California
Idyllwild, Pine Cove, Fern Valley
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Riverside |
| Area | |
| • Total | 13.733 sq mi (35.568 km2) |
| • Land | 13.723 sq mi (35.542 km2) |
| • Water | 0.010 sq mi (0.026 km2) 0.07% |
| Elevation | 5,413 ft (1,650 m) |
| Time zone | UTC−8 (Pacific) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code |
92549
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| Area code | 951 |
| FIPS code | 06-36203 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2408414 |
Idyllwild, Pine Cove, and Fern Valley are three towns in the San Jacinto Mountains in Riverside County, California. They are called "unincorporated communities" because they don't have their own local government. Idyllwild is the biggest of the three.
The U.S. Census Bureau counts Idyllwild–Pine Cove as one area for statistics. In 2010, about 3,874 people lived there.
Idyllwild is a popular mountain resort in Southern California. It's about one mile (1.6 km) high. Two large rock formations, Tahquitz Rock and Suicide Rock, are famous for rock climbing. Idyllwild is special because it has all four seasons. In winter, you can drive to the desert in about an hour. The area is great for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding.
Contents
History of Idyllwild
Early Days and Native Americans
Idyllwild was once a summer home for Cahuilla Native Americans. They came here to escape the hot desert weather. You can still see their grinding slabs in Idyllwild. These are flat rocks used to grind food.
A Cahuilla legend tells about a spirit named Tahquitz. He was said to be trapped under Idyllwild's Tahquitz Rock. When the mountain shakes, people say it's Tahquitz causing trouble.
How Idyllwild Got Its Name
The area was first called Strawberry Valley. This was because of the wild strawberries that grew there. Shepherds used to bring their sheep to the valley. In the 1880s, the Domenigoni family settled nearby.
In 1889, George and Sarah Hannahs built a summer camp. They called it Camp Idyllwilde. A toll road was built in the 1890s. This made it easier for people to visit and settle. A post office opened in 1893. The town was then called Rayneta.
In 1901, a place to treat sick people was built. It was soon changed into a resort. It was called Idyllwild Among the Pines, then just Idyllwild. The town's name also changed to Idyllwild that same year.
Later History and Changes
The Tribe of Tahquitz Boy Scout group started in Idyllwild in 1925. When cars became popular, Idyllwild became a weekend spot for tourists. For a while, the town looked like an alpine village. Many businesses had German-sounding names. This stopped during World War II.
From the 1930s to the 1950s, Idyllwild was known for "knotty pine furniture." This was beautiful log furniture. Today, this furniture is very popular with collectors.
In the 1950s, a system for rating climbing routes was created here. It's called the Yosemite Decimal System. In 1957, famous architect Frank Gehry designed his first house here.
In the late 1960s, many "hippies" moved to Idyllwild. This changed the town. Famous people like Timothy Leary lived nearby. In 2019, YouTube star Logan Paul bought a ranch in the area.
From 1974 to 1979, Idyllwild hosted a bluegrass music festival. The town also had the Bear Flag Festival. This honored California's Bear Flag. It also remembered the grizzly bear that used to live in California.
Schools and Filming Location
Most high school students from Idyllwild go to school in Hemet. This means a long bus ride each day. There have been many tries to start a high school in Idyllwild. Most of them did not last long.
Idyllwild and nearby areas have been used for filming movies. Many Westerns were filmed at Garner Ranch. The Elvis Presley movie Kid Galahad was filmed here in 1961 and 1962. TV shows like Air Wolf and Bonanza also filmed scenes here.
In 1998, Idyllwild was named one of the "100 Best Small Art Towns in America."
In 2012, a Golden Retriever dog named Max was elected "Mayor" of Idyllwild. This was part of a fundraiser for an animal rescue group. When Mayor Max died, another Golden Retriever, Maximus Mighty Dog Mueller II, took over. He became Mayor for life!
Geography and Nature
Location and Landscape
The Idyllwild–Pine Cove–Fern Valley area is in Southern California's San Jacinto Mountains. This area includes San Jacinto Peak. It is Southern California's second highest mountain.
Idyllwild is mostly in a high mountain valley. A small stream called Strawberry Creek runs through it all year. Pine Cove is on a ridge. It is almost 1,000 feet (300 m) higher than Idyllwild.
Flora and Fauna of the Mountains
The main trees here are old ponderosa pines. Other trees include California incense-cedar and California black oak. You can find Rainbow trout in Lake Fulmor and Strawberry Creek. Mule deer, squirrels, and chipmunks live in the forest.
Climate and Seasons
Idyllwild–Pine Cove has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate. This means it has warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters.
Winter is cool with some rain and snow. January high temperatures are usually around 50-60°F (10-15°C). Lows are just below freezing. Spring slowly gets warmer and is a nice time of year.
Summer is hot and dry. But temperatures cool down to below 60°F (15°C) at night. Days are not as hot as the deserts nearby. Late summer sometimes has thunderstorms. Fall is warm and dry. The first freezes happen by October, and the first snows by November.
The hottest temperature ever recorded was 104°F (40°C) in September 2020. The coldest was 1°F (-17°C) in January 1971. The snowiest year was 1948-1949 with 108.1 inches (274.6 cm) of snow.
Education in Idyllwild
- Idyllwild School teaches students from kindergarten to 8th grade. It is part of the Hemet Unified School District.
- Idyllwild Arts Academy is a private high school. It focuses on the arts. Students can live there or attend during the day.
- Hemet High School is also part of the Hemet Unified School District. It is located in Hemet.
Parks and Recreation
Idyllwild is inside the San Bernardino National Forest. It is also next to Mount San Jacinto State Park.
The Riverside County Regional Park and Open-Space District runs Idyllwild Park. They also operate the Idyllwild Nature Center.
Businesses and Organizations
In 1946, Ernie and Betty Maxwell started the Idyllwild Town Crier. This is a weekly newspaper that is still running today. It has won awards for its reporting.
The Idyllwild Arts Foundation began in 1950. It started as a summer arts program. In 1986, it became a private high school called Idyllwild Arts Foundation (IAF). It is a fully approved school for arts students.
Since 2010, Idyllwild has hosted the Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema. This film festival shows movies from all over the world.
In 2013, the Stratford Players theater group moved to Idyllwild. They perform plays all year. They often do "Will In The Woods," which features scenes from Shakespeare.
Camp Emerson, a Boy Scouts of America camp, has been in Idyllwild since 1919.
Notable People from Idyllwild
Many artists and musicians live in Idyllwild. These include drummer David Atwood from the band America. Also, Bobby Womack and Richard Halligan from Blood, Sweat & Tears. Musician Kenneth James Gibson has a studio here.
PGA tour golf star Brendan Steele grew up in Idyllwild. Artist Nate Lowman also grew up here. Musician Chris Thile spent most of his childhood in Idyllwild.
Many film actors and producers have owned homes here. Some famous names include Charles Laughton, Doris Day, Michael J. Fox, Sean Connery, and Dolly Parton. American Idol contestant Casey Abrams is from Idyllwild. Film director Stephen Savage also has a house here. He founded the Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema.
See also
In Spanish: Idyllwild-Pine Cove para niños
