Willow Beach - a great place for a respite

Willow  Beach Marina, Arizona

I first came across Willow Beach Marina years ago when powering northward on Lake Mojave from Catherine Landing in Bullhead City, Arizona.

It was one of those perfect early summer days when the temperature hadn’t reached cooking an egg on the asphalt hot and the skies promised to be crystal blue and cloudless.

So, untying my pontoon boat from the slip at Katherine Landing, my buddy Paul and I headed out for the roughly 50-mile trip across the deep blue waters of Lake Mojave. We would top off the fuel at Cottonwood Cove Marina, east of Searchlight, Nevada, before continuing on to Willow Beach Marina.

Paul wanted to see the marina, which he hadn’t seen in decades.

“It’s funky,” he said. “There’s a bar right on the water, which is a great place to grab a cold one.”

One thing he did not know was that the Willow Beach he remembered no longer existed as it once had.

The new and improved Willow Beach Marina and Store

Monsoonal floods happen along the Colorado River. In September of 1974, a massive wall of water crashed down El Dorado Canyon just ten miles south of Willow Beach, leaving nine people dead, and the small resort of Nelson Landing devastated. It was never rebuilt.

The National Park Service does its best to warn visitors of the dangers when sudden pop-up storms rise in the dry deserts near the Colorado River, and of how those storms can trigger life-threatening situations.

Please take heed

Willow Beach was founded in the 1940s by locals from Las Vegas as a small fishing and boating community. Even back then, the Park Service had warned about possible flooding down the steep canyons that reach into the Colorado River.

People, as people often do, shrugged their shoulders and realized that there are times when the rains and hard-packed desert sands don’t play well.

One person stated, “We know we live in a flood plain. It just goes with the territory.”

In 1992, a so-called 100-year storm caused a wave of water over 10 feet roaring down Jumbo Wash just 200 yards south of Willow Beach. Then again, in February of 1993, an unseasonal flash occurred, sending yet more torrents of rain, causing over a $100,000 damage to the area - destroying buildings, roadways, and other improvements.

But the continued ‘unusual’ storms occurred throughout the decades, causing so much damage to the Willow Beach Beach and Marina that it had to be rebuilt by the National Park Service.

It was no longer the ‘funky’ place Paul had remembered from years past. No, it looked like any other marina with plenty of slips, a fuel dock, restaurant, market, and a new and improved camping area.

Willow Beach parking and marina during the summer

So recently Laureen, my lovely wife, and I headed to Las Vegas for a few days and decided to take US 93 from Bullhead City to Sin City, while making a short detour at Willow Beach. 

Laureen Beyer enjoying the views from Willow Beach patio

The three-and-a-half-mile road from US 93 to the marina is narrow, twisty, and in need of some repair, in my opinion. In some spots, I would not want to maneuver our Bounder with a boat attached to the rear end - it would be very slow going and apt to upset the folks behind us.

But once we arrived at the marina, the winding road was a thing of the past. The views of the Colorado River were spectacular, with blue waters and towering cliffs both north and south of the marina.

The winter weather on this trip was a bit on the cooler side, but the sun was shining bright overhead, making it a bit more manageable.

We were surprised at how many folks were out and about on the wide sandy beaches and carrying kayaks of all sizes back and forth from the parking lot.

Visitors taking in the blue skies and blue waters at Willow Beach

The region is not only known for regular power boating, but paddling northward toward Hoover Dam, a mere 12 miles in kayaks, canoes, and paddle boards. A few miles south of the Hoover Dam is the marvelous natural destination of Emerald Cave.

Looking Northwest toward river running from Hoover Dam

People from all over the state and country visit this area to view the vibrant green water when sunlight strikes the walls of Black Canyon and then is reflected into the water, usually in the mid-afternoon. 

The cave was once a landmark for engineers to measure the water flow that ran past the Willow Beach Gauging Station, built in 1931.

Laureen and I watched as groups of people either paddled off separately toward Hoover Dam or joined paid tour groups to Emerald Cave.

They were wearing shorts and tank tops. Laureen and I both had on sweatshirts. We were not going on any tour that day.

The Willow Beach Harbor Marina and Camp Store lured Laureen in like a trout.

“I just want to see what they have,” she said.

In other words, my wallet may be a bit lighter when we left Willow Beach to head back toward Las Vegas.

Amazingly, after spending about ten minutes within the store, we left without purchasing anything but a simple magnet stating we had been to Willow Beach. It’s a habit that if we enter a store, we buy something, no matter how small, as a way to say thank you to the proprietor. 

“That was awesome,” I said.

“The store?” Laureen asked.

“That and the fact we still have enough cash for the rest of our trip.”

Being seasoned travelers, we had brought some snacks to enjoy while on the road, so I drove out of the parking lot and headed for the vista point a hundred or so feet above the marina.

John R Beyer at the overlook near Willow Beach, Arizona

The view was gorgeous as we sat quietly nibbling on salami, cheese, and crackers while taking in the majesty of the Colorado River both north and south of Willow Beach.

This sight hadn’t been available when Paul and I had boated to the Willow Beach Marina from the waters edge, and today I was glad for the short detour to take it all in.

“It’s beautiful,” Laureen said.

I simply nodded. Sometimes words can not compete with Mother Nature.

For more information: https://willowbeachharbor.com/

John can be reached at: beyersbyways@gmail.com

Happy New Year

 

Happy New Year's from J and L Research and Exploration

May 2026 bring joy and peace to you and your loved ones 

Visit new sites, eat new foods, meet new friends

Plan an adventure at least once per month

Explore

And try not to think about the past year - as T.S. Eliot once said,

For last year's words belong to last year's language, and next year's words await another voice.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from J and L Research and Exploration

May you find peace and love with family and friends

And remember

It's not Christmas without Christ

The winter wonderland of the Grand Canyon

 

Re-Visit to Pisgah Crater

Pisgah Crater

I have written about the marvelous Pisgah Crater about twenty miles east of the town of Newberry Springs in the past. Even wrote a fictional account of it titled, Secret of Pisgah Crater.

Most people probably never notice the lurking dark volcanic cinder cone which is bordered on the south by the Lava Bed Mountains, to the southeast by the Bullion Mountains, to the west by the Rodman Mountains, and to the north by the Cady Mountains - though it is easily seen from either Route 66 or Interstate 40.

Looking north from Pisgah Crater toward Route 66 and Interstate 40

For most travelers, it is just another hill along the vast stretches of the Mojave Desert, a seemingly never ending patch of brown dirt and sand sparsely covered with sporadic Creosote, Sage, Salt bushes and the occasional Ocotillo.

Many may think it is just a large dead piece of land. 

But, there lies its mystique and wonder. Because this desert is neither dead nor barren - it is full of life with bounding hares, sly Kit Foxes, Kangaroo rats, squirrels, and sometimes, if a person is fortunate enough, the elusive Bighorn Sheep. 

Of course, during certain months of the year a visitor should be aware of the other things crawling across the miles and miles of desert floor, from the venomous snakes like the Sidewinder, the Diamond Back, and the Mojave rattlesnakes, to the more benign California Kingsnake, the Gopher, and other harmless varieties of snakes.

Be careful hiking in the Mojave Desert 

Then there are countless lizards like the Common chuckwalla, the Desert horned, the Desert iguana, or the Mojave fringe-toed who spend their day sunning upon rocks or hunting for insects for nourishment. 

Circling the clear blue skies the tourist may catch a glimpse of the Swainson’s Hawk, a Cactus Wren, or a quick footed Roadrunner, along with the Common Raven and possibly a Seagull or two.

The Mojave Desert is a land full of life and action. 

I never forget the majesty of the desert while traveling the rough back roads crisscrossing here and there in this empty landscape.

It is a quiet, unhurried, and calming place to visit. An almost rebirth of one's senses - be that a little over dramatic, it is how I feel while driving through it.

The same sense of peace came over me recently while re-visiting Pisgah Crater.

It is a relatively new volcano, though not active, having last erupted approximately 20,000 to 50,000 years ago. Though some geologists believe an eruption may have occurred as recently as 2,000 years ago. 

Years ago, I camped at the crater while a rock band was filming a music video. It was surreal - I had come for peace and quiet and suddenly found myself surrounded with dozens of extras dressed as zombies approaching a stage while a helicopter buzzed the crater filming the whole thing.

John R Beyer with extra for music video, Lola

It was midnight before the multitude of trucks, gear, and people exited the roughly paved road toward Interstate 40, leaving me in total darkness and solitude.

The crater was the site of the Mount Pisgah Volcanic Cinders Mine, where tons of pumice was mined for use for the railroad ballast along the Santa Fe Railroad lines. Now it belongs to a Canadian company, Can-Cal Resources Limited, who specialize in exploration for precious metals. In the half dozen times I’ve visited the site in the past years I’ve never seen anyone working the crater though.

Multi-colored minerals litter the floor of Pisgah Crater

One of the many remarkable things about the Pisgah crater is the black sand that permeates the entire area, besides the red and black cinder pumice. It’s very fine and was used as the black sands for the film Letters from Iwo Jima, produced in 2006.

Drone view of Pisgah Crater with mounds of black sand

Recently I re-visited Pisgah Crater to sit back and relax. This time there was no one there - the way I like it.

The top of the crater rises about 320 feet above the surrounding desert, much has been removed through the years from all the mining operations that occurred there, as well as just centuries of natural erosion. 

For the brave, there are numerous lava tubes - which is a natural tunnel created when a solid tunnel is formed after molten lava has cooled from an eruption. I am not into any sort of spelunking and only have braved short trips through the 200 or so tunnels at Pisgah. And, for the more adventurous there is one nearly 1,300 feet long known as the SPJ Cave.

Ancient lava flows span out miles in circumference from the crater reaching Interstate 40 to the north and allowing drivers to cut through the black ribbons of the pahoehoe texture along Route 66.

Just some of the miles and miles of hardened lava

From a geologic standpoint, it is amazing and many weekends throughout the year teams of geologists can be seen studying the terrain from various universities and professional seminar groups.

On this last visit, I was alone and took out a folding camp chair, cracked open a cold one and just sat marveling at how truly the Mojave Desert was from my vantage point atop the crater.

It was surreal, and that was the way I liked it.

For more information:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pisgah_Crater

John can be reached at: beyersbyways@gmail.com

If anyone would like a free copy of the short story, Secret of Pisgah Crater, just request it and it will be sent to you via attachment in an email.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We at J and L Research and Exploration want to wish everyone a wonderful and Happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy time with family and friends during this upcoming Holiday Season - it is truly a special time of year.

As President John F. Kennedy once said; "We must find the time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives."

Perhaps that should be an every day occurrence.

Off-Roading near Calico Ghost Town

I’ve written about Calico Ghost Town numerous times for various publications. In fact, one of those articles is still up on the County of San Bernardino’s website about the old mining camp not far north of Interstate 15, just northeast of Barstow.

It is a wonderful place to spend the day or a couple of days while camping in the various rough or full hook-up spots that Calico has to offer. There’s a lot to see and do at Calico, but one experience that I had not explored was off-roading in and around the famous ghost town.

One of many off-roading trails near Calico Ghost Town

Recently, I decided to do just that. Contacting my good buddy, Paul, we grabbed a few days and loaded up my Can-Am, and off we went to see what there was to see along miles upon miles of dirt trails.

We were not going to be disappointed.

Just before leaving, a good friend of mine, Trevor, looked the car over and gave it a thumbs up for any activity but one. 

“Stay away from Odessa Canyon,” he said. “It’s pretty gnarly and you have to be practically an expert on it.”

“You’re saying I’m not an expert at off-roading?” I asked.

We’ve been on rides together in the past. “No.”

I like Trevor, a straight shooter who has seen me cringe on a 15-degree hill. Of course, I’ve seen him power up a 90-degree monster hill with no issue. Impossible? You haven’t seen him drive.

“What did Trevor say?” Paul asked.

“For me to stay on the flat paths.”

The surrounding BLM lands bordering Calico offer any type of off-roader a plethora of options.

An easy off-roading trail near Calico Ghost Town

There’s Mule Canyon, an easy ten-mile drive that allows for panoramic views of the desert while still enjoying the thrill of cutting up a few hills. 

There’s the Wall Street Canyon, which is a moderate road that most should have no issue with. I had to go and check on my portfolio - I’m going to tell my lovely wife, Laureen, time for a new Can-Am and a boat.

Then there are the more difficult routes available, like Doran Canyon, which is seven miles of steep inclines and steeper declines. It is suggested that the driver is good behind the wheel, has 360-degree vision, and has not been drinking a six-pack of beer before attempting this trail.

Then there is the Odessa Canyon. Eight miles of death-defying madness, including rock climbing - in a vehicle over waterfalls, huge boulders, steep walls, and the occasional Sasquatch.

We did enter the canyon but turned around when I saw the posted sign, Think Hard!

So, I turned the car around and headed out on the path - John has no idea where he is going.

 For the next seven hours, the Beast, which is what Laureen refers to as our Can-Am, Paul and I drove here and there. Up and down across the desert, canyons, ridges, and across a lake full of reeds.

No, that was in Peru.

The Beast

Anyway, we had a great outing, as we did the following day, not knowing where we were but always finding our way back to camp for an evening of lying about our adventures.

That is what guys do.

The purpose of being outdoors, either with an off-road vehicle or not, is to relish in what nature has to offer. Peace and solitude.

Sure, off-roaders may be noisy, but most drive to see things they haven’t seen and then stop, pull out some folding chairs, sit, and talk about the adventure. 

Most of the time, there are no phones, internet - just communicating with friends and sometimes people you have just met while on the trails. 

Obviously, plenty of trails to choose from

Paul and I ran into, figuratively, Sam - a retired army vet who was camping near the Early Man site off of Minneola Road near Yermo.

Sam had been camping in his motorhome for nearly two weeks. A nice guy who sat with us on one of our stops.

It was only a twenty-minute talk with him, but enough to appreciate how much he loved this country, obviously by his 25 years in the service, and was now crossing the country to see what he could see.

Once back at camp, we decided to wander up to the town itself, where we met Britney Swenson working behind the bar at Lil’s Saloon.

Britney has worked at Lil’s Saloon for years and entertained us with tales concerning the ghost town and the myriad of visitors exploring the old mining town. But the most interesting thing about Britney is the fact that she is in the Guinness Book of World Records. She is credited with weaving a blind horse, Smoke, through 5 poles in 6.5 seconds during the Desert Empire Fairgrounds and Event Center in Ridgecrest on November 19, 2023. 

I can’t even make it to the bathroom that fast in the middle of the night.

John R Beyer with Britney Swenson

After an hour and maybe a cold one or two, we called it quits and bade farewell to the Champ.

As we packed up to leave for home the following day, I knew there would be an article, not about the town but the wonderful dirt trails awaiting those with an adventurous spirit. But caution needs to be taken seriously.

According to Truckbrigade.com, off-roaders need to be careful while venturing around and about the trails near Calico Ghost Town.

Never enter open mines or mine shafts. These historic sites contain deadly hazards, including unstable rock, bad air, deep shafts, and rotted timbers. Observe mining ruins from safe distances. Taking artifacts is illegal and destroys California's gold rush history for future generations.

One of the signs telling the visitor the history of mining near Calico

Years in the past, I would purchase a series of books titled Death in the National Parks by Randi Minetor and Michael P. Ghiglieri. The books detailed how people died in the many National Parks around the nation.

An example would be a tourist who would want to take a selfie with a bison in Yellowstone National Park. The bison may be having a bad hair day and gore them while tossing them into the hinterlands. This could also be referred to as the Darwin Effect.

So, the idea is to read the signs and not enter when instructed. Ride and enjoy the wonderful off-road trail offered near Calico Ghost Town, but do not become the next chapter in someone else’s book about what not to do when you are dumb.

For further information:

https://truckbrigade.com/blogs/trail-guides/calico-ghost-town-off-road-trails

https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/709862-fastest-time-for-a-blind-horse-to-weave-five-poles 

https://parks.sbcounty.gov/park/calico-ghost-town-regional-park/

https://parks.sbcounty.gov/park/calico-ghost-town-regional-park/#tab-food 

John can be reached at: beyersbyways@gmail.com

Happy Veterans Day

 

We at J and L Research and Exploration want to wish each Veteran out there a happy and safe Veterans Day.

All those men and women who have served this country so honorably truly deserve more than a single day per year to honor the sacrifices you have made for this wonderful United States in our opinion.

Our gratitude extends to each and every one of you for keeping us safe in our homeland. We would not be without you.

Thanks and God Bless.

Saint Joseph Monastery - Lucerne Valley

 “It’s okay to doubt. We don’t master God, and sometimes doubt plays an important role in our faith,” Brother Minh (pronounced Ming) said.

We were sitting in a very comfortable kitchen for visitors at the Saint Joseph Monastery in Lucerne Valley. I had just met the Cistercian monk a few moments before, and it was very easy to talk with him about all things, spiritual or secular.

Overview of Saint Joseph Monastery in Lucerne Valley

My friend, Paul, and I had traveled northward along Highway 247 in search of a place we had both watched on a YouTube video. We were hunting for a supposed abandoned nuclear launch pad located somewhere near the Sandwinder Gold mine.

What we learned was two things. Number 1: Don't believe everything on the internet. There was no missile silo standing anywhere near where we had traversed, searching for hours across the Mojave Desert. 

“Hey,” I said. “Why don’t we film a couple of buildings from Bodie and post them on YouTube and tell viewers that they are located in Holcomb Valley. That could be fun.”

I would not do that.

The second thing we learned on this new adventure was that in Lucerne Valley, not far off Highway 247, was a most beautiful place for meditation and worship.

“We often have many visitors come and spend time with us,” Minh said. “In fact, if people come here, we will offer to celebrate a mass with them, no matter the time of day.”

The Cistercian order, to which all nine current resident monks belong, is a very old part of the Roman Catholic Church. The name for the order comes from the place it was founded, the Citeaux Abbey in France, in the year 1098. The monks follow the beliefs of St. Benedict - embracing a life of manual labor, contemplation, prayer, and spiritual pursuits.

Minh smiled. “For us, monk means to pray and work.”

And these monks have worked since the monastery opened its doors 17 years ago in a secluded canyon in the Mojave Desert. All the work seen, including the multitude of buildings, storage sheds, beautiful intricate concrete walkways, pagoda-style sitting areas located everywhere, and the multitude of carefully handcrafted sculptures, was all done by the monks.

“Now, we do have volunteers that assist us, but most of the work is done by the monks here,” Minh stated.

Prior to meeting Brother Minh, Paul and I had spent an hour walking around the grounds of the monastery, taking in the elaborately paved walkways leading the visitor to dozens of statues of Jesus Christ and Saints.

One trail, rather steep and long, wound up a small hill, and every few yards was a sculpture indicating one of the Stations of the Cross - that’s Catholic speak for the 14 stations that point to key events of Christ’s passion and death on the way to Calvary, including his burial.

One of the many hand made statues at Saint Joseph Monastery 

I remember those stations very well from attending St. Catherine’s Elementary and then Notre Dame in Riverside, California.

All the monks are part of the Congregation of the Holy Family of Vietnam, and Minh has been a resident at the monastery for 13 years.

“Do you ever get bored?” I asked.

“Yes, we are bored sometimes, and being human, we’re not always happy, but always peaceful. Happiness is short, but peace is long-lasting and from God.”

Paul brightened up. “I’m happy when a cold beer is near, but not so much when it’s empty.”

“But peace is knowing that there are more at the store,” I said.

Minh smiled. “Exactly.”

It was interesting sitting with Minh in the coolness of the kitchen, just talking. He was cheerful, at times funny, and at other times, serious.

Brother Minh and John R Beyer

I asked him about the turmoil in the world and how everyone in our country seems so divided against one another.

“When people fall away from God, we divide and only think about ourselves. But with God we learn to love others, and perhaps love ourselves a bit more.”

He was one smart and spiritual guy, this Brother Minh.

“If a person smiles at you while walking by, how does it make you feel?”

“Better,” I said.

“Imagine if we smiled more and complained less?” Minh replied.

Our discussions continued, and while we sipped on bottles of cold water (yes, water), we moved into the idea that more and more young people seemed to be moving toward a more heartfelt faith in God than in the near past.

“Do you believe there is a resurgence in young people coming back to church?” Paul asked.

“Yes, I think young people are looking for something,” Minh said. “They are tired of social media, trying to keep up with one another, and then learning that most things they are hearing are not true. There’s a lot of emptiness out there in people’s hearts, and they are looking for true answers to fill that emptiness. God is doing that for them.”

I found it strange that this monk would know about social media. 

“We keep up on modern events,” Minh smiled. “It's hard to assist others if we do not know what is going on.”

The monastery currently encompasses 300 acres of land, with plans to increase to 600 acres, a nearly one square mile of respite from the outside world.

We were given a tour of the chapel, which was actually designed by a Buddhist Monk and has the entry in the image of praying hands - it is a masterful work of art that visitors pass through on their way to services.

The gorgeous chapel at Saint Joseph Monastery in Lucerne Valley 

The public, all denominations, are welcome to the daily masses, and as stated earlier, the monks will have a mass or prayer services for visitors whenever the need or desire arises.

The monastery is easy to find right off of Highway 247

These monks are true men of their word when they state they are here to serve their fellow citizens in search of peace and harmony.

Before leaving, Brother Minh said, “We will never fully understand God, even the angels don’t understand God, so how can we? And, that is fine - that is faith.”

For more information: http://www.saintjosephmonasteryca.org/

John can be contacted at: beyersbyways@gmail.com

 

            We just want to wish everyone a Ghoulish 31st!

Travel with fellow goblins while scaring your neighbors, it's the right thing to do.

The Sad Tale of the Hollywood Sign

I’ve been asked more than once, if I believe in ghosts. Well, what is the definition of a ghost?

Per Merriam-Webster -  A disembodied soul especially: the soul of a dead person believed to be an inhabitant of the unseen world or to appear to the living in bodily likeness.

Well, that wouldn’t be Casper would it? 

So, I’m not sure that I believe or disbelieve in ghosts. I’ve seen, or thought I’d seen, things that I can’t really explain. On a bet, when I was a teenager, I spent the night sleeping in a cemetery in the city of Corona. It was supposed to be haunted by a spectra by the name of Mona. I never saw an apparition, and only learned one thing from that experience. 

Teenage boys are stupid.

But, being a researcher, I do have some gadgets that are quite prevalent on those ghost hunting shows, like The New Reality, Ghost Adventures, The UnXplained, and I’m Frightened Just To Be Here (ok, I made that one up).

And those gadgets the professionals use would be: a digital voice recorder (so there is proof of you screaming hysterically when encountering a ghost), an EMF sensor (no idea, but it sounds cool), Ghost Box (in case you catch a ghost, I guess), camera with night vision (duh), an infrared thermometer, and a box of pampers (just in case you encounter a real ghost).

An activated Ghost Box with a ghost

Now that I was prepared to do some serious ghost hunting – actually ghost locating, since I’m not much into hunting – I had to find the first place.

Ah, with all the mention of television series, why not start in Hollywood? And what better place than the Hollywood Sign?

The Hollywood sign was not intended to be an advertisement for the film industry. Actually, it was an idea to advertise a housing development in the hills above the Hollywood district of Los Angeles. An area less expensive than the homes located closer to the studios.

As the brochure stated, “Hollywoodland, a superb environment without excessive cost on the Hollywood side of the hills.”

The sign went up in 1923, by home builder Harry Chandler, who contracted with the Crescent Sign Company. The original sign read, Hollywoodland, and each letter was 50 feet tall and 30 feet wide. They had to use mules to haul up the steel support beams – wow, mules. How quaint.

Chandler believed the sign would be only up for about a year and a half but after ninety-seven years, it’s still there – just missing the last four letters.

Hollywood had become a household name around the globe by the late twenties, and what better tool to use reminding all cinema fanatics of the flash and dash of movie town then a huge sign. In the early forties, the word ‘land’ was removed from the original sign.

It is by far, one of the most iconic visual advertisements of the film industry anywhere on earth, not just Los Angeles.

Millions of people view it in person, commercials, documentaries, television series, and films yearly. It is one of the most photographed places in the United States, and you can hike to it.

But is it haunted? Supposed to be, and it’s truly a sadly tragic story.

A beautiful young English actress by the name of, Millicent Lillian ‘Peg’ Entwistle, had immigrated to America to find work in New York City. At first, there were some minor roles in the theatre, but soon directors realized how talented this Peg Entwistle truly was.

The beautiful actress, Millicent Lillian 'Peg' Entwistle

In fact, a very young Bette Davis, saw Entwistle perform in the 1925 play, The Wild Duck, and told her mother, that someday she would be as good as the 17 year old Entwistle. For the rest of her life, Davis would often mention that it was watching Entwistle that made her yearn for the acting career which made her so famous.

Entwistle stayed in New York working Broadway until 1932. It was midst of the great depression and theatres were closing down due to lack of audiences. She moved to Hollywood the same year and picked up some roles in theatres here and there.

As with many actors, she was discovered by Radio Pictures (RKO) and soon had a studio contract in hand.

Her first, and sadly, only film credit was a supporting role as Hazel Cousins, in David O. Selznick’s film, Thirteen Women.

However, most of Entwistle’s parts were removed, ending up on the editing floor, and she was devastated. On top of that, the studio cancelled her contract.

At the tender age of twenty-four years – she believed her dreams were gone. And, on September 16th, 1932, Peg Entwistle decided there was nothing left to live for. She climbed the hills above Hollywoodland, climbed a ladder to the top of the ‘H’, and jumped to her death.

A sensational suicide in the tabloids

So, on this 93th anniversary of that tragic day, I decided to see if this young actress still haunted the hillside, as so many people have sworn she does. 

Ghoulish, perhaps, but if I didn’t see her ghost, the least I could do was say a prayer for a young girl who gave up too early.

Getting to the Hollywood sign isn’t that difficult. There are numerous hikes, some moderate and some not so moderate. I chose an easier route and drove through the neighborhood of Hollywoodland – yes, there actually is such a neighborhood, with modestly priced homes for the likes of Saudi princes.

I drove along a winding narrow road up into the hills behind Hollywoodland – there was sign that stated the road was only for locals. Being a native California, now a Nevadan, I believed that still made me a local.

The path leading to the Hollywood sign

After parking, I located an access route to one of the main trails, which was surprisingly crowded with people hiking up that trail. They were huffing and puffing, as well as sweating. I felt great - an air conditioned drive can do that for a person. 

The view was spectacular.

And, when I looked at the large white sign on the hillside, I felt saddened to think a young woman, was so distraught that she felt the only option left was to leap off the letter ‘H’.

I didn’t bother telling the others around me about the history of the sign. They were laughing and taking dozens of selfies and group photos with their phones. 

No reason to spoil their day with the sorrowful story of Peg Entwistle

There is still another twist to Entwistle’s death. The day after she committed suicide, a letter was delivered at her residence, with an offer for an upcoming film. She was to play a young woman driven to suicide.

Spooky! 

For further information: https://www.hollywoodsign.org/history/a-sign-is-born

                                        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peg_Entwistle

Have a meal with George - the Ghost

 On a recent Saturday, I asked Laureen is she had any specific plans for the day.

She knew what that meant.

“A road trip?” she responded.

And, within forty minutes we were on our way to Big Bear, in the San Bernardino Mountains. It is one of our favorite haunts.

Haunts – I like that, since it is October. That spooky time of year.

 Big Bear – there is Big Bear City and Big Bear Lake, for those who haven’t travelled Highway 18 to either of those locales. Traveling this road is to witness tall glorious pine trees, a blue lake, hiking trails, off-road trails, eating and shopping in the Village, and so much more.

We love the Big Bear area.

“I love the Big Bear area,” I stated.

“I know,” Laureen responded. “Where are we going to lunch?”

I knew the right spot. A place that is internationally known as a very haunted and goose bumpily place. The Captains Anchorage.

“We haven’t been there in a dozen years,” Laureen stated.

“And the spirits are angry about that,” I said. “The tip you left last time was rather vacuous.”

Laureen ignored that.

Driving by the Mitsubishi cement plant, south of the town of Lucerne Valley on Highway 18, always reminds me of a space colony. Huge round storage buildings with conveyer belts going this way and that way has an out of this world appearance.

“Doesn’t it look like space aliens have captured humans and sent them to work in their factory?” I asked Laureen as we drove by the place.

She shook her head. “Looks like a cement factory.”

“Human, we do not enjoy your remarks – to the mines with you.” I stated.

Laureen ignored me again. 

As we swung around Baldwin Lake, we had some time to kill before the restaurant would be open, and decided to take the scenic route through Holcomb Valley. Actually, I had intended on the drive to snap a photograph of the ‘hanging tree’ in the area where the old mining town of Belleville once stood.

I wrote a column on Holcomb Valley for the Daily Press Newspaper, back in June of 2020, but I won’t go into any detail about that trip now. I don’t like repeating myself – unless it is to our children, and I can go on and on and on about the same subject for weeks.

Since Belleville, like many mining camps, could be a violent place – there had to be some place to punish those who thought killing one another was a perfectly fine way in dealing with personal disputes. 

It was the Wild West, after-all.

So, the townsfolk found a nice big and tall Juniper tree to string up the really bad hombres. Is the tree haunted? Don’t know and never asked – but with its outstretched tree limbs and prominent location in the valley, it could be.

“Almost lunch time,” I said to Laureen.

As we headed out of the valley, we came across a tree that made the hanging tree look downright tame.

There in the middle of a clearing, we were staring at an apparition that film director, Tim Burton would find alluring.

Gnarled leafless branches tweaked in such a way, it appeared as if it was alive and trying to reach and grab any unsuspecting person sauntering by. Not a stich of green on it – only the tall barren trunk hunkered down in the soil. 

The Hanging tree in Holcomb Valley

“That looks as if it’s haunted?” Laureen asked.

“I’ll come back, and pick you up in the morning – let me know about your research.”

We headed out for lunch at that time.

The Captain’s Anchorage, is located in Big Bear Lake, and has been a landmark for the city since 1947, when the owner, Andy Devine opened it. The famous actor turned restaurateur, wanted something special to entertain his Hollywood friends, and thus the restaurant and bar became the center point not only for the locals, but many other famous actors. Roy Rogers, John Wayne, Lee Marvin, Jimmy Stewart, and many more made the long drive from Los Angeles to the mountain community of Big Bear Lake to partake in the extensive menu offerings.

The original name of the place was the Sportsman’s Tavern, and remained that way until 1972, when it was renamed The Captains Anchorage by Woodrow and Charlotte Meier, who had purchased the restaurant from Devine in 1966.

It is a beautiful building full of character and grace – and it is haunted.

Besides being haunted, a great place to eat

As we entered the business, I walked over to the dark wood bar, located in the Andy Devine Room, and snapped some photographs. That’s what I do – don’t look at the menu first – just snap some shots. Perhaps there will be an orb floating somewhere in the photograph when I download it later.

“Have you come to see George?” Natalie asked from behind the bar. Natalie has worked at the Captains Anchorage a long time, and knows a bit about the history.

“George is our local ghost,” she stated. “He likes to hang around the bar, causing some mischief now and then, but doesn’t hurt anyone.”

“You’re a believer then?” I asked.

“I don’t belong to a cult, if that’s what you are asking?”

“No, not that kind of a believer,” I replied. “Have you had any interaction with George?”

Natalie nodded. “Once in a while a light will turn on when no one is here but me, or the glass washer will suddenly light up. Those kinds of things.”

Laureen was standing to the right of the bar, near the kitchen entrance, and I saw a peculiar look on her face.

The main bar at the Captains Anchorage

“You feeling something?”

“Yes, there’s something here between the bar and the fireplace,” she responded. “It’s like someone being anxious. As they are troubled by something – I really can feel the emotions.”

Laureen is so much more sensitive than me, when it comes to practically anything – except those sad mistreated dog commercials – they tear me up. A box of tissues, please.

“Did you feel anything?” she asked me.

I nodded. “Yes, I feel the bar is calling me over for a cold one.”

According to Patti Scriven, the current owner and daughter of the Meier’s, George was Andy Devine’s ‘bookkeeper’. During the time period that Devine was the owner, there was lots and lots of rumors of illegal gambling going on at the Sportsman’s Tavern. In fact, upstairs are small booths which are original to the design of the restaurant, that look like the perfect size for a slot machine placement. Poker games, roulette, and possibly betting on horse races, may have taken place in the establishment.

John R Beyer and Patti Scriven in the Captains Anchorage

Was George just a bookkeeper or perhaps a bookie also?

“Rumor has it that George may have been embezzling profits from the illegal gambling,” stated Patti. “He may had been afraid of getting caught and committed suicide at his house, not far from here."

“Then why would he haunt this place?” Laureen asked.

“We have had numerous of those paranormal investigators out here, and they all say the same thing, he was the most happy here at the restaurant,” Patti replied.

“It is a very nice place to haunt,” I stated. 

Some research I conducted, showed George may have also been killed by some angry gamblers or those who caught him skimming money off the top of the receipts.

Either suicide or murder makes for a possible haunting.

Once an illegal gambling booth now a nice place to sit and eat

It seems as though George does truly like haunting the restaurant, its patrons and staff. He, according to Patti, has never caused any harm to anyone personally.

“There’s been some liquor bottles shattering behind the bar when no one was present, some tromping of heavy footsteps up and down the stairs, blowing out some candles, and the like. Pretty harmless – more like pranks.”

Shattering an expensive bottle of spirits is not a prank. That would be a felony in any ghostly realm.

“Listen, Mr. Ghost man – I don’t care if it was a prank – that was an expensive bottle of Dalmore sixty-two, there you decided to shatter. Who is going to pay for it?”

Patti entertained us with more tales of the mischievous George, but stated she had never had a true other-worldly experience with the ghost from the Captains Anchorage.

“I wish Rita were here,” Patti stated. “She really has had some recent experiences with George.”

“Please, go on,” I asked.

“Well, recently Rita was near the kitchen when she suddenly saw a dark shadow sweep right beside Hugo, our chef, who was busy cooking. She was scared to death and screamed. When I asked Hugo if he saw or felt anything, he replied just before Rita screamed, he had felt a presence swoosh by him, almost touching him. But, there was nothing there when he glanced around.”

One of the kitchens at the Captains Anchorage

“Yes, Rita won’t even go upstairs to get a bottle of wine,” Patti said. “I tease her that a customer wants a certain vintage and will she go up and get it, she just tells me no.”

“I don’t blame her,” Laureen stated.

“Neither do I,” Pattie stated. “I just like to tease her that way.”

Is the Captains Anchorage haunted? I don’t know, but I do know they have great food and a greater tale for their customers.

For further information: https://captainsanchorage.com/