Looking Back

Here’s looking back on events, stories and news in February over the last 45 years in Canyon Lake.

45 Years Ago

In 1974, Canyon Lake was six years old. The Fireside and Lakeside Rooms of the lodge were the scenes of numerous banquets, plays, parties, dances, lunches, dinners and even weddings.

The Quail Valley Volunteer Fire Department was called to take care of various community emergencies such as flooding and fires.

The annual assessment for 1974/75, at a $160 per lot fee, was under consideration by the Property Owners Association Board of Directors.

A mobile home overlooking the golf course was offered at $17,750. A waterfront lot could be purchased for only $10,000.

The Woman’s Club hosted its version of bingo known as Lake-O each month.

The Landis Auditorium at Riverside College was reserved for the annual POA Board election. Elinor Martin was among those named to head the Election Committee.

Plans were underway for a ball field to be established near the equestrian center.

A model of the proposed Canyon Lake Community Church was displayed at the lodge.

40 Years Ago

In March 1979, General Manager Floyd Fidler, POA Board Director Glen Foster and volunteer firefighter Don Pierce looked over a new fire engine for Canyon Lake Engine Company 60. File Photo

By 1979, real estate development was bringing additional members to the gated community, with a new waterfront home on the main lake listed at $114,000. One could rent or lease an Eastport Villa for $350 a month. Lot 80, Tract 3831 was for sale at $7,500 and Lot 167, Tract 3720 was listed at $13,500.

The Riverside County Board of Supervisors purchased a new fire engine and assigned it to Canyon Lake Engine Company 60. They also budgeted an additional $25,000 for a new fire station building to be constructed near the north causeway. Glen Foster and others formed a Fire Department Volunteer Auxiliary to provide funds to complete the station, buy equipment and landscape the property through donations from the community to be served.

According to the ACC, there were 1,084 homes completed in Canyon Lake with 120 under construction. There were 111 completed and occupied mobile homes with an additional three under construction.

35 Years Ago

A new Golf Clubhouse was being planned by the POA and questions were being asked by the community regarding details. The estimate was that the 10,000 sq. ft. structure would cost one million dollars and that the addition would add to residents’ property values.

The 1984 Fiesta Day was being planned and would feature a renewal of the popular Milk Carton Boat Race sponsored by the Canyon Lake Lions Club.

There were plans for a new Canyon Lake Post Office contract station, according to Postmaster Bob O’Donnell. It would offer all regular services.

The POA accepted the general offer from Lighthouse Realty, Quality Landscaping and Cardinal Construction to improve the Emerald Park site on Gray Fox.

The POA offered $12,500 cash to purchase the vacant lot near the main gate for use as parking for motorcycles and security force vehicles.

Originally, the cost for the traffic signal at the intersection of Railroad Canyon Rd. and Canyon Lake Dr. South was set at $125,000. Later, the cost was lowered to $80,0000 and Canyon Lake’s share was dropped to $40,000.

The POA contracted with the Riverside County Sheriff to provide patrols during Friday and Saturday nights and three-day weekends during the summer months.

30 Years Ago

The POA announced that it would not hire lifeguards to supervise activities at the pool and beach facilities in the summer. They also announced there would not be any swimming lessons. These decisions were made following recommendations by risk management consultants who said that exposure to litigation was higher if lifeguards were present than if “no lifeguard on duty” signs were posted.

A “barn raising” was carried out by a team of volunteers as they constructed a needed equestrian center hay shelter.

Arson was suspected following fires involving four houses in Canyon Lake that were under construction. In addition to starting fires in newly framed houses, the vandal/arsonist was suspected of slashing window screens and stealing copper tubing from bathroom and laundry areas.

The Friends of Canyon Lake Library and the Choraleers jointly hosted a Wine and Song event in the Fireside Room at the lodge.

The local bank offered a nine percent rate of interest on six-month deposits and eggs were on sale at the local market for 89-cents per dozen.

The POA assessment for each lot was an annual fee of $840 plus a special assessment as pursuant to orders issued by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court.

25 Years Ago

In early March of 1994, shocked residents were reacting to two murders that occurred in Canyon Lake in a two-week period. The POA Board suspended permanent guest lists and Canyon Lakers were asked to call in each and every guest. Contractors were asked to go to the ACC and register their workers. Two full-time homicide investigators were assigned to the case. “We’re shutting down the community to outsiders…,” POA President Lori Ziegler told The Friday Flyer.

The March 14 issue of The Friday Flyer reported that a former Canyon Lake resident who still owned a home in the community had been arrested in the deaths of the two local women, as well as that of a Sun City woman and the attempted murder of a Lake Elsinore antique shop employee. Dana Gray, 36, an unemployed nurse, was being held without bail at the Perris City Jail.

The Emergency Preparedness Committee asked interested residents to sign up for a class in the use of mace and red pepper sprays. More than 100 people signed up for the two-hour course and second and third classes were soon scheduled.

Canyon Lakers were invited to take shovels to the equestrian center to haul off as much horse manure as they needed for their spring gardens. There was plenty for everyone, according to the POA.

The POA Board of Directors set the 1994/95 annual assessment at $1,140 per lot.

The Canyon Lake Tennis Club invited residents to participate in a Fast Serve Contest, the winners of which would be determined by a radar gun. All age groups were urged to attend and prizes were offered.

The Southern California Gas Company surveyed Canyon Lake residents to ascertain how much interest there was in bringing natural gas to the community.

20 Years Ago

As of Mar. 1, 1999, Canyon Lake had 3,935 residences. Of these, 3,046 were owner-occupied, 421 leased and another 24 rented on a month-to-month basis. Weekenders numbered 282 and vacant lots 753. Forty-nine homes had been approved for construction, and 53 were being built.

The future of the community’s annual Fiesta Day celebration was in doubt because of the stepping down of long-time chair Cora Sue Barrett, who felt it was time to pass the torch along to someone else after chairing the event for the prior 15 years. Donna Nadel later stepped in the leadership role and the 1999 Fiesta Day was a “go.”

Coots continued to plague the Canyon Lake Golf Course, parks and beaches in spite of the efforts of Max the Border Collie.

The local Community Theatre and Performing Arts Association was getting ready for opening night of their new production, “Into the Woods.” The cast included some 20 local thespians and took place at Paradise Hall in the Towne Center; a pre-performance dinner was catered by Pepe’s.

15 Years Ago

Following heavy rain in March 2004, contaminated water flowing into the East Bay at Salt Creek caused the closure of the lake to bodily contact.

As of Mar. 1, there were 4,269 residences in Canyon Lake. Of these, 3,382 were owner-occupied, 14 of which had developed adjacent lots. There were 452 leased homes and another 28 rented on a month-to-month basis. In addition, there were 323-weekend homes and 84 spec homes. A total of 44 homes were under construction and only 413 lots remained vacant.

With preparations being made to develop the Audie Murphy Ranch land between Canyon Lake and Menifee, representatives of Brookfield Homes met with the City of Canyon Lake and the POA to discuss the major reconstruction of Railroad Canyon Rd.

The POA reviewed the benefits of owning rather than leasing the Administration Building in the Towne Center. The issue was being placed on the ballot in May.

The Equestrian Club conducted a well-attended Play Day with a wide range of gymkhana events. The competitions included barrel racing, obstacle courses, pole-bending relays and other events.

Steve Libring, resident and licensed traffic engineer, released the results of a speed survey he conducted on local streets with suggestions for the POA Board of Directors.

The Temescal Canyon High School Girls Water Polo team won the league championship with the help of several students from Canyon Lake.

10 Years Ago

At the March 2009 board meeting, the new budget was introduced with a mixture of grim determination and realistic optimism. It was noted the fiscal year budget, which was to begin May 1, called for an increase of $10 in assessments, with almost half of that amount making up for members who hadn’t been paying their assessments.

Governor Schwarzenegger declared California’s drought a state of emergency; “a crisis just as severe as an earthquake or raging wildfires.” In March 2009, California was deep into the third year of drought, with winter rains and snow pack once again insufficient to fill reservoirs. Canyon Lakers were asked to heed the advice to conserve.

Canyon Lake girls ages nine to 12 were invited to attend a free workshop, Queen Bees and Wannabees, on how to survive cliques, gossip and other realities of adolescence. It was promoted by Junior Miss Canyon Lake Jocelyn Basham and Teen Talent Tori Smith.

A home on the corner of Canyon Lake Dr. South and Sparkle Dr. was damaged when a driver allegedly lost control of his vehicle. According to an account provided by the Canyon Lake Police Department, a male driver was traveling at a high rate of speed on Canyon Lake Dr. South, approaching Sparkle Dr. from the direction of the main gate when he left the roadway.

The car became airborne and landed on Sparkle Dr. before flipping several times and striking the house on the opposite corner of the intersection. The driver survived.

The City of Canyon Lake approved the first year’s contract with the CodeRed Emergency Communication System at a cost of $7,500.

County of Riverside Transportation Department Director Juan Perez was the bearer of good news at the March Chamber of Commerce meeting when he indicated that Riverside County was prepared to move forward with work that would provide an interim fix to the still-incomplete Newport Rd. extension project.

Five Years Ago

A group of 22 Canyon Lake seniors from the Chair Volleyball Club got an important lesson in how to save a person’s life when they took part in a “Hands-Only CPR” class on Mar. 3 at the lodge. The class was led by Nancy Carroll, member of the Chair Volleyball Club and director of the Canyon Lake Emergency Preparedness Committee, along with CLEPC members Sparrow and Larry Greene, retired firefighter and nurse respectively.

The Twirlers celebrated their 40th anniversary at their regular monthly dance in the Holiday Bay Room at the lodge on Mar. 9. There were 160 people in attendance.

As a final goodbye to the grand staircase at the lodge, The Friday Flyer invited residents to share photos of themselves on the staircase before it was removed.

ShowCal Skiers was Canyon Lake’s newest sanctioned club and California’s first amateur Water Ski Show Team. Formation of ShowCal Skiers was spearheaded by members representing such professional teams as Sea World, Empress Gardens, Six Flags Magic Mountain and Tommy Bartlett, and some amateur Midwest teams such as Muskego Water Bugs, Badgerland and Webfooters.

The pool officially opened for the season on Mar. 17. Approximately ten swimmers braved the 65-degree water before it heated up to a comfortable 83 degrees. By afternoon the kiddie pool was in full play mode with several children splashing around.