Looking Back

45 Years Ago

Forty-five years ago the three-acre parcel on the corner of Sorrel Lane and Railroad Canyon Road was prepared for the proposed Canyon Lake Community Church. In Oct. 1974, the removal of 10,000 yards of soil was underway. Photo by Don Martin

In October 1974, Ernest C. Pruett was the POA general manager. Rough grading and the removal of 10,000 yards of soil was underway because the three-acre parcel on the corner of Sorrel Ln. and Railroad Canyon Rd. was being prepared for the proposed Canyon Lake community church.

A three-bedroom, two-bath waterfront home was for sale at $49,950, and another four-bedroom, three-bath 3,400-sq.-ft. home with 142 feet on Bass Cove “with beautiful views from 13 windows” was selling for $125,000.

The offices of the POA had just been moved to a location near East Port, with plans underway to provide a permanent home for administrative offices in the near future.

40 Years Ago

In 1979, the POA general manager reported that of the 4,731 total number of lots in Canyon Lake, 1,384 were developed lots. Of those, 94 were golf course lots and another 432 were lakefront lots. Canyon Lake’s population at that time was estimated at 1,500 with a growth rate over the previous five years averaging 165 new houses each year.

New post office boxes at Blue Bird Drive and Canyon Lake Drive South were installed.

It was also noted that a new volunteer fire company was being established and a new fire station was planned for the north causeway region.

Nearly 350 attended the groundbreaking service for the Canyon Lake Community Church’s new 9,632-sq.-ft. education facility. It was to be constructed adjacent to the existing sanctuary and house offices, a library and a fellowship hall.

35 Years Ago

In October 1984, the POA announced that a festive Halloween Brunch was planned for the Canyon Lake Lodge for $7.95 a person. A fashion show was to be a part of the program at no extra charge.

According to POA General Manager Bill Stewart, the board authorized a Master Plan for the gated community’s recreational amenities.

Seven sites were studied and plans were drawn up for future development of Indian Beach, the lodge, Sierra Park, Moonstone Beach, the campground, the sports/equestrian complex and the East Port area. The East Port plans included a pool, tennis courts, a gymnasium, volleyball courts, boat docks and ramps, a picnic area, a children’s play space and parking. There would be additional space set aside for commercial usage.

Home Owners Club President Mike Davis announced his group had painted 115 house numbers on curbs in the community.

California’s Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) and the POA agreed to a five-day suspension due to illegal transfer of licenses.

Canyon Lake’s residents, clubs and local merchants joined behind a newly formed organization that would gather funds to provide a traffic signal at the intersection of Railroad Canyon Road and Canyon Lake Drive South. Under the leadership of the Home Owners Club and Glen Foster, the group planned to raise at least 40,000 to underwrite the cost of the much-needed signal. The County of Riverside would contribute an equal amount if the community would do its part, Foster claimed.

30 Years Ago

Home Owners Club President Vick Knight invited all local residents to attend a televised meeting held at the lodge to hear a report from a consulting firm on the feasibility of incorporating Canyon Lake as Riverside County’s newest city.

Incorporation was first mentioned in the gated community in 1981 when there was discussion of Lake Elsinore annexing the community. In addition, Sun City had included Canyon Lake in its incorporation study. “The POA board and many in the community seem to believe that if Canyon Lake does not become a city itself, we’ll be fair game for annexation by someone else,” Vick said.

According to the ACC, by October 1989, Canyon Lake was 77 percent built. Of the 3,367 total residences, 2,379 were owner-occupied, 345 leased, and 108 occupied by month-to-month tenants. Weekenders owned 475 homes. There were 60 spec homes and still were 1,115 vacant lots. There were 195 homes under construction.

Kathie Barnes was named as Canyon Lake’s new facilities coordinator. A new Fitness Center was scheduled to open on Railroad Canyon Rd.

The Riverside Board of Supervision abandoned its right to the gated community’s streets.

Since dozens of unlicensed youngsters broke the California laws every day by driving golf carts outside the community’s private streets to visit the commercial center across from the main gate, parents were cautioned to advise their children of the consequences of violating the Vehicle Code. If a minor were to become involved in a traffic accident, the law would not be in favor of the minor driver, residents were told.

25 Years Ago

By 1994, the Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District and the POA were finally getting close to a new lake lease. EVMWD Director Chuck Bryant sent a letter to his fellow Canyon Lakers regarding the recently negotiated lake lease amendments, saying, “My congratulations to the POA Board. I believe you have done the correct thing for Canyon Lake. You are tough negotiators, but the end product has been accepted by the EVMWD Board of Directors with a unanimous vote.”

As of that October, ACC Administrator Howard Warrell reported the Canyon Lake was 82 percent built. Of the 4,857 available lots, 3,774 contained residences. Of these, 2,710 were owner-occupied homes, 512 were leased, and 38 were rented on a month-to-month basis. There were 457 weekend homes, 57 spec homes and 988 vacant lots. Second lots with improvements numbered 10, and there were eight POA properties and 47 other lots with various uses. Twenty homes had been approved that year and 19 homes were under construction.

The POA Board of Directors asked citizens to vote against the proposed hotel and casino being considered within the city limits.

According to Lake Elsinore Unified School District Superintendent Dave Long, there would have to be review of current school attendance boundaries due to anticipated growth.

It was announced the City of Canyon Lake would be $473,000 richer, thanks to a property tax transfer agreement with Riverside County after a year of negotiations. City Manager Jeff Butzlaff said the funds were especially welcome since the cost of police and fire services was rising. With the increased property tax revenues, the City Council could now avoid spending its entire reserve fund of $33,361.

The City of Canyon Lake requested that business owners take the responsibility of obtaining a license.

Canyon Lake Emergency Preparedness Committee Chair Nancy Carroll reported that thieves had stolen $500 worth of emergency supplies from the storage shed at Blue Bird Hall.

During the annual reseeding of the Golf Course, property owners were invited to an open house at the Country Club and conducted tours of the links.

20 Years Ago

In October 1999, Elinor and Don Martin hosted a final dinner at Elinor’s Restaurant at the lodge. It was the last meal to be held there before the former lodge was demolished. File Photo

In October 1999, Elinor and Don Martin hosted a final dinner at Elinor’s Restaurant at the lodge, named after the longtime resident. It was the last meal to be held at the popular local dining destination, as the lodge was to be demolished in order to be replaced by a new and expanded lodge.

Canyon Lake runner Ruth Wysocki placed first among the 26,000 who took part in the Newport Beach “Race for the Cure” 5K run for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

More than 100 people took part in a community-wide disaster drill in October 1999. File Photo

According to the ACC, as of October 1999, there were a total of 3,985 residences in Canyon Lake. Of these, 3,135 were owner-occupied, 422 leased and 28 occupied on a month-to-month basis. There were 276 weekend homes and 134 spec homes. Vacant lots numbered 705 and there were 60 homes under construction.

Canyon Lakers prepared for the anticipated Earthquake Drill by following suggestions from the local Emergency Preparedness Committee.

The City of Canyon Lake and the POA weren’t the only ones in town who were moving to new accommodations, as The Friday Flyer and Golding Publications staff members opened a new office space in the Towne Center.

In October 2004, Daisy Troop 624 donated gently used stuffed animals to Canyon Lake senior Ellen Kellet for her stuffed animal ministry to disadvantaged children. File Photo

15 Years Ago

The Canyon Lake POA hosted a management conference for the Community Association Institute (CAI) in October 2004. A group of 60 men and women from states throughout the country spent three days touring Canyon Lake and attending workshops and educational sessions.

Canyon Lake changed area codes, with 951 becoming the official designation.

From its opening with Beethoven’s “Egmont Overture” through Bernstein’s “Westside Story” finale, Redlands Symphony Orchestra kept its Canyon Lake audience captivated during the Fine Arts Guild’s Fall Concert.

At 69 years old, former Ski Club President Al Van Beenen was an inspiration to athletes half his age as he continued to compete on the national level in water skiing. In October 2004, he impressed his friends and co-workers even further by winning three gold medals and one silver medal in the sport of swimming at Hemet/San Jacinto’s 20th annual “Oldlympics.”

City officials and POA Directors alike were congratulating then City Councilman Jack Wamsley for negotiating with the Lake Elsinore San Jacinto Watershed Authority (LESJWA) and convincing the agency to contribute funding towards the equipment Canyon Lake needed to dredge the lake.

During the first big storm of the season, several Canyon Lakers came to the rescue when flooding threatened the Curves fitness facility in the Towne Center. According to Curves trainer Janelle Liem, Cy Peterson, Harry Pahel, Chris and Eva McKinney and Frank Puls joined her and Lila to stop the water from damaging valuable workout equipment inside.

The rainstorm caused the dam to overflow, the earliest time in any rainy season this had occurred, according to Marine Patrol Captain Mike Elliott.

Daisy Troop 624, led by Anna Ziska and Malena Lavan, donated gently used stuffed animals to Canyon Lake senior Ellen Kellet for her stuffed animal ministry to disadvantaged children.

10 Years Ago

The Canyon Lake Fall Adult Coed Softball League season came to an end on Oct. 25, 2009, with Team Yellow Nuts and Hunnies winning the championship. Pictured, back row from left, are Amy Lipps, Team Manager Jim Howell, Karen Jackson, Ryan Parent, Lamont Crowley, John Stepanik and Chris Davis. In front are Lainie Cooney, Belinda Davis, Melissa Medina, Marilyn Parent, Scott Carr and Rita Deleon. Photo provided by Michelle Sapp

In October 2009, the City of Canyon Lake’s newly formed Veterans Day committee, chaired by Councilwomen Nancy Horton, was busy planning a Veterans Day ceremony for November 11.

Residents were reminded that, while the Towne Center seemed like the ideal location to advertise their vehicle or boat for sale, it was a citable offense under the Canyon Lake Municipal Code to leave those items in the Towne Center parking lot as well as any other public parking lot within City boundaries or on any public street outside the gates.

Fitness opportunities were back in town with the re-opening of Canyon Fitness Center on Railroad Canyon Rd. after an early morning blaze destroyed a portion of the center a year earlier.

Residents who were interested in finding out more about the city’s plan to widen Railroad Canyon Rd. to six lanes were invited to attend a town hall meeting held by the City of Canyon Lake Public Works Committee.

Leading up to Veterans Day, The Friday Flyer featured a three-part series about the military career of U.S. Air Force Pilot Dudley Thompson.

Gene Wunderlich reported 2010 would mark the beginning of the “new normal”… that likely would feature a steady stream of sales driven by distressed properties in the low end of the market, coupled with moderate home price appreciation.

Reel People Ron and Leigh Martel reviewed “Surrogates”, “Zombieland”, “Capitalism: A Love Story” and “Amelia.”

The Adult Coed Softball League concluded its fall season after the playoff and championship games on Oct. 25. With six wins and no losses, Team Yellow Nuts and Hunnies were crowned the champions.

5 Years Ago

At the Oct. 12 farmers market, Canyon Lake pets were dressed up in their Halloween best. As each participant arrived for the pet costume contest, they were greeted with “oohs,” “aahs” and “oh, how cute,” as people appreciated the costumes and the dogs wearing them. Members from the Royal Court had the not-so-easy task of judging the costumes.

Nearly 300 custom and classic cars and trucks dazzled guests at the Canyon Lake Car Show with the designs, colors, sounds, engines and interiors in artistic details found in pre-1973 vehicles. Organized by the Canyon Lake Car Show Club, the show drew large crowds throughout the picture-perfect day.

The Tuesday Work Group started it’s 2014 to 2015 season with 30 members in attendance on Oct. 7. The group of workers have given thousands of volunteer hours to improving the Canyon Lake golf course over the years. At a meeting on Oct. 21, several men were recognized for their years of service with the volunteer organization.

Temescal Canyon High School students celebrated their homecoming match against Perris High School. The game was spectacular, no matter who you were cheering to win. Temescal needed to uphold their honor and win a homecoming game, and Perris needed to hold onto their record of being undefeated. The intensity of the game could be felt from any angle of the field or the bleachers.

The anglers of the Canyon Lake Bassmasters Club caught a total of 17 fish for a combined weight of 53.4 pounds during the club’s October tournament.

Cub Scout Pack 346 won “Best Scout Theme Campsite” at the Eerie Emerson Camp on Oct. 25 and 26. Members also won three Best Costume awards.

For their October outing, 14 members of the Canyon Lake Garden Club visited Serra Gardens in Fallbrook. The day was organized by Dawn Bora and Sue Popper. The members were given small pumpkins to decorate with succulents.