Lake Arrowhead has always had ties with the Hollywood bunch. MANY celebrities now, as well as then, have called Lake Arrowhead home....an escape from the hustle-bustle of Los Angeles and other large cities below. But the most famous celebrity ever to own property in Lake Arrowhead was the notorious mobster, Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegal."

Bugsy (he lothed being called Bugsy) talked the Chicago Mob into backing his new venture, which is now known as Bracken Fern Manor. This Alpine-style inn opened as Club Arrowhead in The Pines on July 4th, 1929. The inn had state of the art amenities, such as electricity! More importantly, it catered to the rich and famous, offering gambling, illegal liquor and "working girls." Other amenities included an Olympic size swimming pool, skiing, tennis courts, a bathhouse, and more. The brothel continued operations through World War II. Gambling was maintained in the speakeasy (across the street) up until 1955. Today, Bracken Fern Manor is a Certified Historic Landmark in the State of California. (The door to the right led to underground tunnels).
Across from Bracken Fern Manor is where gambling took place at The CLUB. We now call this (below/left) "The Tutor House." Story has it that when cops were on their way up the mountain from San Bernardino, and administrators were alerted, gambling tables were actually turned over, then appearing as regular tables.

Bracken Fern Manor claims to be haunted by a former "working girl" named Violet. She killed herself after the mob killed her lover. You can still smell her violet scented perfume wafting through the halls. Another ghost of a little boy has also been seen at this historic inn. He is thought to be the son of a former prostitute and was trampled by a team of horses. Today his tiny footsteps are often seen in the snow...so it is told.
After the inn became successful, Bugsy convinced the Bosses in Chicago to front him the dough for another little gambling adventure.....Las Vegas. However, Bugsy's lavish taste caused him to go way over his one million dollar budget and ultimently cost him his credibility with Chicago. And his life. While he was having dinner one evening with his lover, Virginia Hill, at her Hollywood home, Bugsy was shot dead.
Bracken Fern Manor is located at 815 Arrowhead Villas Road, Arrowhead Villas, a tiny sub-area in Lake Arrowhead and is currently a B & B.

Buyers--The Process of Buying

1. Contact your lender and get Pre-qualified: Tell him/her your budget, then he/she will tell you what price range you are in. Go over terms and interest rates
2. Sit down with your Realtor and go over your criteria-what you're wants and needs are: area, price, property type, etc
3. Preview homes with your Realtor
4. When you find the "home of your dreams," tell your Realtor you're ready to "write it up" and decide what price you want to "offer," and terms of offer: closing date, etc.
5. Get your check book out so that you can write an "Earnest Money Deposit." This will go into escrow once an offer is accepted and toward your purchase price at closing.
6. Have your lender send your Realtor a Pre-qual letter.
7. Realtor will present your offer to the listing agent and, or, Realtor and sellers. "Wait" for response from seller/s.
8. Once all terms (or counter offers) are accepted, we go "into escrow."
9. The clock starts ticking:
10. You get inspections (unless you have a contingent offer that states you are selling your home. If so, we wait until your home/property goes into escrow.
    Review all "Disclosures" seller supplies you.
11. INSPECTIONS: Pest, Well, Septic, Home; Regardless who is paying for the reports, once they are done, a buyer can then ask seller to make any, and all, repairs. Seller does NOT have to fix any items (except Water Heater Bracing and Smoke Alarms). In CA, at least. However, at this time, a buyer can "cancel" escrow if they do not accept inspections or disclosures. All inspections and reports are a part of your contingencies.
12. Lender will be preparing your loan, have appraisal done and submit loan documents. Near the close of escrow, the loan documents will be sent to escrow officer and you will go in and sign loan and escrow documents (I WILL be there with you). Once this is done, it is usually two days for closing to occur and, if there are no "last minute hiccups," we close escrow and YOU get the KEYS.
13. Congratulations Homeowner/s!