Hollywood Connection…
Tales of Saddle Peak Lodge abound, in enough variety to fill several volumes. The truth, such as we know it, is not much different than we might have wished: from its origins as a way-stop and general store along a rugged mountain trail, the area surrounding Saddle Peak Lodge evolved in the twenties into a summer resort known as Crater Camp, with rustic cabins, fishing camps, motorcycle runs and healthful recreation in the mountain air. The Lodge began a general store and roadhouse for campers and neighbors, and then became a simple dry-goods, beer, and sandwich shop.
After being discovered by Hollywood, it began a new era of its wildly romantic history. Featured in many movie classics, it served as resting place and roadhouse for stars from the nearby ranches of Warner Brothers, Paramount, and Twentieth Century Fox. Errol Flynn and Clark Gable, with their Bugattis, starlets, and fellow cast members, were frequent guests, bringing with them the glamour and mystery of the silver screen. From Mary Pickford and Charlie Chaplin, who, with Herbert Hoover, were said to have built their famous New Mexico hunting lodge with designs from the Saddle Peak, to Milton Berle, Ernest Borgnine and today’s theater, film, and music industry leaders, the Lodge has remained a Hollywood in-place.
