The Rivosus Ranch seal: the letter R within a wreath of pine, above a running stream.

Rivosus Ranch Lake Arrowhead · California

35 luscious acres of streams, forest, springs and mountain canopy held quietly next to Lake Arrowhead, spanning more than a century.

Measured elevation drawing of the ranch stonework: a low granite wall with pillars, stepped entry stairs and a central chimney. Walk the ground

The Land

Cedar, Springs, Pine and Streams.

Nestled between the communities of Lake Arrowhead, Blue Jay and Agua Fria, Rivosus' nearly 35 acres of property is home to thousands of trees, natural springs and a stream that flanks our border with Hwy 189. Our most notable (and only) structure was built nearly 110 years ago, reminding us of the craftsmanship the masons of that era brought to their craft. Although time has claimed the nearly 40 cabins once scattered among the trees and waterways, a renewed opportunity exists for new cottages, outbuildings, and other residential or recreational amenities - a blank canvas waiting for an artist.

35acres (+/-)

14 hectares (+/-)

1915

Welcomes the Pacific Electric Railway Camp.

1944

WWII and the opening of Pineview Lodge.

2026

The Rodecker Family acquires the property and begins Rivosus.

In the Trees

Stewards of the Forest

Surrounded by a lush pine canopy, filtered light and fresh pine air, it is easy to forget that "civilization" is literally just miles away. In the distance you can hear the babbling brook tirelessly filling Lake Arrowhead year-round. Plans and improvements to the property will be forest minded and in architectural harmony with what makes this property so inspiring.

The granite wall and central chimney standing among tall pines on the property today.
2026 The wall and chimney as they stand, seen from the clearing.

The Stonework

Laid by hand. Still standing.

A true testament to the artisans of their era, the original stonework for the Pacific Electric Railway Camp's social hall is still quite visible. Future plans for the site will endeavor to preserve this stonework and restore its functionality.

Archival photograph from about 1917 showing the newly built granite wall, a flagpole and the lodge behind it.
1917 New stone, a flagpole, and the drive curving past the wall.
The same granite wall photographed in 2026, surrounded by mature forest.
2026 The same courses of stone, a hundred and nine seasons later.

The Record

Quaint beginnings

1915–1941 Pacific Electric Railway Camp

The Pacific Electric Railway: for those who don't remember, LA's answer to the San Francisco cable car was the Red Cars that went from Los Angeles to Orange County. For twenty-six seasons, Pacific Electric Railway employees enjoyed the season and celebrated in the camp's social hall (pictured below) and its many cottages. This continued until changes in the auto industry and, moreover, the start of WWII made continued operations impossible, ending a romantic period of history for both the camp and the country.

The entrance to the Pacific Electric camp, circa 1930s.
The entrance, circa 1930s
1944–1974 Pine View Lodge

Pine View Lodge: opening in late 1944, the lodge continued where Pacific Electric left off. Operating for nearly three decades, travelers continued to enjoy the forest, swimming, streams and forestry its thirty-five acres offered.

A souvenir postcard showing the Pine View Lodge among the pines.
Lodge postcard
Today Rivosus

Rivosus: the property bears its name from the Latin word for "rivers and streams." Home to over 1,000 feet of streams and banks and nearly 10,000 trees, the property continues to entertain and inspire and will take on new roles in the near future. At Disney's California Adventure theme park in Anaheim, you can still find one of Pacific Electric's Red Cars, and here at Rivosus, you can still see the stonework and foundations proudly standing for over 110 years.

The buildings came and went. The stone stayed put. Rivosus Ranch

Bearings

Between Blue Jay and Agua Fria.

Blue Jay
To the west
Rivosus Ranch
35 acres
Agua Fria
To the east

Region

San Bernardino Mountains

Setting

The forest surrounding Lake Arrowhead

Extent

35 acres · 14 hectares

County

San Bernardino, California

The Archive

The rest of the record.

Photographs of the camp and the lodge, alongside the clearing as it stands today. Select any plate to enlarge it.

Archival photograph from about 1917 showing the lodge, guests and motor stage beside the stonework.
The lodge arrival, circa 1917
The surviving granite wall photographed in the forest in 2026.
The wall today, 2026
The recreation hall at the Pacific Electric vacation camp, 1918.
Recreation hall, 1918
A banner photograph of the camp from Pacific Electric Magazine, circa 1920.
Pacific Electric Magazine, c.1920
A map of the Pacific Electric camp grounds drawn in 1924.
Camp map, 1924
Campers gathered for a group photograph, June 1927.
The camp, June 1927
The Lady Louise at the Pacific Electric camp.
The Lady Louise
The new camp bus, which carried guests up the mountain.
The new camp bus
The surviving rockwork photographed in 2015.
Rockwork, 2015
Stone piers left standing where a cabin once sat, 2015.
Cabin piers, 2015
The stone fireplace and chimney, 2015.
The fireplace, 2015
The clearing seen from the old driveway, 2015.
From the driveway, 2015
Looking out from the porch, 2015.
On the porch, 2015

Enquiries

Correspondence is welcome.

The ranch is private ground and is not open to visitors. Questions about its history, its stonework or its stewardship may be sent to the address below.

enquiries@rivosus.com

Please do not enter the property. It is unimproved forest land with unmaintained grade, standing masonry and seasonal water.