www.haylapa.com

A San Diego Backcountry Retreat

The Haylapa House is located on a small ranch east of San Diego, in the picturesque mountain community of Descanso which borders on Cuyamaca State Park. Descanso literally means "place of rest " and historically served as the winter camp for the local Indians for several hundreds of years because of the weather, the abundant water and oaks they harvested acorns from. Artists Lane McClelland and Laurie Roberts made it their permanent camp in 1990 along with their menagerie of cats, dogs , mules, donkeys, and birds. On it is an old storybook stone house, guesthouse and barn. In the beginning, to make ends meet, Lane and Laurie rented out the main houses and lived in a tipi which Laurie sewed up in the living room before the new tenant moved in. The following year, they renovated the barn where they now live. In 1992, they built a curious and cozy little round house out of strawbales they called a "Haylapa" which was used for reading, meditation and out of town guests. It wasn't long before people were requesting to see it or spend the night, so they decided to remodel and make it a vacation retreat. It has been featured on TV, in magazines and books about strawbale buildings and unusual architecture. The sense one gets upon entering the Haylapa is that it's time to mellow out, reflect and relax and enjoy the diversity of the San Diego backcountry.

Accomodations

The Haylapa is one large open room, with a palapa ceiling made from recycled tipi poles and willow twig. It is furnished with a queensize bed , a futon couch, furnishings and art made by the owners, TV, VCR, DVD and free internet connection. The kitchen is fully equipped . The countertops and night stands are made from pine killed in the Cedars fire. The sunken bathroom has a large clawfoot tub and "rain" shower with a view of Cuyamaca Peak . The private patio has a view of the surrounding mountains, an outdoor fireplace made from local stone, a pizza oven, and is securely fenced for your pets. For those of you staying longer than a few days, there are full laundry facilities available. It is ideal for two people looking for a private retreat. If you stay at the Haylapa, you won’t see anyone unless you come down to the main ranch compound.

Dining

We are a "bed but get your own breakfast" establishment but we encourage you to try our outdoor pizza oven. We'll provide you with our own homemade pizza dough, you bring whatever toppings you desire and we'll show you how to make the first one. You won't believe how good they taste.....and dining under the stars in front of a warm fire on a clear night is beyond words. We suggest making a few extras for the next day. If pizza's not your thing, there are several good restaurants in Alpine, Pine Valley or the Viejas Casino and Outlet which has a good buffet.

Things To Do

There are fabulous trails awaiting the equestrian, hiker or mountain biker including one that allows unleashed dogs. Sightseers will enjoy a jaunt to the old mining town of Julian where they can shop, eat some of their famous apple pie, or go winetasting . Just over the hill from Julian is Santa Ysabel which has a wonderful gallery which features local artists, the Weavers Guild, Dudleys Bakery and the old picturesque Santa Ysabel Mission. Animal lovers will enjoy visiting the awesome California Wolf Center or perhaps Lions, Tigers and Bears Animal Sanctuary . A drive over to Borrego Desert is always enjoyable, especially in the winter for hiking or visiting the Interpretive Center. For you out-of-towners who would like to visit San Diego's beaches, we are just 45 minutes away from the coast. . For you gamblers and shoppers, the Viejas Casino and Outlet is a 15 minute drive west and has great restaurants and stores. If you like good beer, stop at the Alpine Brewery on your way up the hill to pick up a jug to enjoy with your pizza. Equestrians and motorcyclists will find McClintocks Saddles a worthwhile stop for custom leather accessories and tack. Anyone who loves wood or cooking will be amazed by a visit to Trynn Spoons, owned by artist Bill Chapelow, who makes fine art spoons, utensils and jewelry from exotic woods. If you would like to go trail riding and don't own a horse, you can reserve one at Kenner Stables near Julian.

Rates

$145 tax incl. based on double occupancy. Add $10 per stay per extra person up to 4 maximum. Pizza firing tutorial and crust (you supply favorite toppings)......$20 or free if you do it all yourselves with my written tutorial and you bring dough for crust. Major credit cards accepted.

See the website at www.haylapa.com for more info .Call for reservations.619 445-1899 or email laurie@haylapa.com