Pining to get away?
BY J. MICHAEL RIVERA
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In “To Autumn,” English Romantic Poet John Keats wrote of the bounty of the harvest season, the outdoors alive with fruit and foliage in full bloom. For Central Valley travelers seeking to partake in the richness of the outdoors, now is the time to head for Bass Lake. Fewer than 3 hours from the greater Stockton area, the lake and its Pines Resort is an autumnal sanctuary, offering a full complement of water sports and recreational activities.
As any local could tell you, Ducey's Bass Lake Lodge has been a lakeside staple for more than 50 years. The original lodge burned to the ground in June of 1988, the result of a kitchen fire. A rebuilt, larger lodge reopened in April 1991, with 84 two-story chalets and twenty lakeside suites.
The Pines Resort has changed names and owners over its 65-plus year history. Stewardship of the magnificent resort is now in the hands of Wil Smith. The 35-year-old Stockton native (Lincoln High School, class of 1990) is the grandson of renowned Stockton developer Greenlaw Grupe Sr., who, most notably, transformed the Benjamin Holt ranch into houses, swimming pools and the upscale Lincoln Center.
Smith, who has lived in Newport Beach with his wife Christina since 2003, followed his family's path and co-founded his own real estate development and investment management company with John Tumminello Jr. In business since March 2003, Greenlaw Partners has an existing property portfolio in excess of $800 million.
Smith's affiliation with The Pines Resort began when he attended a wedding in the area. The opportunity to purchase the lakeside resort became available in early 2007, and Smith and a business partner seized the opportunity. “In the summertime, the water flirts with 80 degrees,” Smith said. “It's really a special place; everything is within walking distance. It's the perfect place for a family to get away.”
The chalets accommodate up to six guests and feature fully-equipped kitchens, cookware, dishes and linens, with high-speed Internet access and a private deck. All guests have use of the tennis club, spa club and a seasonally heated swimming pool next to the lake. The resort property also includes a grocery store, post office, boutiques and a bar. In addition to many planned events and activities, live music resonates on most Fridays and Saturdays throughout the summer.
Since taking over ownership of the club, Smith has concentrated on the exterior renovations. The lodge is picture-perfect enough to have served as a movie set for “The Great Outdoors,” in the fall of 1997, starring John Candy and Dan Aykroyd. Its interior had become dated over the years, which is where Smith's attention is now focused. “We're in the middle of working on the inside,” he said. “The trick is doing everything in the off-season.”
Not that there is an off-season. The Pines Resort is one hour away from Yosemite's Badger Pass Ski Area and 12 miles from the south entrance to Yosemite. “Activities are dependent on the weather,” Smith said, “but there is always a variety of things to do.”
559-642-3121
800-350-7463
www.basslake.com
As any local could tell you, Ducey's Bass Lake Lodge has been a lakeside staple for more than 50 years. The original lodge burned to the ground in June of 1988, the result of a kitchen fire. A rebuilt, larger lodge reopened in April 1991, with 84 two-story chalets and twenty lakeside suites.
The Pines Resort has changed names and owners over its 65-plus year history. Stewardship of the magnificent resort is now in the hands of Wil Smith. The 35-year-old Stockton native (Lincoln High School, class of 1990) is the grandson of renowned Stockton developer Greenlaw Grupe Sr., who, most notably, transformed the Benjamin Holt ranch into houses, swimming pools and the upscale Lincoln Center.
Smith, who has lived in Newport Beach with his wife Christina since 2003, followed his family's path and co-founded his own real estate development and investment management company with John Tumminello Jr. In business since March 2003, Greenlaw Partners has an existing property portfolio in excess of $800 million.
Smith's affiliation with The Pines Resort began when he attended a wedding in the area. The opportunity to purchase the lakeside resort became available in early 2007, and Smith and a business partner seized the opportunity. “In the summertime, the water flirts with 80 degrees,” Smith said. “It's really a special place; everything is within walking distance. It's the perfect place for a family to get away.”
The chalets accommodate up to six guests and feature fully-equipped kitchens, cookware, dishes and linens, with high-speed Internet access and a private deck. All guests have use of the tennis club, spa club and a seasonally heated swimming pool next to the lake. The resort property also includes a grocery store, post office, boutiques and a bar. In addition to many planned events and activities, live music resonates on most Fridays and Saturdays throughout the summer.
Since taking over ownership of the club, Smith has concentrated on the exterior renovations. The lodge is picture-perfect enough to have served as a movie set for “The Great Outdoors,” in the fall of 1997, starring John Candy and Dan Aykroyd. Its interior had become dated over the years, which is where Smith's attention is now focused. “We're in the middle of working on the inside,” he said. “The trick is doing everything in the off-season.”
Not that there is an off-season. The Pines Resort is one hour away from Yosemite's Badger Pass Ski Area and 12 miles from the south entrance to Yosemite. “Activities are dependent on the weather,” Smith said, “but there is always a variety of things to do.”
559-642-3121
800-350-7463
www.basslake.com