Families who build together, stick together

There are many inns, lodges and Airbnb’s in Idyllwild, but not many that are run by a family, three generations deep, at the same time. The Root-Stone Lodge has been a tucked away lodge in the forest near Strawberry Creek for years. 

The lodge was originally bought as a single-family residence by Don Baldwin in the early 1990s as a place to gather his family for the holidays. The original two-bedroom home was built in the 1950s, and now has been transformed into a multiple bedroom lodge. 

Don’s background is in electrical engineering. He has been able to do much of the work himself with the help of his family. Don received his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering in 1964 from the University of California, Berkeley and spent much of his career working in the aerospace field until he retired. 

Don had been visiting Idyllwild since the early 1980s, and when he decided to purchase this cabin, he did so with his family in mind.

Since 1982, the Baldwin family has spent every Thanksgiving in Idyllwild. Before owning any property, they would rent a different cabin each visit.
Don’s daughter, Tara Baldwin, and his granddaughter Emelise Figueroa live at and manage the lodge full-time.

“All the work and updating that could be done has been built by family,” Tara said. “We’ve hired licensed contractors when we’ve had to, but other than that, it’s all been family. We all pitch in when anything needs to be fixed and we installed solar panels recently.”

According to Don, he started building an addition to the original cabin to create more rooms and space for the lodge. The addition has a two-story river rock fireplace with a spiral staircase leading up to the second floor where there are three rooms available for guests. 

Keeping and building with local supplies, Don said, “All the rocks came from the property and the steps are from a big tree that was on the property, also.”

While the main building of the lodge is complete, the family has some big ideas to enhance the lodge for the future. 

“I’d like to add some amenities, maybe a small 9-iron pitch to a little green and maybe a little horseshoe pit,” Don said. “Once COVID is over, I can offer more.”

Emelise has taken on the role of cleaning and landscaping, wanting to offer a place for couples to get married once they are able to do so.

“I love to garden,” Emelise said. “We’d like to turn the lodge into a wedding venue. We want to plant some cherry trees, which I’m actually buying with some of the money I’ve made from cleaning the lodge.”

Emelise is taking classes in business management and agriculture at College of the Desert to help focus on building the lodge as best she can. 

Coming from a family who likes to do as much work together as possible, Emelise wants to build a stage to offer live entertainment and dancing lessons, and a gazebo for weddings when the time is right.

Before moving to Idyllwild from Portland, Oregon in March 2020, Emelise was learning carpentry and how to be self-sustaining by growing her own food. Before that, she was a professional swing dancer while living in Texas. 

“It’s an investment of time, energy, and love in making our cabin what I envision it to be,” Emelise said. “It’s really wonderful that I can implement these passions to build up our family business. It’s a good way to thank my grandparents who worked so hard to be able to make this happen in the first place.”

While Don’s wife, Roberta Baldwin, passed away in 2007, she was an important part in the early days helping Don restore and build the family cabin. Don, Tara and Emelise will work as a family to continue to grow their lodge into the dream they all envision. 

“I wanted something for my kids and grandkids to have — somewhere to come to whenever they want,” Don said. “Plus, it gives them the motivation to stay together a little bit.”

Emelise added, “It’s so valuable and fundamental to have shelter and a home base. It really helps to keep the family together.”