Published Sept. 7, 1962: A new concept in dining is promised by Robert Balzer and others who announced last weekend plans for a $425,000 restaurant near Pine Cove. To be known as Bob Balzer’s Tirol Restaurant, the enterprise will be located on 10 acres adjacent to the Banning highway, three miles from Idyllwild. Commanding a panoramic view of the Idyllwild-Strawberry Creek basin and surrounding peaks, the 160-seat restaurant will feature a diversified menu of continental food and wines. This architectural rendering shows the plans for the restaurant. File photo

55 years ago – 1957
Pine Dell Estates was a new development in town, just below the village on National Forest Highway [aka Highway 243].

 

50 years ago – 1962
It had been 75 days since the last measurable moisture. High temperature for the week was a sizzling 96 degrees.
• • •
With the new Sabin oral polio vaccine available, the County Medical Association was planning a massive immunization program called “Sabin on Sundays.”

45 years ago – 1967
ISOMATA [Idyllwild Arts Academy] was the beneficiary of $80,000 in donations during the year, Dr. Max Krone reported.

40 years ago – 1972
The Vista Fire was controlled after 3,440 acres of brush and timber had been blackened. It was the worst fire in this area since 1943.

30 years ago – 1982
Capparelli Realty won the men’s softball championship for the season.

25 years ago – 1987
Local firefighting officials reported that the siege of lightning-sparked wildfires throughout California had taken its toll on the Idyllwild firefighting force. The first 10 days of September also saw a total of 18 lightning-caused fires in the area.

15 years ago – 1997
A fierce storm hit Idyllwild with lightning, thunder and sheets of rain. An estimated 500 residents were out of electrical power anywhere from 30 minutes to six hours. No major weather-related injuries were reported. Idyllwild received a total of .43 inches of rain.

5 years ago – 2007
In the wake of the reactions to their resignations, Idyllwild Chamber of Commerce President Bill Triplett and 2nd Vice President Lou Bacher changed their minds and rescinded their resignations.

1 year ago – 2011
The Twin Fire near Twin Pines Road was contained within hours and only burned five acres. Combating the fire resulted in the closure of Highway 243 for several hours.

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