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The cabins of the Big Santa Anita do not belong to the Pack Station or the US Forest Service. They are owned outright by private individuals. The Forest Service's "Residential Residence Program" is maintained out of respect for the historical importance of the remaining cabins and resorts. We have posted this page for the same reasons, but also as an attempt to reduce the time consumption involved with continually explaining the cabins to so many. Please read this page thoroughly; it should answer any general questions you may have.
Please respect the cabin boundaries and do not disturb the residents
Contents:
History of the Cabins
The cabins of the Big Santa were built between 1907 and 1936. The newly formed Forest Service instituted a residential residence program for several reasons. First of all, cabin life was an accepted form of forest use in those times. Secondly, by assigning cabin sites they could control the cabin construction, which had gone unchecked for years. They decided where the cabins were built and how many. It was also a good form of revenue collection.
When the camps and cabins were built, there were virtually no roads in the mountains. All of the lumber and concrete and furniture and stoves etc were packed in on donkeys and mules. The Big Santa Anita is the only remnant of that era.
By the mid-1930's there were dozens of mountain resorts and several thousand cabins throughout the San Gabriels. A tremendous flood in 1938 washed away the majority of structures in the range. Many in this canyon were lost. A fire in 1953 and another flood in 1969 took many more.
The Cabins Today
Today there are 80 cabins left in Big Santa Anita Canyon, and of the five resorts, only Sturtevant's is still with us. The only road in this canyon is the one to Chantry Flat. One must hike to all of the cabins. The cabin nearest Chantry is 3/4 mile in and the most distant are 4 miles in.There is no electricity, no municipal water, no septic, no garbage service and no address. The only "utility" is the old crank-phone system. All supplies must be packed in and all garbage packed out. Cabin owners are bound by all ecological laws and generators are frowned upon. The only universally accepted technology in this canyon is propane. It can run your cook stove and oven, heaters and refrigerators, BBQ's and lighting.
Cabins in this canyon are not standard real estate. They are considered private property. The Forest Service term for a cabin site is "improvements". This includes the cabin, the toilet and any other outbuildings, retaining walls and private trails, etc.
When one buys a cabin here, they are issued a "Special Use Permit" to keep the improvements on Federal land. No new sites are being permitted, now or ever. All current cabin permits will expire in 2008. There is talk now of issuing permits in 20 year increments, but there is no guarantee until one has that permit in hand. However, everyone is confident that they will renew. The Forest Service archaeologists have determined that the entire cabin tract should remain intact. In fact, the current Pack Station permit expires in the year 2026.
Owning a Cabin
This is not Big Bear. This is not Bouquet Canyon or The East Fork. Big SAC is an escape from the modern world. A great deal of responsibility comes with ownership as well. A cabin owner here is in custody of a living example of California history and should respect it as such. However they are not museum pieces. They need to be used and enjoyed - treated like one of the family. If you fully understand this, then you may be right for this canyon. As much as we enjoy new friends in The Canyon, we are here to discourage those who are unprepared from buying a cabin on a whim.
These cabins are also a lot of work. Any structure in the woods will need regular attention to preserve it. The cabins of Big SAC were built between 1907 and 1936 and repairs are common. When leaves are allowed to collect, rot will quickly set in. Annual fire clearance is required under the Special Use Permit and California law. Animals can cause damage, too. A neglected cabin will depreciate this neighborhood as much as any in town, probably more.
But a good cabin owner finds pleasure in this work. He likens his cabin to owning an antique automobile. A car that is maintained with only original equipment; that is polished and detailed on Saturdays; driven and shown-off for all to enjoy on Sundays.
The basic cost for all of this is nominal. A small annual fee (around $250) keeps your Special Use Permit and the county asks for a little property tax. Optional membership in Big Santa Anita Permitees Association will get your cabin patrolled weekly. Cabins are traditionally sold "as is", including furniture, appliances, tools, almost everything.
There are many restrictions on the cabins of Big SAC. Permission must be sought for anything beyond a basic repair. No design changes are allowed. No decks, no change in rooflines, no room additions. Paint color must be approved by the Forest Service. Cabins are for recreational use only; you must maintain a primary address. There are no restrictions on interior design provided they do not affect the exterior or the environment. Fire insurance can be obtained from California Fair Plan.
One should also be aware that there is an old-fashioned, small town effect here. This is not a place for the hermit or recluse. Your neighbors will distinguish your car from the others in the lot. They will know when you come and go, and what you brought in and out. They are always ready with a comment. They will also help you put a roof on your cabin, call you on the canyon line to make sure you arrived OK, or give you the jackets off their backs when you need one; or just invite you to their cabin for dinner. We wouldn't have it any other way.
If this sounds like your cup of tea, visit the following cabins. Once you have seen the outsides and done the hikes, come to the Pack Station prepared to give a description as proof of your visit and we will discuss the cabins further. If there are no cabins available or you cannot afford one, join us on the Pack Station deck.
Cabins for Sale
The following cabins are currently available:
NO CABINS ARE CURRENTLY FOR SALE