July 27, 1957 - Arrowhead-shaped Pool

Aerial postcard view circa 1978, showing the arrowhead-shaped pool on the front lawn of the Arrowhead Springs Hotel. (Mark Landis Collection)

"On May 1, 1951, officials from the Hilton Hotels Corporation announced that the company would take a 10-year lease on the Arrowhead Springs Hotel...

"The Hilton era at Arrowhead Springs came to a close in August of 1956, when Benjamin Swig announced that his Fairmont Hotel Corporation was purchasing the hotel.  Swig was an experienced local hotel man, and his chain of establishments included the Mission Inn at Riverside, and the Fairmont Hotel at San Francisco...

"Swig began a new [$2,000,000] remodeling campaign soon after he took over, and his son Richard, and hotel manager Charles Kern were put in charge of the project.

"On July 27, 1957, a dedication ceremony was held for the most notable part of the project, a new arrowhead-shaped pool built on the hotel's front lawn.

"Clad in swim trunks, actor Hugh O'Brian from the popular TV series "Wyatt Earp" was surrounded by bathing beauties including Miss U.S.A. and contestants from the Miss Universe pageant.  The group cut the wide scarlet ribbon that stretched across the front of the pool.

"State Senator James E. Cunningham, Sr. also participated in the ribbon cutting and approximately 200 people including numerous photographers were poolside for the event.  The beautiful new 60' x 40' pool was only a few yards from the hotel, and it quickly became a favorite for the hotel guests."

-  Extracted from the book, Arrowhead Springs - California's Ideal Resort by Mark Landis.

-  For local history publications see http://landispublications.com/