updated 4/10/24
Located off of Highway 138; rim of the world highway, east of Interstate 15; the Cajon pass, directly east of Silverwood Lake; west of Twin Lakes and Lake Arrowhead. Gateway to the camping and recreation activities of the San Bernardino National Forest. Usually 10-20 degrees cooler than valley cities. Over 20,000 tourists a year.
Demographics: Est. population [2023] 9,319. Age breakdown 16% under 18; 45% 18-54; 26% over 55; 67% high school grad; 27% college degrees; $42K average income; $62K average household income; 77% white; 17% Hispanic, African American 2%; Asian & American Indian >1%; median age is 44; 51:48% M:F ratio; 71% own; 29% rent; average household is 3; 50% married; 5% widowed; 14% divorced; 29% never married; 619 veterans [57% Vietnam, 15% Korea, 13% First Gulf War; 15% Second Gulf war]
“To provide water, rest, intermission to people, to rejuvenate in the mountains, a place to vacation, enjoy God's creation”
In 1917, Pacific Electric Company developed camps for its employees to vacation. The Crestline development became a mountain community in 1906 when San Bernardino investors purchased 630 acres for $11K. Henry Guernsey, one of the members of the syndicate that bought the land stated, “Here on the summit of the range, far above the heat of the Valley, a summer colony will be established, which shall be a veritable summer city among the pines.” The new crest community was first called “Summer City in the Pines.” In 1906, a contest was to give the town a name. Dr. Wesley Thompson’s came up with “Crestline” won the prize.
S.W. Dillin, a Hollywood screenwriter for Keystone Cops series, came to the Crestline area to help his asthma. Eventually, the mountain air helped his condition, so he stayed. Dillin created the Crestline Tavern and built a cabin and store, which hosted the post office and he became the postmaster. Later more cabins began popping up on both sides of Dillin’s Crestline Store and Tavern.
During the 1920’s, the sparsely settle region of Rim of the World fell prey to the sub-dividers. Like Lake Arrowhead, subdivisions sprang up which caused the region to become urbanized with clusters of homes to be called Skyland Heights, Cedar Pines Park, Valley of Enchantment, Twin Peaks, Alpine Glens Park, Cedar Pines Highlands and Valley of the Moon.
In 1928, Charles S. Mann, a mountain developer bought the center of Crestline and began to remodel the business district. He built the Rim of the World Inn and hired Millard S. Binney to manage its sales. Binney hired a real estate bus to encourage prospective buyers from Los Angeles. By the end of the decade, there were 500 homes in the Crestline area and 1,000 more in the adjacent communities of Cedar Pines Park, Valley of the Moon and Skyland.
Location of Crestline in SBC
Specific Prayer Points
Environmental issues: fires, drought to Lake Gregory, snow
Economic issues: post pandemic closures, loss of business, tourists, camps reopen
Governed by: San Bernardino County 2nd District Supervisor
Crime issues: [2022] use of methamphetamine, mental health problems, abuse among adults, children both physically and mentally; A crime occurs every 1 day 7 hours (on average) in Crestline; overall crime grade B, violent crime is B-; property crime is B and other is B-; top issues are vandalism 10%; drug crimes and burglary 6%
Poverty Rate: 15.3%; highest rates among children under 6 at 37%; 12-17 at 22% & 6-11 at 16%
Schools/Board: Rim of the World Unified School District
Points of interest: Camp Seely, Lake Gregory recreational areas, Heart Trail,
Spiritual issues: more pastors pray together, unity among believers, pray for one another and lift each other up, not put each other down or be a clique, revival and awakening in each of the churches, laborers for the harvest, creative ways to help those battling with addictions, support and prayer and transformation for those facing abuse, healing and deliverance, decrease in the meth problem and replaced with a desire for the things of the Holy Spirit; intercessors to rise up and claim this city for God, that the Lord would move in such a mighty way that it would be in the news the changes that occur
Churches & Ministries [not exhaustive]
Lake Gregory Community Church [Pastor Dan Stipp; nondenominational, background with Campus Crusade for Christ]
Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini Parish [Rev. Neil D. Fuller, S.V.D.]
Crestline First Baptist [Pastor Bill & Debbie]
Crestline New Life Fellowship Church [Assembly of God, Pastor Matt & Tracey Shorey]
Twin Peaks Community Church [Pastor Mike Whisner]
Mountain Hope Center [Pastor Kristen Williams]
Camps:
Thousand Pines Christian Camp & Conference Center [exists to help people see, know, and experience God]
Ministries:
Jubilee Mountain Fellowship [Ministry of Domestic Missionaries, a homeless outreach, a prison ministry, a youth and young adult program, a food ministry, and a weekly Christian fellowship—that volunteers can plug into and donors can support]