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History

Pardon our dust, under construction...

In The Beginning...

Don & Dorothy Jones 
1958 - 1962

It all started with a dream of a young boy....

Starting sometime in the 30's, Don Jones, a very young boy, and his family would travel from Southern California to the Lake Tahoe area every year. During the trip both up to and back from Lake Tahoe, the Jones family would drive by a beautiful meadow with a magnificent rock walled cliff behind the meadow. Don Jones was so fascinated with the meadow and cliff, he would often say that "someday I'm going to own that place".

In 1958 after several events in Don's life, he was able to purchase 75 acres which included the meadow and the cliff. Thus the start of a dream beginning to come true.

Don was so fascinated with the property (then known as the "Mile High Ranch"), that young Don wanted to share it's beauty with others, thus the idea of a motel. Don did not just want a motel like most others at the time. He wanted all of his guests to enjoy the beauty of the meadow and cliffs. So after much pondering and through creativity, Don finally had a master plan and thus the creation of  "Meadowcliff, The Complete Resort".

Construction began on the motel building in early 1959 and after much work (his boy's call it "slave labor") Meadowcliff open it's doors in November of 1959.

During the time of construction, Don became enamored with a beautiful young woman named "Dorothy Lindsey". Even after Don put Dorothy to work on the construction project (that's an entire story in it's self), Dorothy knew there was some connection between her and Don. After much work, Dorothy return to southern California. Shortly after arriving home, Don called Dorothy and said that he missed her so much that he wanted to marry her.

Shortly after her return to Meadowcliff, Don and Dorothy were married on November 27, 1959.

During the early days, it was such a joy to have rented any rooms. Don and Dorothy did what they could to promote the place. But struggling, Don was forced to get a job back in southern California. Don would commute back up to Meadowcliff on the weekends, while Dorothy moved into a motel room during this time.

Finally, after seeing that there was no way for them to continue with Meadowcliff, sadly, Don and Dorothy Jones finally gave in and sold the place only after a short 4 years from the time Don originally bought the property.

Don and Dorothy did return for a visit to the "old place" in 1999, at which time they met the newest owners, Tim and Mary Fesko. Don and Dorothy were quite surprised and pleased to see how beautiful the place of their dreams had become.

In August of 2004, Don and Dorothy, along with their children, their grand-children and even great-grand-children returned to Meadowcliff to relive some of the joy that the "founders" of Meadowcliff originally enjoyed. Everyone had a great time and it was great for this author (Tim Fesko) and his wife, Mary, to sit around and hear all of the great stories on how Meadowcliff came to be. It is with great pleasure, pride and honor that we, the newest owner's were given this chance to get to know these fine people.

We are so honored and grateful to Don and Dorothy for having the spirit to create such a beautiful resort and for getting to know them during their return visit.

Here are some photos of the early days... hope that you enjoy them!

Smiley
1962 - ??

Peggy's and Taft's
?? - ??

Madden ? - ?
?? - 1983

Jack & Darlene Zippwald 
1983 - June 1997

Tim & Mary Fesko
June 25, 1997 - Present

           More Photos Here...

Email: stay@meadowcliff.com
Copyright © 1996-2008
Meadowcliff Resort, Meadowcliff Lodge, Meadowcliff Restaurant, Meadowcliff RV Resort  All rights reserved.
Meadowcliff , The Jewel of Antelope Valley, You've always thought about stopping!  and Brew Me A Cup  are trademarks and protected by law
Last modified: February 12, 2008

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