Silver Lakes Resort in Helendale, CA

Where I came from, you knew your neighbors, but they weren't like, real neighbors, the kind who care about you and what happens to you or your family.
But I ain't tryin' to get you to move here, just to come and stay a weekend and enjoy our golf course, our pool, our lakes, our tennis courts, and here's something you're probably wanting for when you go someplace to visit...hospitality. Point blank, we who choose to live here in the middle of nowhere are probably some of the friendliest people you will ever meet. We smile and we greet you with a hello, even if you have a purple Mohawk hairdo.

Silver Lakes is in a tiny little rural town called Helendale, nestled directly between the old west towns of Victorville to the west, and Barstow to the east, right off of Historic Route 66. The majority of Helendale residents live in Silver Lakes. I could sit here and give you the you're-a-tourist-and-we-want-you-to-spend-your-money-here garbage, but I won't. Instead I will just tell you a little bit about the people who live here. If after telling you about us, the residents, does not convince you that you at least have to drive on through and have lunch at Yong Nim Pan-Asian restaurant, a drink at the Tavern on the Green, stay in the condos or at the resort, you decide that you would rather just keep on driving, that's fine. But trust me when I tell you that there is truth to the motto outside on the roadsign, the one that reads "Vacation where you live". No, really.

In the very early summer hours, you are likely to see some of the residents here, tooling around on golf carts and waving and smiling at one another, even visitors, as if they have known you forever. As you creep down Silver Lakes Parkway/Lakeview Drive, you can see the glint of the sun as it bounces off the surface of the North Lake. The North Lake Beach area is perfect for picnics, birthday parties, and just a lazy day watching the ducks cruise by with their babies. The occasional person walking a dog will show up. They will see you and smile and offer a friendly greeting. Almost as though they've known you forever. Directly across the street, down Clubhouse Drive is what we are famous for (other than friendly locals) - the 27 hole, Ted Robinson Designed course, the Silver Lakes Golf Course. It is a private course, and yes, you have to know someone here in order to play the course. In this case you might want to call Ted or Larry or Stephanie or Barbara - all employees at the Silver Lakes Pro Shop and Starter. Before you get to the starter, stop on in to the Oasis Snack shop, order a sandwich, and either J.J. or Cheryl or Candace will take your order. There are usually people in the snack shop all the time. Don't worry - those guys are the locals. They're usually friendly and don't bite unless you want them to.

Where will you sleep?

Well, when you arrived at the course, you passed the Silver Lakes Inn. The Inn, as it is known to the residents here, boasts 60+ rooms, all adjacent to the golf course, with its own pool, Barbeque grills outside of all the downstairs rooms. The rooms come in both smoking and non-smoking, and you can get a regular two queen room with a decent view, a working air conditioner and friendly staff for just under 70.00 per night. When you call, tell the girl who answers that you want the golf package, which comes with a room and a round of golf for about 120.00, cart fee of 20.00 is not included. By the way, the girl who answers the phone will be Nuria or Anna, maybe Loreena. Whoever it is, tell them that I sent you.

There are the timshare condos on the corner of Vista Road and Strawberry Lane- The Silver Lakes Vacation Club. These are full condos, some with one bedroom and the others with two bedrooms. Each unit comes with a full kitchen, tenni court and pool privileges, private patios, A/C and VCRs in each unit.

We have two sparkling lakes, the north lake and the south lake, and fishing is allowed year round. We also have tennis courts, a community pool, a ballroom, a library, three churches, and our town center which has a full grocery and gas station. Also available are the US Post Office, a video rental store, Pop's Pizza, Margarita's Mexican Restaurant and the Silver Lakes Grill. Silver Lakes also boasts the ONLY waterfront shopping area in the entire Victor Valley. You can have Pan-Asian cuisine at Yong Nim Restaurant, Drinks and conversation at Margarita's Landing, and when you wake up in the morning you can get a fresh cup of coffee at What's Brewing, the only coffee shop in the community. Also available are 3 full service salons, a nail salon, a dog groomer, auto shop, two golf cart sales and service shops, and coin laundry.

Just like other resort communities, there are other activities you might want to check out, such as the Fine Arts Factory dance classes during the months of September until July, and Hula lessons with one of only three desert Hula Halaus, Hula i Lalo Ka La, which are held all year with respect to the month of June. Brand new are Karate Classes. We even have our own Curves for Women! There are movie nights and a game room which is open until 8:00 P.M. for the kids, summer day camp programs sponsored by the Silver Lakes Recreation Department. Every August, the Rec Department manager hosts a beach party with a luau theme, and yes, those hula girls provide the entertainment.

And keeping all this fun under control is 24 hour roving security. Helendale Fire Department is also located in the boundaries of the Silver Lakes Community.

So, I guess that what I am trying to say is that the next time you want to get away from it all without leaving it all behind, take a ride on the 15 north from Los Angeles, and take the D Street/Apple Valley offramp. Make a left at the light and follow Route 66 all the way to where people love to live, but hate to leave.

Silver Lakes resort- Information/Association Office (760) 245-1606

The Inn at Silver Lakes (Lodging) - 14818 Clubhouse Drive, P.O. Box 26, Helendale, CA 92342 (760) 243-4800

Fine Arts Factory- (760) 952-3514

Hula i Lalo Ka La - (760) 396-6912

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