Chino Hills Historical Society Talks for 2026

The Chino Hills Historical Society has issued a press release detailing its three meetings for 2026, including the first presentation on Monday, 9 February on some history of Soquel Canyon, which is adjacent on the south to Carbon Canyon and merges with it at Olinda Village in Brea.  The talk will go as far back as the 1850s and also discuss the oil boomtown of Petrolia, the Chino Ranch Ride, and some more modern history.

On Monday, 8 June, there'll some discussion of some of the history of what, in the 1970s and 1980s, became Chino Hills State Park, including its long use for livestock grazing.  Lastly, on Monday, 12 October, the focus will return to Boys Republic, the institution for troubled teens that has been in Chino Hills for nearly 120 years, with rarely seen photos and a focus on Clyde Doyle, who had a long relationship with the facility and served many terms in the House of Representatives.

We hope you can join us for these talks on local history!

Sleepy Hollow 100th Anniversary Presentation Video Now Available

In October 2023, the Chino Hills community of Sleepy Hollow, nestled in the midst of Carbon Canyon adjacent to the border with Brea and Orange County, marked its centennial with a celebration at the Sleepy Hollow Community Center (which is now deemed surplus property and is likely to be sold, not having been used since this event).  

This included a PowerPoint slide presentation and summary of some of the neighborhood's history, reminiscences from long-time residents and descendants of Sleepy Hollow founders Cleve and Elizabeth Purington, a display of photos and artifacts and, despite a car crash along Carbon Canyon Road at the summit (this spot just hit again a few days ago with internet and phone service affected, though not electricity), a generator was quickly secured to power the event.

A Chino Hills Historical Society talk took place the following day at the city's community center and included the illustrated talk, the Purington and long-time resident recollections and displays.  Not only was there no power outage, but the evening was recorded and, along with the St. Joseph's Hill of Hope presentation shared yesterday, is now uploaded to the City of Chino Hills YouTube channel.  

Thanks to everyone involved in the recording and editing of the video, which can be viewed here.

St. Joseph's Hill of Hope Presentation Video Now Available

Last October's presentation for the Chino Hills Historical Society on some of the remarkable and little-known history of the St. Joseph's Hill of Hope community, which has been on more than 400 acres in the hills adjoining Carbon Canyon on the north for more than a half-century, was, unfortunately, unaccompanied by illustrations because of technical issues at the meeting room in the community center.

Thanks to the City of Chino Hills, however, a recording was made in late November at City Hall and has been edited and just recently uploaded on to the City's YouTube channel.  Appreciation is extended to Valerie McClung, who made the arrangements, and Edward Chan, who handled the recording and editing, for their work on the video, as well as to Roberta and Michael Haag of St. Joseph's Hill of Hope for taking part in both the live and recorded presentations.

Check out the video here.

Sleepy Hollow Items in Chino Valley Champion

There are two items in the latest edition of the Chino Valley Champion, our local weekly that has been continuously published since 1887 and deserves the support of all the residents in this area, concerning Sleepy Hollow.

The first is that the City of Chino Hills is mulling options for what to do with the Community Center, which is considered surplus property and has not been used since the 100th anniversary of Sleepy Hollow was celebrated there in October 2023.  It looks as if a sale is being pursued, but the question is what to do with a building not easily convertible to a residence, but may be hard to sell for commercial purposes.  

It has been suggested that it be taken over by non-profits, but maintenance costs will be significant, including the fact that it lacks sewers and septic and has a holding tank instead.  The drainage on both sides of the structure is also natural and there have, in heavy rains, been some issues with that.  As for the 11-space unpaved parking area across from the building, the idea was to include that for disposition, as well, but it appears the sentiment is to keep it for public parking.

So far, the issue has been the subject of City staff study and reporting to the Council and there will next be a Planning Commission hearing at which it will be discussed.  At a recent Council meeting, resident David Miller, who lives adjacent to the building and who was joined by other Sleepy Hollow residents, spoke  about the issues with the building, as reported by Marianne Napoles.

Napoles also wrote about a recent undisclosed settlement between the City and an unnamed owner of property of vacant land adjacent to long-shuttered apartments at the east end of Sleepy Hollow and on the south side of Carbon Canyon Road.  A couple of years ago, residents noted the wholesale removal of trees, including oaks protected by a City ordinance, and the destruction was halted, but not before a significant number of them were either removed or severely cut.  

The City could not provide details to Napoles concerning the agreement reached with the owner, who , apparently, claimed ignorance of the ordinance, but it seems likely that at least part of the settlement was a requirement to replant trees on the lot, which has had a small concrete foundation, though whether a house or other structures are part of a plan for the use of the property is not known.

Happy New Year to our readers!

The New La Vida Onsen Resort in Carbon Canyon

In July 2025, 36 acres in Carbon Canyon comprising the former La Vida Mineral Springs resort, which operated for most of the 20th century, offering hot mineral baths, lodging, a café and bottle mineral water purporting to have all manner of positive effects on health, was purchased.  In early September, "Kevin Y" left a comment on this blog starting that "we purchased this property about 2 months ago."

In September, a presentation was given to the Brea Historical Museum on some of the history of La Vida and the owner and an architect attended.  A brief discussion afterward included mention of the future plans envisioned for the property.  In Japan, onsen refers to mineral springs, the bathing facilities at these locals and the lodgings associated with them.

As a newly launched website states, "a visionary local developer acquired the land, pledging to revive it as the "New La Vida Onsen Resort"—honoring its legacy with Japanese-inspired cabins and exclusive mineral baths."  Moreover, the site remarks, "as of December 2025, plans whisper of a rebirth, where ancient springs meet modern serenity, ensuring La Vida flows on for generations."

The site also remarks on the quality of the water being "a rare 'hot soda' or alkaline mineral type with concentrated therapeutic minerals" and adds that its locale "in a prime location" is such that its "urban access + canyon privacy is unmatched."  This includes the potential of the water to be utilized again because it is "therapeutically balanced, historically drinkable/bottled, and subtly effervescent without overwhelming sulfur."

Check out the website, which uses photos and content from this blog as well as public presentations as noted above in Brea, as well as the Orange County Historical Society, here, and keep an eye out for what the future may hold for the site.

Carbon Canyon Road Closed in Brea Due to Mud Slide

With the heavy rain, saturated soil and history of issues in this part of Carbon Canyon, it is no surprise to learn of this just now from the City of Chino Hills:

Carbon Canyon Road Closed - Long-Term Closure Expected

12/26/2025 - 12:14 PM PST

Carbon Canyon Road (State Route 142) is closed at Olinda Place due to a mudslide on the City of Brea side of the roadway. This is expected to be a long-term closure while Caltrans responds and conducts cleanup operations.

Residents who live in Carbon Canyon may access their homes from the City of Chino Hills side via Chino Hills Parkway. There is no access to Chino Hills via Carbon Canyon from the City of Brea side. Updates will be provided as the road reopens.

UPDATE, 3:15 P.M.:

Major Road Alert

12/26/2025 - 3:12 PM PST

UPDATE: Carbon Canyon Road (State Route 142) has reopened.

Carbon Canyon Fire Safe Council Trunk or Treat This Sunday the 26th!

Come on over this Sunday the 26th from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. to Western Hills Country Club and the Carbon Canyon Fire Safe Council's annual Trunk or Treat event.  Don your costume, check out decorated cars, enjoy food, participate in games with prizes, meet local firefighters and more as we celebrate the Halloween season.

The Fire Safe Council will mark its 25th anniversary next year and events like Trunk or Treat not only engage our community in fun ways, but also remind Carbon Canyon residents that the Council works diligently to mitigate wildfire risk through information and education in our twice-annual newsletters, hosting our Brush Drop Off event, also two times a year, coordinating with city, county and state agencies, and more.

So, we hope to see you there this Sunday and Happy Halloween!