The Story & Inspiration Behind B_________ Chalet
Swankitecture Properties acquired the chalet because it immediately evoked the Department 56 homes in our mother’s Christmas Dickens Village. Growing up in Chicago, my sister and I were no strangers to snow and winter weather. Yet the first time I watched snow fall here, I felt as though one of those cherished village homes had come to life.
The exterior draws much of its inspiration from the SR-71 Blackbird, developed by Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works division. In keeping with the aircraft’s legacy of strategic reconnaissance, classified sorties, and clandestine missions, the remaining letters in B[REDACTED] Chalet are withheld. Guests discover the full name only after booking and arriving on site.
Many visitors affectionately mistake the small figure on the front of the property for Pepe Le Pew. Those in the know, however, recognize a subtler tribute to the SR-71 Blackbird and its stealth fighter counterpart, the F-117A Nighthawk. Their influence is reflected in the chalet’s matte-black finish.
The red cross on the front door honors the ultimate sacrifices made by our countrymen, countrywomen, and first responders throughout our nation’s history.
The interior reaches back to an era of American history that has shaped classic Hollywood and inspired distinctive subcultures across the country. We speak vaguely by design: secrets and hidden compartments are woven throughout the home, and certain décor and discoveries were intentionally left out of photographs to preserve the experience.
Some secrets may reveal themselves during your stay; others may remain hidden. We want those details to feel fresh for every guest—or, as we call them, every “Member.” As esteemed Members of the B[REDACTED] Society, we invite you into a close-knit circle built on discretion. We trust that you will honor The Code long after your retreat at our hideaway.
Swankitecture Properties approached the 22-month renovation with extraordinary care. The central challenge was to preserve the chalet’s rustic, vintage character while introducing only a measured degree of modern refinement.
Original timber beams and cedar walls gave the home its warmth from the beginning. We created deliberate contrast by pairing those natural materials with blackened hot rolled steel, bringing a chic industrial edge to the renovation. The concept began with the fireplace and hearth. Once they were established as the centerpiece of the home’s ambiance, steel accents naturally followed throughout the property.
Every new element was designed to feel as though it had belonged in the chalet for at least a century. More than 100 hours went into the custom lighting plan. Most fixtures were designed and handcrafted in Texas, while others were reclaimed from abandoned Eastern Europe power plants. Edison-style bulbs—consistent in temperature and color—complete the effect, with most manufactured and shipped from Chicago. All steelwork was completed by a U.S. artisan who shall remain anonymous.
In the kitchen, chefs can work across expansive solid-granite surfaces. Mixologists—aspiring or accomplished—can take center stage at the massive steel-framed island topped with finished concrete.
Assembled on site, eight guests can dine comfortably around a grand custom table fabricated from the same blackened hot rolled steel as the fireplace and hearth. The dining table’s smaller counterpart brings subtle separation to a living room inspired by the most sophisticated gentlemen’s lounges.
The chalet rests in what we consider God’s country, on grounds that ask for little intervention. We let the landscape be what it is. Although we have the right to alter the land, we do not feel we have authority and we are at peace with that.
B[REDACTED] Chalet is our interpretation of what we value in America’s history. Inside, the country’s trials and triumphs are acknowledged with nostalgia. Outside, the design reflects the strength of the armed forces and the ingenuity of military advancement.
This expression happens to stand in one of California’s best-kept secrets: Lake Arrowhead.
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