After two years of bureaucratic wrangling and fierce opposition from residents, elaborate plans for the Wonder Inn Hotel/Resort dissolved this week.
In the ongoing whack-a-mole game between ambitious resort developers and outspoken residents, locals declared another victory this week when a proposal for the luxury resort known as the Wonder Inn was declared dead.
Developers Jason Landver and Alan Greenberg informed the San Bernardino County Land Use Services department that they will pull their appeal of the Planning Commission’s denial of the project. The announcement marks a victory for the many residents who fought in opposition to the project citing issues around water, traffic, noise, light pollution, and safety.
The saga first began in November 2021 when Landver and Greenberg applied for a Conditional Use Permit and General Plan Amendment. They envisioned a 106-room hotel, restaurant, event center, spa, swimming pool and 205 parking spaces at the site of what is known as “the pink building,” a weather-worn structure just off Amboy Road. The men also requested that the county rezone about 25 existing Rural Living acres to Commercial use.
Though sparsely populated, the elaborate plans nevertheless galvanized the community who feared what changes the resort would bring to their quiet region. The Stop The Wonder Inn Project was formed in March 2022 and the group fought the developers at every step.
On March 23, 2023, the County Planning Commission denied the project specifically on the lack of public services (fire, EMT, law enforcement) and declared that rezoning would be unsuitable for the rural character of Wonder Valley.
The developers still own significant acreage in Wonder Valley and Landver seemed resolved and determined in the email to Land Use Services: “We intend to find a path forward in developing a project that adds beauty, jobs, and a place where people can connect with the landscape.”
Meanwhile, in an email to supporters, Eric Hamburg from the Stop The Wonder Inn Project, stated:
“We will continue to monitor activity and any new proposals via County resources and neighborhood observation for any future development activity that would be contrary to the Countywide Plan and the Wonder Valley Community Action guide to preserve what makes Wonder Valley special.”
