By Tina Fisher Cunningham
The Forde Files
Derelict Clubhouse Gives It Up for Kern Fire Dept. Training
The Forde Files No. 121
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Nick Smirnoff, NPPA
The old Golden Hills Country Club building on Tehachapi-Woodford Road provided fuel for a training exercise May 5 for Kern County firefighters, who ignited the structure and studied the progress of the fire. The property had been unused for years and had became an eyesore and attractive nuisance. Onlookers gathered to watch.
A derelict country club building on an overgrown golf course located adjacent to a weed-covered slab that once was a tennis court went up in flames on May 5, 2016, and everyone cheered. The Kern County Fire Department incinerated the building as a training exercise and at the same time rid the Golden Hills Community Services District (CSD) of what had become a derelict eyesore, an attractive nuisance and a general pain in the neck.
At one time, the structure was the home of Golden Hills Country Club. A remnant of the original development of Golden Hills, the club was lively and busy. It closed in 1982, reopened and closed again. The eventual owner refused to improve or demolish it, agreeing to board up the building and fence it only when under legal orders to do so. Vandals destroyed everything inside.
The Golden Hills CSD recently purchased the 165-acre property, and the board of directors is studying what to do with it.
"It comes down to funding," CSD President Larry Barrett said.
Nick Smirnoff, NPPA
Capt. George Baker center. Bottom, stucco and smouldering heavy timbers are all that remain.
One of the onlookers on May 5 was Tina Larson, whose father Larry Rubidoux managed the club for four years until 1982. Her mom was the bar manager and Larson served in the restaurant. Lee White was the owner at the time.
"It's bittersweet," said Larson, who admitted to shedding a couple of tears.
"It was gorgeous, with panoramic windows and the golf course. We had luaus. You could cook your own steak on the barbeque pit outside. My dad cut it to the last ounce or you got it free."
"It was a great restaurant. We had banquets. There was a pro shop that sold attire and tennis racquets and golf lessons.
"People would come to town to pick apples. They would have lunch here and stay in the motel [across the street]." The back nine had to be closed due to difficulty accessing water.
The demolition opens the door to something fresh and new.
"It feels good," Larson said. "They're going to do great things with the property."
