Located in southern California, Oak Hill Inn is currently under the ownership of Laura and Michael Charlonne. Three units are available for visitors to reserve, all of which are decorated with vintage and antique furniture. The establishment itself exhibits a "New England Craftsman" style, as described by the innkeepers. During some of the major North American holidays, the town of Julian—where Oak Hill Inn is situated—hosts annual events that may pique the interest of tourists. Oak Hill Inn experiences its busiest time of year in September and October when apple picking is in season and when Oktoberfest takes place. The typical demographic that the property receives are couples of varying ages, as Laura and Michael intend to reserve the establishment as a "romantic setting" for couples.
Oak Hill Inn offers a total of three units, one located in the bottom of the four-story home and two in an adjacent building called the Carriage House. Each room has a queen-sized bed, dining room area, private bathroom, private entrance, air conditioning/heating, flat-screen TV, and Wi-Fi. Laura Charlonne, one of the owners of the establishment, mentions that the most popular room of the three tends to be Room #1, especially during the summer, as it is characterized by a private patio that is naturally shaded by an oak tree. Rocking chairs are supplied on this patio as well. She further explains that the second most popular room is Room #3—often referred to as "the poolside room" due to its location adjacent to the on-site pool—because it contains a rock hearth and an electric fireplace. Room #1 and Room #2 are both located in the Carriage House and include a kitchenette, while Room #3 is found in the main house on the bottom story. The three stories above Room #3 are occupied by the owners who reside there.
Two particularly notable features of Oak Hill Inn are the on-site pool and tavern. Laura mentions that the pool is "seasonal," meaning it is not heated during the winter, but it remains open for guest use year-round. The pool area also finds a covered patio area with a table and chairs. Laura observes that the pool may be one of the most unique aspects of Oak Hill Inn because the property is the "only place in town with a pool." The tavern neighbors the pool area and serves as a fairly popular common area on the property, providing a TV, bathroom, and seating for six people. Visitors can also find menus of nearby restaurants supplied in the tavern. "We try to put a little bit of everything in the tavern so that visitors have something to do," Laura comments.
Outdoor recreation is a fairly prominent attraction within the vicinity of Oak Hill Inn, as the establishment is located about a 15 to 20-minute drive from Lake Cuyamaca, the only lake in Southern California that stocks trout year-round. Laura notes that the surrounding area by the lake is well known for hikes such as Green Valley Falls, Stonewall Peak, and Three Sisters Falls. Moreover, Oak Hill Inn is "the first stop on the Pacific Crest Trail," or PCT, as mentioned by Laura. Recently, the town of Julian has been designated as an official "dark sky community," which has drawn many star gazers to the area, according to Laura. Many visitors are drawn to the wildflowers in the desert as well, and Laura notes that others are attracted to the area because the inn is about 45 minutes from Borrego Springs. Oak Hill Inn is also located in the Julian historical district. With regard to nearby dining options, Julian also offers several restaurants that people can visit during their stay at Oak Hill Inn. Laura and Michael often direct their visitors to Julian Café, Julian Beer Company, and Juliane Grille, all of which are within walking distance of the inn.
Laura and Michael Charlonne, the innkeepers of Oak Hill Inn, have the goal of helping guests feel "welcome" and "comfortable" during their stay. "We try to show guests that we're here if they need anything," Laura explains. The owners make an effort to be aware of whether or not guests want to interact with them and then take action based on their observations. Michael and Laura also try to be open to feedback from those who may have suggestions of what may improve their experience at the inn. In a guest review, one former patron described the hospitality that was provided by Laura and Michael, saying, "As we pulled up on the Harley we were greeted right away by Mike who was very friendly and welcoming. Mike even went as far as clearing out a space by the house to park the Harley. We then walked up to the main house and met Laura who was very welcoming and friendly as well."
Oak Hill Inn primarily caters to couples, and as such, it is a quiet setting not suitable for children under 12. Pets are not allowed either, as the property is not designed to host animals. It should be noted that long-term stays are not offered at the property, as the owners allow a maximum of five-night stays. Oak Hill Inn is open year-round, with the busiest time of operation most commonly occurring in September and October during apple picking season.
Outside the boundaries of the inn, numerous stores and restaurants can be found in the town of Julian, more specifically, along Main Street. The town frequently draws visitors who come to experience the wineries, shopping district, apple pies, hiking, or to simply view the encompassing mountains. Beyond this, Julian annually hosts holiday-themed events that receive a relatively high quantity of tourists, namely the Fourth of July parade, the Grape Stomp event, Oktoberfest, Apple Days, and County Christmas. Laura notes that during the Grape Stomp, Menghini Winery—the second oldest winery in San Diego County—joins the other local wineries to set up wine tastings for people to participate in. This event also entails live music and stomping on grapes, hence the name.
Since January 2021, Michael and Laura Charlonne, the current owners, have been operating Oak Hill Inn. The couple was led into the lodging industry when they discovered that Laura's aunt and uncle, the previous owners of the establishment, were ready to retire and sell the property. Laura had spent her childhood in the house next to Oak Hill Inn, which was constructed by her father. Oak Hill Inn, however, was built by her uncle, William Beckman, and completed in 1993. William spent nearly eight years working on Oak Hill Inn, creating the general plans and design for the entire building, including the tavern. The pool was added after the completion of the inn, and it took William about eight months to add each tile to the pool by hand. "The whole house was built to look old," Laura explains, as she continues to describe Oak Hill Inn's character as a "New England Craftsman" style.
Laura recalls when she and her husband, Michael, were dating 25 years ago and mentions that owning a bed and breakfast had been a dream of theirs. Thus they took the opportunity to fulfill this wish of theirs. Since becoming the innkeepers, Michael and Laura have made an effort to update the property to modern standards. The accommodations were redecorated, with newly added beds and linens. They also removed the air conditioning window units and replaced them with the current system. As for future plans, Laura mentions that she and Michael are hoping to add two more units to the Carriage House that currently contains Room #1 and Room #2.
2995 Coleman Circle
Julian, California 92036
United States
New England Craftsman
Laura and Michael Charlonne
William and Magda Beckman
