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Holy Jim Canyon Cabins -
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are the homes NOT for full time occupancy?
Because it is in a National Forest. You are not allowed have your primary residence in the National Forest. The forest is for vacation and recreation, that is why the cabin is a recreational, home, not a primary home.
You must have a primary residence elsewhere in order to
qualify for the forest permit.
What kind of people live out in the canyon?
Regular, normal, intelligent, ordinary everyday people, just like you! The cabins are all privately owned and you will often see other cabin owners out during the weekend enjoying the getaway from the stresses of the "other world" (the world outside of Holy Jim Canyon).
How long have the cabins been out there?
For decades. Many were originally built way before you were born. You can read some of the history here:
http://gorp.away.com/gorp/resource/us_national_forest/ca/hik1_cle.htm
There were originally a hundred or so. Now there are about 48 left.
Do they have utilities?
Just their own. Most have propane for gas, a septic tank, and
many generate their own electricity through use of a generator.
How come the forest cabins do not have public utilities?
Because they are in the National Forest.
Do the cabins have running water?
Yes, for most of them, the water is stored in a very large tank on the property. They are re-filled by a water truck and the cost is comparable with regular city water costs.
Would I be allowed to pump water out of the stream?
The State of California claims to own the surface water while acknowledging that the Federal Government owns the land and the ground water. With that, the answer is "no" to pumping out of the stream, but you can add a well and pump water out of the ground. There is also an arrangement to provide water to the cabin tanks by truck. Most of the cabins have large tanks that provide water by gravity feed.
Can I have animals on the property, like a horse?
No, but you can bring your dog while you're staying there. You cannot keep horses or other farm animals there.
Do you own the land?
No, the cabins are in the National Forest, so the land belongs to the Federal Government.
Is there a lease on the land?
Sort of. There is a National Forest usage permit. The permit is renewed every 20 years. This
permit is renewed for any new owner, so you would generally
get a new 20 year permit upon purchase.
Do the cabins have a garage?
No, none of the cabins in Holy Jim or Trabuco do.
Am I allowed to add a garage?
No, not allowed. Nor are fences or many other additions allowed. The whole idea is to be "one with the forest" while you are recreating there.
How long am I allowed to stay there?
There are certain guidelines with the Forestry dept. Informally however, you may stay there all you want. You just need to have a primary residence somewhere else..
Can I buy one and rent it out?
Yes, but just for two weeks per year maximum. This is not a rental property, it is a recreational home for you and your family to enjoy as a "getaway" property. It can be legally rented to others for up to two weeks per year.
Again, you also have to have a primary residence elsewhere in
order to buy it.
Could
I live there inexpensively and commute to work everyday?
I
guess you could could live there, as long as you have a
primary residence elsewhere. Commute to work? If you have
driven out there you will quickly find out how tough that
would be!
Can I see any of the properties?
Only if you have been out to Holy Jim yourself, AND if you are seriously considering buying it. It is very time consuming to go out there and it is down a very tough 5 mile dirt road, so I don't entertain "looky Loos" or people who want to see
them out of curiosity. If you are familiar with the canyon and if it looks like something you might be seriously interested in, we'll make arrangements to take you out there and show you
one of the cabins that you are interested in.
Can I get bank financing?
No, the cabins are not regular houses, they are classified as
personal property so a bank won't finance them. They is a cash-only
purchases.
Do the cabins need work?
All of the cabins out there need work. Many were originally built in 1930 or earlier. They all need on-going TLC and that's part of the deal (and fun) with owning a rustic forest cabin. If you're looking for "turn-key", don't come out to Holy Jim. We'll go look at some condos instead.
Can the Federal government terminate use of the land for cabins?
They could, but it would be highly unlikely that they would ever do that. In the unlikely event that they would, they would have to give you the remainder of the permit time, plus 10 years. At this time, that would add up to 30 years notice!
In that event, would they pay you fair value for the cabin?
No, but at the low cost of these cabins, you (and your relatives) could enjoy
20-30 years of quiet, peaceful life in the canyon!
I have a lot of other questions.
Write to me. I can answer many more for you. I will also put you in touch with the local forest ranger who can provide you with a lot of additional information.
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