Popular Lake Fulmor gets an upgraded, accessible facility

A hidden gem. Great fishing spot. A wedding venue. Those phrases have been used to describe the very popular Lake Fulmor Day Use Area on the San Jacinto Ranger District of the San Bernardino National Forest. If you’ve visited the recreation site you would agree with at least two of those statements; maybe all three. Nevertheless, there’s one fact about the site that most will approve of, and that is the new, vault toilet facility that opened in August.

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The project was made possible through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, according to Josh Direen, Forest Engineer. The work consisted of the demolition and reconstruction of one of the two restroom facilities at the site. The new facility conforms to requirements set by the Architectural Barriers Act Accessibility Standards and the Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines for universal accessibility.

The benefit of completing the project demonstrated the forest is working diligently to accommodate visitors of all abilities. By providing a new restroom facility that meets current ABAAS standards, the USDA Forest Service is meeting the mission statement of “enhancing recreation opportunities, improving access, and sustaining infrastructure.”

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Direen explained that work began prior to the 2022-23 winter, but that snowfall postponed the completion.

The contractor, Neuroth Construction, resumed work in the early summer. The Veteran-owned company’s President and Chief Executive Officer Robert Neuroth and General Superintendent Ed Hearn provided a walk-through of the site to District Ranger AnnaMarie Santana, Direen and other forest staff, Aug. 18. The contractors described some of the work involved and features, such as the graffiti-proof surfaces of the exterior walls. The structure for the four vault toilets sits atop a new pit and wide concrete slab.

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Handicap parking is the closest parking to the wide path that leads to the facility. The restroom building is on the left, just before the lake’s wooden dock.

The dock and shore are popular fishing sites, not just because the entire recreation area is shaded by large trees, but also since the pond is stocked with fish. Other amenities include picnic tables and forest-installed barbecue grills. Some people visit from surrounding desert communities to escape the heat and cast their poles.

On a July afternoon, Marco Castillo of Desert Hot Springs, Calif., while preparing his reel, said that he is a regular at the lake. He enjoys fishing there, because he usually catches something and likes taking a break from the summer temperatures of his hometown. On a previous visit he reeled in five fish; he uses live worms and a slip bobber.

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“It’s really nice here, compared to where I’m from,” Castillo said.

Castillo’s friends, Christena Goyen and Jason Turtasen of San Jacinto, Calif., prepared their fishing gear as well, while declaring they appreciate the site. So much so, they got married on the lake’s pier on St. Patrick’s Day in 2021. They selected the location for their nuptials, because of its natural beauty. Goyen described it as gorgeous.

As Goyen reminisced about her wedding day, she said, “It was supposed to be sunny and full of butterflies, but it was snowing and cold. But it was so beautiful. It was definitely really beautiful.”

Nate Meynbert of Fontana, Calif., and Danny Espadas, of Covina, Calif., also approve of Lake Fulmor. The cousins keep coming back and have had luck catching bluegill and catfish.

“It’s a great, small lake that still has fish and is well maintained,” said Espadas.

Maintaining the lake’s amenities in a good, accessible state is one of the forest’s priorities and the new restroom has been a significant project finalized.

Please remember that vault toilets do not have water. Also, trash should not be thrown into the toilet pits. For more information about Fulmor Lake  click here.

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