A respectful return of a classic family retreat
Forest Lake Resort had been part of the Cobb Mountain landscape for generations. Long before destination resorts and packaged vacations, families came here for something simpler: fresh air, quiet recreation, and time together.
This website explains a proposal to thoughtfully restore the Forest Lake Resort property in a way that honors its history, reflects today’s safety and environmental realities, and aligns with the values of the surrounding community.
What this project is
Forest Lake Resort is envisioned as a family-oriented retreat rooted in outdoor recreation, stewardship, and respect for place. Our intent is not to reinvent Cobb Mountain, but to restore a use that once fit naturally within it.
Key principles guide every aspect of the proposal:
Safety first — fire hardening, access improvements, and modern operational standards
Measured, phased progress — no “build it all at once” approach
Community alignment — transparency, listening, and course correction where appropriate
Stewardship over spectacle — durability, restraint, and long-term care of the land
This project is designed to succeed only if it earns and maintains community trust.
What this project is not
Forest Lake Resort is not proposed as:
A high-density development
A late-night event or party venue
A luxury or destination resort
A large commercial complex out of scale with Cobb Mountain
A project that bypasses safety, water, or environmental constraints
Our intent is continuity, not disruption.
A phased, accountable plan
Our proposed restoration follows a deliberate, step-by-step structure, with each phase dependent on meeting clear benchmarks before moving forward.
Phase One: Safety & Stabilization
Focus on cleanup, fire safety measures, access, and basic infrastructure.
Phase Two: Limited Reopening
A carefully scaled return of low-impact recreational use, monitored and adjusted as needed.
Phase Three: Conditional Improvements
Only considered if prior phases demonstrate safety, compatibility, and community benefit.
Progression between phases is not automatic. Each step depends on performance, compliance, and demonstrated value.
Why Forest Lake Resort matters
For part of the nineteenth and much of the twentieth century, Forest Lake Resort was a place where families gathered, children explored freely, and memories were made without pretense or excess.
The goal of this proposal is to preserve that spirit—not by freezing the site in time, but by allowing it to function responsibly in the present day.
A restored Forest Lake Resort can:
Support local jobs and local vendors
Contribute to the local tax base
Provide a safe, modest recreational option for both local and visiting families
Reinforce the cultural and historical identity of Cobb Mountain
Why I Am Asking the Voters to Decide
I’m David Wignall.
I was fortunate to experience Cobb Mountain when its resorts were part of everyday life here. I’d like future generations—mine and yours—to have that same opportunity.
But whether this should happen is not just my decision. It belongs to the people of Lake County.
While the traditional planning process works well for most projects, a decision like this deserves something more—a chance for the community as a whole to be heard.
This is not about pushing something through. And it’s not about working around anyone.
It’s about asking a simple and respectful question: Should this place be restored?
And trusting the people of this county to answer it.
If the answer is yes, we move forward together. If the answer is no, we respect that. Either way, the decision will have been made the right way—openly, and by the people it affects most.
Get in Touch
Questions or comments?
Feel free to get in touch:
Submit a Photo
If you have an old photo of Forest Lake you’d like to share, feel free to send us an email and attach the photo: