FOR THE UNINITIATED, Cobb Mountain is quite a surprise — rising as it does from the midst of a fairly typical Northern Caifornia rural atmosphere composed of agricultural valleys and rolling foothills. To be sure, that rural atmosphere has its own sort of beauty and communities like Middletown and Lower Lake and Kelseyville and Lakeport which reside in the surrounding countryside possess their own kind of charm. Still, a turn onto Hiway 175 and the resulting excursion amid trees and spring-fed pools, through a scattered collection of stores, and homes, and swimming pools, and cabins, and golf courses, and yes, re-emerging resorts (the remains of a once thriving vacationland) always causes gasps of wonderment and awe. Cobb Mountain, you see, has a very storied past.

Sitting appropriately, at the very peak of Hiway 175, Hobergs Resort was once the playground of the rich and famous and a world-renowned hostelry throughout the first half of the twentieth century. Offering a variety of accommodations spiced with great food and drink, world-class service, some of the best live dance music of the time, and a wonderfully relaxed and friendly atmosphere, Hoberg's was the center of all the commotion. Radiating in all directions then, were all the rest ... Whispering Pines, Forest Lake, Pine Grove, Adams Springs ... and Loch Lomond, a sprawling community with a Scottish name filled with South City Italian resort owners catering to South City Italian moms and dads and kids up for a weekend or a week or two from the Big City. And there were others. Salmina's, and Starview Lodge, and Harbin Hot Springs come to mind.

     But, the mid-Fifties brought travel trailers and cab-over pickups. Mom and dad and the kids began a love affair with road trip vacations that took them scurrying from place to place with one-night stopovers in trailer parks and campgrounds. The small family resorts of Cobb Mountain (and Russian River and lots of other places, too) became a thing of the past.

     A few men - like George Hoberg and Don Emerson - are always able to see the future.    Hoberg and Emerson had extensive real estate holdings on Cobb Mountain and in the late Forties and early Fifties they began to subdivide their land. And, as an added attraction for their anticipated vacation homeowners, they built two golf courses, Hoberg's (now Rob Roy) and Adams Springs. Thus, as the second half of the Twentieth Century dawned, development on Cobb Mountain was focused on the sale of lots to second home owners.

     Discovery of the world's largest geothermal energy field on Cobb Mountain occurred at about the same time. Begun by Unocal, the ongoing operation which extracts energy from steam is currently operated by Calpine Corporation.

    While a few of the old resorts are now operated as retreats (Hoberg's and Adams Springs for example) and are no longer open to the public, others have been acquired by a new collection of entrepreneurs. These have been refurbished and modernized and a new generation of Northern California moms and dads and kids have rediscovered the joys of a family weekend or vacation on Cobb Mountain.

WHERE TO EAT

     In the forested community of Cobb you'll discover Rob Roy Golf Club where the theme is, "Continuing the tradition." While they are relatively new to Cobb Mountain, owners, Colleen McDonald and John Lindstrom represent the third generation of their family's ownership interests in U.S. golf facilities. A complete renovation of the restaurant and lounge, and a new banquet room, are particularly striking. Maitre'd Jack Vos oversees an excellent menu, with luncheon service daily and dinners served Thursday through Sunday. Sunday champagne brunch is also a feature. 928-0121

WHERE TO STAY

   For nightly room accommodations, the Eagle & Rose Inn on Cobb Mountain (928-5242) is just across Hiway 175 from Rob Roy and near shopping and other restaurants. 928-5242

     The Inn at Kelsey Creek offers intimate private cabins with patios, also near shopping and golf. 866 928-0433

     Edie's Resort in Loch Lomond is one of those afore-mentioned leftovers from "the good old days." Owner Eddie Mullins maintains a clean and friendly establishment and offers housekeeping cottages to families seeking an escape from the daily grind. 928-9804

     Mariah Meadows is another spot where you and the family can get away from it all, but the main attraction is the outstanding spa offering whirlpool baths, a variety of massage treatments and sauna. An onsite spring (the headwaters of Cole Creek) supplies all the resort and spa water needs. 928-9804

     RockInn "C" is a different sort of place with a different sort of name. Billing themselves as a "bed and billiards," they offer daily, weekly and weekend rates. "Get away from it all in this country setting at the edge of the pines on Cobb Mountain," is their suggestion. With wine tasting, restaurants, a concert venue and casinos in easy driving distance, this is a great place to stay. 279-0528

     You might also consider a vacation rental. For information about homes available throughout Lake County, call Lake Vacation Rentals, 866 587-LAKE