We were lucky to catch up with Jeff and Jenny recently and have shared our conversation below.

Jeff and Jenny, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?

Nestled in the mountains of eastern San Diego County, Mt Laguna is the highest point within the county at an elevation of over 6000 ft. With less than 100 full-time residents, the hamlet sits on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) and boasts scenic views of the Cleveland National Forest. While very few people live in Mt Laguna, almost 6 million visit annually for various activities throughout the year, enjoying everything from hiking, hunting, biking, and snow play.

With such a small population to support, Mt Laguna offered limited lodging accommodations, especially for guest party sizes over four. A few local managers offered smaller cabins and rentals, but due to the limited amount of privately owned land, no property existed to host larger families, retreats, or event space for corporate gatherings. Construction services, such as plumbing, electrical, and other types, were also limited in availability, given the distance from San Diego population centers.

Having enjoyed the area for many years and now passing along that joy to their children, Jeff and Jenny looked at Mt Laguna as a “home away from home” and, in late 2023, sought a government-owned cabin to lease to spend longer days and nights in the area. In pure coincidence, they came across a house on private property for sale, a rare occurrence in the area. The next day, they scheduled a walkthrough with the listed real estate agent and got their first tour of what would become Shangri-La.

Surprised at the layout, Jeff and Jenny discovered a vast unfinished space within the house and a detached, spacious garage. The house had been used as one of the country’s pre-eminent harp construction shops, and much of the space had been dedicated to building these beautiful instruments. Unfortunately, the sole owner of the house, built in 1972, had recently passed, and the ownership was within a trust. Instantly recognizing the opportunity, Jeff and Jenny started down the (long) path of putting in an offer and eventually closing on the house in February 2024.

While the house and property possessed vast potential, they were not without problems. A significant amount of the house was left unfinished, and 50 years of mountain living had taken its toll. After receiving a lengthy inspection report, Jeff and Jenny discovered that many of the construction improvements made to the house over the years were no longer in code and would require extensive reconstruction. While a daunting task lay before them, they committed to restoring the house and building it back better than ever.

Following significant demolition, reconstruction of various structural aspects, and repair of vast amounts of plumbing and electrical infrastructure, Jeff and Jenny finally had a functioning living space. Not satisfied with a mere functional space, they set out to furnish and decorate the property to set it above and beyond the area’s current accommodations, billeting the property as Mt. Laguna’s first luxury listing.

Jeff and Jenny were ready to list after significant investment in both financial and sweat equity. On November 1, 2024, they listed the rental on various sites. Within two weeks, nearly all of December was booked. While incredibly gratifying, they knew that to establish and maintain their desired reputation, they couldn’t stop continuously improving the experience they offered. Fortunately, this opportunity allows them to work on and enjoy the cabin with their family, creating lasting memories while providing guests from all over the world the ability to experience everything the Mt. Laguna area has to offer.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Jeff and Jenny are a couple with three kids, ages 8, 6, and 4, who live in Eastlake, CA. Jenny is a third-generation San Diego Native, born and raised in Allied Gardens. Jeff is an active-duty Navy officer who has traveled the country and the world and decided San Diego would be his forever home.

After a decade of managing and owning restaurants and clubs in Southern California, Jenny has led a successful career in San Diego real estate. As a Naval Supply Officer, Jeff is trained in acquisition, logistics, and financial management. Combined with their penchant for home improvement abilities and experiences in hospitality services, they decided to test their skills in short-term luxury rentals.

Jeff and Jenny sought to build a one-of-a-kind experience suitable for families or retreats. They wanted to bring the beauty of Mt Laguna to their guests while they enjoyed comfortable amenities in a remote location. They take pride in incorporating elements from the local environment into the accommodations’ decor and amenities and in establishing rooted and lasting relationships with the local community and businesses.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Not everything is as it seems. Just because it’s working now doesn’t mean it will when you fix the thing next to it. We called this the Theory of Interconnectedness. When you fix one thing, the thing next to it is sure to fail. Renovating the house was full of surprises. In addition to being a fifty-year-old house and discovering the many gremlins within, finding contractors to work in the remote area of Mt. Laguna was also challenging. While the house appeared to be in good condition upon the initial walkthrough, the home inspection yielded nearly thirty pages of issues. After nine months of extensive plumbing, electrical, and structural improvements, the house and property are ready to be enjoyed.

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

Jeff and Jenny met in San Diego on an online dating site in 2023. After the first few dates, they quickly realized they were compatible in nearly all aspects of their lives. Neither had intentions of starting a business with their new partner, but some opportunities are not to be missed. While the property renovation has been incredibly challenging and time-consuming, they have enjoyed the effort and look forward to creating memories with their families and friends.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://shangrilamountlaguna.guestybookings.com/en/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shangrilamountlaguna/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567764290656&mibextid=LQQJ4d

Image Credits

Brent Haywood