Our Weddings

For more information on Barbara's music please click HERE.

The music you are listening to are two songs "Variations on a Happy Ending," and "Asleep in my Arms," by recording artist Barbara Higbie, the great niece of the Whitsons, who actually lived in the Christmas House for a couple of years as a young woman.

Barbara writes, "It was during that time period that my lifelong love of the piano and music turned serious. Aunt Elizabeth and Uncle Jim were such wonderful people!"

The History of the Christmas House

Built in 1904, the Christmas House must have been quite a sight as the center of an 80-acre ranch in early Cucamonga. The house was built by H.D. Cousins, a wealthy lumberman and shipbuilder. Mrs. Cousins loved to entertain, so he built the house for her to host her many extravagant parties, while he devoted himself to the ranch.

The Whitson Family took over the house and ranch in 1910, and two generations of the family stayed until 1975. The ranch was primarily used for citrus groves and grape vineyards, with egg ranching added in the 1930s, to help get through the Depression. Like the Cousins, the Whitsons also were great celebrators, and kept up the tradition of hosting many extravagant parties in the house. Because many Christmas festivities became a tradition, and also because of the red and green stained glass throughout the house, it became known as the Christmas House early in the 1900s. The name has endured to the present day. The Christmas House bears historical landmark status, both as a city and county landmark.

The Inn and Gardens
In 1983, the present owners discovered the Christmas House, and fell in love with its architectural distinction and the story of its past. After a year of extensive restoration, the Christmas House opened as a bed and breakfast inn in 1984, with the intention of sharing its newly restored beauty and elegance. Weddings began soon, as couples quickly discovered the beauty of the house and gardens for a wedding day. The Christmas House is also available for all types of celebrations and parties, bridal showers and baby showers, any kind of get together to celebrate a special occasion.

If These Walls Could Talk......
These walls have witnessed many vows being pledged, many glasses raised, many tears of joy that come with new beginnings. We feel that much of the house's character is a reflection of the people who have lived here, people who have celebrated here, and people who have passed through, who have imparted something of themselves to this place. That is the patina that builds up year after year, visit after visit, wedding after wedding. We invite you to become part of this tradition as you share a special day in your life at the Christmas House.