DIAMOND VALLEY LAKE RESERVATION BECOMES HOTTEST TICKET IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Reservations for lake’s opening sell out within first hours

The hottest ticket in Southern California won't get you into a playoff game, a front-row seat at the season's biggest concert or dinner at the hippest eatery.

It will, however, get you onto Southern California's largest freshwater lake when it opens Oct. 3 near Hemet in southwest Riverside County.

Boating, fishing and parking reservations for opening day at Diamond Valley Lake sold out today four hours after Metropolitan Water District opened its reservations system. As of 4 p.m. today, Metropolitan had taken more than 2,000 reservations for the lake's first 30 days.

"We knew Diamond Valley Lake was going to be a popular place for recreation, but even this exceeded our expectations," said Jill T. Wicke, Metropolitan's manager of water system operations.

Within the first hour the reservoir system was open, more than 1,000 reservations were placed, according to Marshall Pike, vice president of business development for Urban Park Concessionaires. Metropolitan contracted Urban Park to handle reservations and recreation-related activities at the lake.

"We want to thank the public for the very warm reception,'' Pike said. "Not only is opening day at Diamond Valley Lake sold out, but we expect the entire weekend to be sold out by the end of today."

Due to limited parking space in this first stage of Diamond Valley Lake's recreational development, reservations are required for fishing and boating. Each day offers 250 spaces for vehicles with boats, and 50 spaces each for vehicles whose occupants will be renting boats and for people who will be fishing from the shoreline.

The toll-free reservations telephone line is 1-800-590-LAKE (5253). Telephone reservations are available from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Reservations also can be made online around-the-clock, seven days a week.

Reservations can be made between 60 days and 72 hours prior to the selected date of arrival. A maximum of four reservations can be made per call; a maximum of two can be made online.

Pike acknowledged that Urban Park did receive a few calls from the public indicating some initial problems with the system, but they were able to quickly resolve the issues and make the requested reservations. To help clarify and simplify the system, some additions to the Web site, including some definitions to the terms, will be made, he said.

If people can't get through on the telephone line, Pike noted that the Web site also offers an email contact .

"People should keep checking back in to see if their preferred days open up because there may be cancellations or extra spaces may be freed up," Pike said.

Reservations can be made with a Visa, MasterCard or Discover charge card for a $5 fee. There is a $7 entrance fee per vehicle and a $6 boat launch fee. When they arrive at the lake, they will pay a $3 per person fishing access fee, whether they are fishing from a boat or the shore.

People also can reserve a bass boat or a pontoon boat when making a reservation. They will pay the entrance, reservation and fishing access fees, and will be required to pay a $100 deposit (credit card only) at the time of use.