Forest Lawn takes over new facility

Robert Chacon

It’s been more than 30 years since Forest Lawn Memorial Parks

expanded, but company officials announced Thursday that they have

assumed management of a new cemetery in the Coachella Valley.

Glendale-based Forest Lawn has taken over two properties in

Cathedral City that were purchased last year for an undisclosed sum,

Senior Vice President John Warren said.

The company purchased a mortuary mausoleum and a separate cemetery

across the street in August of 2004, but operator Alderwoods Group of

Canada was still under contract to run the facilities until this

month.

“Their lease ran out this last weekend,” Warren said.

Forest Lawn now operates six facilities in Glendale, Hollywood

Hills, Long Beach, Cypress, Covina Hills and Cathedral City.

The company is now remodeling the facilities in Cathedral City,

adding carpeting and repainting buildings, which were built in about

1992, Warren said.

“We have unique planning and display centers at Forest Lawn,”

Warren said. “We will be doing some innovative things, opening up

ideas for displays and centers where customers consider the type of

ceremony they want to have.”

Typically, cemeteries only display caskets, but Forest Lawn will

have separate areas for caskets and funeral planning, he said.

Driving the purchase of the Cathedral City location, was the

increasing number of customers who own plots at Forest Lawn locations

in Los Angeles County, but are retiring and moving to Palm Springs,

Warren said.

Customers who have moved to the desert and own plots locally will

have the chance to trade properties, Warren said.

In Cathedral City, Forest Lawn will continue distinguishing itself

from other cemeteries by transforming a portion of their property

into a museum-like setting.

“People have asked us, ‘Are you going to bring the artwork?’ and

the answer is yes,” said Larry Davis, vice president of Forest Lawn

Cathedral City.