Big Bear Summer Magazine 2019

www.bigbeartodaymag.com 

2019 

Edition 

FREE 

Take 

One 

Lake Tours / Pontoon Parties / Cave Concerts / Water & Jet Skiing / Fishing 

Miles of Hiking & Biking Trails / Speedway Racing / Feast of Festivals / Zoo Critters 

Snow Summit Adventure Park / Dining / Golf Course / Calendar of Events

There is Something for Everyone in The Village! 

Dining • Shopping • Entertainment • Family Fun 

Big Bear Lake, California 

Any Season is Wonderful 

in The Village 

“The Heart of Big Bear” 

Friday Nights in the Village Live Music! Late Shopping! 

Follow us on Facebook/bigbearlakevillage 

Clothing & Accessories 

Gifts & Souvenirs, cont. 

Antlers Boutique 

Himalayan Handcraft Collection . . . 878-3068 

Bear 

Essentials 

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866-3957 

Oliver’s Emporium . . . . . . . . . . . . 878-0388 


Skins 

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866-4300 

PTL Plus Ministries 

Belladonna 

Clothing Co. 

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366-0232 

Smoke Shop 

Big Bear Mountain Resorts . . . . . . . 866-5766 

Stupidiotic 

Big Bear Outfitters 

Superhero Toys N More 

Bob's Sports Den & More 

Teddy Bear Dolls & Collectable's 

Boomers Sportshop 

The 

Toy 

Gallery 

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866-0084 

Mountain Bear Apparel 

United Wood Craftsman 

Camp Crib . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 878-0508 

Village Music 

Del Lagos Boutique . . . . . . . . . . . . 866-3949 

Wings Jewelers 

Earth’s Elements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 878-0433 

The Leather Depot 

Home Decor 

Le 

Muse 

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878-0240 

Exciting Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 878-4080 

LeRoy's Shoes & Clothing 

Room to Room 

Makayla’s 

Childrens 

Boutiqu 

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648-7865 

The Village Faire 

O-Koo-Ran . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 866-6652 

Accommodations / Rentals 

Paisley Boutique 

Big Bear Village Lodge 

The Shirt Shanty. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 866-7928 

The 

Club 

at Big Bear 

Village 

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878-2700 

Art Galleries 

Fireside Lodge 

Artisans Etc . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . 878-0088 

Knights Inn 

Wild Coyote Gallery . . . . . . . . . . . 866-2140 

Marina Resort 

The Lodge Holiday Inn Resort . . . . 866-3121 

Gifts & Souvenirs 

Robinhood Resort . . . . . . . . . . . . . 866-4643 

A Christmas Store `N More . . . . . . 878-0114 

Resort Town Rentals 

Art Garden / Big Bear Discount 

Turnkey Vacation Rentals. . . . . . . . .345-0930 

The Bath Workshop . . . . . . . . . . . 866-0143 

Village Reservation Services 

Bekkathyst 

Big on Bears . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 366-0013 

Restaurants & Taverns 

Brown 


Gift 

Shop 

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866-4345 

572 Social . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 878-0307 

Candle Dreams 

A V Nightclub . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 866-7377 

Chirp Nature Center . . . . . . . . 

888-412-4477 

Big Bear Lake Brewing Co. . . . . . . . 878-0555 

Gems of the West Rockshop . . . . . 878-0415 

The Bone Yard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 878-0401 

El 

Jacalito 

Mexican 

Restaurant 

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866-3537 

Fire Rock Burgers & Brews. . . . . . . 878-0696 

Himalayan Restaurant . . . . . . . . . . 878-3068 

& September 

14 

th 

Jack in the Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 866-6436 

Village Wine Walks! 

Jaspers Smokehouse & Steaks 

www.villagewinewalk.com 

walk.com 

La Bamba Mexican Restaurant . . . 866-7696 

for Tickets 

Laguna Grill 

June 8, 2019 

J 

0 

Restaurants & Taverns, 

cont. 

Masala Craft Indian Cuisine 

Murray's 

Saloon & Eatery 

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866-1444 

Exclusive Catering 

Nottingham's Restaurant . . . . . . . 866-4644 

Oakside Restaurant & Bar . . . . . . . .866-5555 

Paoli's Italian Country Kitchen 

Peppercorn Grille . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 866-5405 

Royal Thai Cafe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 866-2808 

Santana & Mavericks 

Unique 

Crafted Food . 

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.878-0047 

Saucy Mama's Pizzaria . . . . . . . . . 878-0165 

Sweet 

Basil 

Bistro . 

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866-9212 

Teddy Bear Restaurant 

Village Pizza . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 866-8505 

Whiskey Dave’s . . . . . . . . . . . . . 866-3283 

Specialty Food & Drink 

Amangela's Sandwich / Bagel House 878-0015 

Barrel 33 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 878-0838 

Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream 

Big Bear House of Jerky . . . . . . . . . 866-4440 

Big Bear Liquor Market 

Frusion Juice & Coffee Bar 

The Tea & Coffee Exchange 

Recreation, cont. 

The Dock Club at Pine Knot Landing 

Mountain Room Escape 

Pine Knot Landing & Marina 

Victoria Park Carriage Rides 

Village Theaters North . . . . . . . . . 866-5115 

Community Services 

Big Bear Cab Company, Inc. 

Big Bear Chamber of Commerce . . 866-4607 

Big Bear Lake Visitors Bureau . . . . 866-7000 

Calvary Chapel of Big Bear 

Career Center of Big Bear 

Mountain Transit / Trolley. . . . . . . . 878-5200 

Beauty, Health & Wellness 

The Barber of De Ville 

Dr. Emley (Chiropractor) 

Estetica 

Monkeyshines Body Piercing 

Murphy's Barber Shop 

Stellar CrossFit 

Stephen C. Noble, DDS 

Special Effects 

Studio 9 Hair Salon 

The Copper Q . . . . . . . . . . . . . 878-4777 Summit 

Dental . 

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866-0886 

Gelato & Tea House 

North Pole Fudge & Ice Cream . . . 866-7622 

North Pole Sweets & Treats . . . . . 866-1100 

The Old German Deli 

Our Town Liquor 

Village Nut House. . . . . . . . . . . . . 878-0024 

The Village Sweet Shoppe . . . . . . . 866-8383 

Recreation & Entertainment 

Big Bear Elks Bingo 

Big Bear Marina 

Big Bear Parasail & Watersports 

Big Bear Tattoo 

The Bowling Barn & Alley Oops 

Cantrell’s Guide Service 

The Cave Big Bear . . . . . . . . . . . . . 878-0204 

Business & Services 

Big Bear Activity Center 

First 

Foundation 

Bank 

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866-5861 

Graphics 

Designed 

Ink . 

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878-0899 

Mountain Lake Properties 

Red Line Vehicle Registration 

Re/Max 

Wheeler Steffen Sotheby’s Int. Realty 

. . . . . . . . . . . . 878-5500 

Stalcup Home Services . . . . . . . . 878-4663 

Stalcup Landscape . . . . . . . . . . . . 866-9696 

The UPS Store . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 878-4747 

Phone Numbers brsareshown 

shown for 

Village Vl 

lage Business esAso s Assoc. s Members 

es 

(Numbers are (909) area code unless noted) 

For More Information about our Unique Village Businesses, Visit our web-site www.BigBearLakeVillage.com 

w.BigBea 

eVillage.com

BIG BEAR SUMMER 2019 • 3

EAT. DRINK. PLAY. SPORTS!! 

Always a Party at the 

BOWLING BARN! 

Glow Bowling 

• 16 Lanes 

with Automated Scoring 

• Hot Sounds & Cool Black Lights 

• Glow Balls 

Laser Lights & Videos 

Video 

Arcade! 

 

• Full Bar & Big Screen Sports 

• Speciality Cocktails • Pool Tables 

• Great Food! Pizza, Street Tacos, More 

• Kids Bowl Free! Call for Details 

THE BOWLING BARN & Sports Bar 

www.BowlingBarn.com 

40625 Big Bear Blvd. (909) 878-BOWL 

SEEK ... 

and Ye 

Shall Find!! 

BIG BEAR SUMMER 2019 

Classic Fun for All 

at Car, Boat Shows 

On land and lake, relive the days of yesteryear 

during two “Classic” shows in August, both of 

which have free admission. 

The best-known of the two shows is the 30th annual Big 

Bear Fun Run on Aug. 9 –11. Presented by Big Bear Lake 

Antique Car Club, Fun Run attracts over 500 street rods, 

antique autos, classic cars and wood-panel trucks from the 

Southland and also Nevada and Arizona, which creates a 

paradise for motorists in an alpine setting. The show takes 

place in the Village, 

with cars lined up as far 

as the eye can see. 

One of the highlights 

is Saturday’s traditional 

“Cruise Around the 

Lake,” which takes 

place at 3:30 p.m. 

Saturday. There are 250- 

300 cars that rally 

around the lake in a 

classic car parade. 

A week later 

gleaming wood vessels 

dot the lake during the 

36th Annual Antique Classic Wooden Boat Show at Pine 

Knot Marina on Aug. 17. Vintage vessels from makers like 

Criss-Craft and Hacker highlight the show, presented by the 

Antique and Classic Boat Society’s Southern California 

Chapter. 

Typically there’s 40 or more shiny wood boats on display. 

Like a 1940, 27-foot vessel that once cruised Big Bear Lake 

waters. All have been painstakingly restored to beautiful 

original condition, many with the engines exposed and 

exquisite wood shined to perfection. 

Annual favorites include Noel Blanc’s beautiful “Bugs 

Bunny.” His late father Mel was the voice of all the 

legendary Warner Bros. cartoon characters including the 

famous rabbit plus Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Yosemite Sam 

and many more. Noel carries on the family’s voice tradition 

and is often on hand at the boat show to talk about his pride 

and joy. 

CONTENTS 

Sunset cruises 

aboard 

Big Bear 

Queen 

Big Bear Summer 2019 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 

That’s Entertainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 

Concerts at The Cave . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 

Music In The Mountains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 

“South Pacific in Concert . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 

July 4th Fireworks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 

Big Bear Air Fair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 

Chili Cookoff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 

Brewfest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 

Renaissance Faire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 

49th Oktoberfest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 

Snow Summit’s Adventure Park . . . . . . . 10 

Tour de Big Bear- Cycling Festival . . . . . 11 

We’ve Got Your Water Sport . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 

New Pontoons at Marina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 

Pirate Ship Tours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 

Trout, Bass Tourneys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 

Stand up Paddleboats (SUP) . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 

Discovery Center Tours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 

New Ropes Course, Speedway . . . . . . . . . 16 

Calendar of Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 

Dining Digest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 

The Skyline Trail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 

Zoo Adds Species . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 

Soaring Eagle Ride at Alpine Slide . . . . . . . 21 

Big Bear Museum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 

Front Cover Photo 

Courtesy BBMR/Jared Meyer 

Ride a bike, 

Take a hike 

at Snow Summit 

Use the Search Feature on 

our website to learn about 

previous events, discover 

exciting new ones, and 

general Big Bear information! 

• 4-Day Weather Forcasts! 

• Read Print Magazines Online! 

• Calendar of Events 

... and Much More! 

4 • BIG BEAR SUMMER 2019 

Follow Us 

On Facebook! 

www.BigBearTodayMag.com 

Monthly • Summer • Oktoberfest • Winter 

Then there’s a 1957 Glastron, inspired by the 1956 Chevy 

Belair with more than a few similarities between the two. 

Or 1955 Criss-Craft Cobra, built only one year and 

influenced by the 1954 Corvette. 

With so many wood boats inspired by automobiles, it’s 

only fitting that there are classic cars from the previous 

week’s Fun Run on hand for viewing. Plus the Inland 

Nautical Society usually has several models on display. 

Two weekends, two trips to yesteryear, just two reasons 

to make Big Bear Summer part of your season. Explore 

the rest of this magazine for many more, from lake to trails 

to concerts and shows, all above the marine layer grey or 

sweltering temperatures of the basin and desert. Just 7,000 

feet away!! ■ 


copyright ©2019 Big Bear Today 

Publisher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Marcus G. Dietz 

Pre-Press . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2BIT STUDIO 

Big Bear Summer is a special edition of Big Bear Today Magazine, with 

distribution throughout the Orange County / Los Angeles Basin, Palm Springs, San 

Diego and Las Vegas. Ski Big Bear is a companion issue appearing during the winter 

months. 

BIG BEAR TODAY 

POST OFFICE BOX 3180 

BIG BEAR CITY • CA 92314 • (909) 585-5533

. . . THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT . . . 

What’s Up, U p Here 

Cool 

Summer Spot 

Doo Wah Riders perform live on Wyatt's stage 

The hills are alive with the sound 

of music all Big Bear Summer 

long, from headliner concerts at 

The Cave to “Music in the Mountains” 

shows under the stars at the Discovery 

Center. There’s a veritable Feast of 

Festivals too, from Brewsfest and the 

Renaissance to Oktoberfest! 

There’s live music under the pine 

trees Fridays and Saturdays at Wyatt’s 

at the Convention Center, no cover 

charge and great western grub and 

drink. Or head to Big Bear Lake Village 

where Street Music Band, whose song 

“I Want to Live Like Jimmy Buffet” has 

become a chart-topping hit, plays 

Fridays and Saturdays at 572 Social 

from 8-11 p.m. 

Jefferson Starship rocks The Cave 

There’s music lakeside again at 

water’s edge too. The eagerly-awaited 

Pines Lakefront Tavern debuts, 

completely remodeled with cozy 

fireplace and amazing lake views. Pull 

up a chair and enjoy a classic martini, 

fine beer or wine and listen to jazz by 

Big Bear favorites Mike Cross and 

Mark Cade. 

Catching all the happenings in Big 

Bear takes some advance planning, so 

here’s a rundown on Big Bear Summer 

fun stuff to see and hear. For lastminute 

additions to the schedule, and 

there always are some, be sure to pick 

up free Big Bear Today Magazine at 

fine lodges, restaurants, shops and racks 

while in town, or visit the website, 

bigbeartodaymag.com for the latest, 

including magazine pages you can 

download in PDF format. Click us up 

like you pick us up! 

Concerts at 

The Cave Big Bear 

See headline performers 

like Jefferson Starship,Ted 

Nugent, former Cinderella 

frontman Tom Keifer, classic 

rockers Gary Puckett and the 

Union Gap and more up close 

and personal at the 

mountain’s intimate concert 

venue. 

The Cave Big Bear has 

tiered seating assuring a clear 

stage view from every seat. 

There’s a real club feel to The 

Cave with awesome caverndesign 

bar with cocktail tables 

and gourmet concessions. The 

state-of-the-art sound system is pure 

concert quality with laser lights, fog 

machines and “snow” that sprinkles the 

dance floor right in front of the stage. 

The perfect spot for up close photos 

and selfies with amazing artists! 

Entertainment, continues on page 6 

Your Alpine Slide experience begins with a scenic chairlift ride 

above the beautiful Big Bear Lake. Then, with you controlling 

the speed, your toboggan plummets back down the mountain 

creating a thrill you'll want to relive again and again! 

Ride Our 

Double 

Water 

Slide 

Unlimited Water Slide rides ... $15•10 Rides ... $10•Each Ride ... $2 

• Video Game Room 

• Delicious Snack Bar 

• 2 Hours From Most 

So. California Cities 

•3 Hours From Las Vegas 

Parents! ... Sun On Our Spacious 

Deck While the Kids Play! 

FREE Tanning! at 7,000 Feet! 

Year- Round 

Family Fun 

With 300 Clear 

Days A Year! 

Parents Pay 

Only If They Play 

Water Slide 

Season Passes! 

$69 Anytime, 

$49 Sun-Fri 

(Non-Holiday) 

Soaring Eagle Ride 

Soaring Eagle Ride 

NEW!! 

NEW!! 

On Big Bear Blvd. • Big Bear Lake 

1/4 mile West of The Village 

Family Fun! (909) 866-4626 

www.AlpineSlideBigBear.com 



Entertainment, continued from page 5 

In addition to famous headliners The 

Cave features a variety of acts ranging 

from terrific tributes to favorite artists 

and genres that include country, reggae, 

New Wave and more. Even comedy with 

headliner Pauly Shore on July 20. 

Don’t miss top tributes to Fleetwood 

Mac, Van Halen, Grateful Dead, Tom 

Ted Nugent returns to The Cave 

Petty, Queen and more. Visit 

thecavebigbear.com or call (909) 878- 

0204 for tickets. Or, you can you can pick 

up free Big Bear Today Magazine in 

town for the latest concert schedule 

or click up our redesigned website at 

bigbeartodaymag.com. 

“Music in the 

Mountains” 

Take a seat under the stars as the 

stars come out on stage during Big 

Bear Discovery Center’s popular 

music series, now in its 14th year. 

Five top tribute concerts— 

doubleheaders each—highlight 

“Music in the Mountains” 2019 

summer series at Big Bear Discovery 

Center’s beautiful outdoor 

amphitheater. New talent, returning 

favorites and some that haven’t 

taken the mountain stage in years are 

on the bill. The setting can’t be beat, 

under the pine trees in the forest as 

the sun sets, and recent 

improvements in sound and lighting 

production have enhanced the 

concert experience. Plus there’s great 

food and drink for purchase. 

The season opens July 6 with Bee 

Gees Gold with tribute to the 70’s 

disco giants. Bee Gees Gold captures 

the look and sound of the band with the 

great John Acosta as Barry Gibb. From 

early songs like “Massachusetts” and “I 

Started a Joke” to later hits “Stayin’ 

Disco night with Bee Gees Gold 

Alive” and “You Should Be Dancing” 

Acosta backed by live band takes 

audiences back four decades, even 

nailing the unique 

falsettos. 

AbbaFab opens 

though the band is 

headliner-quality in its 

own right. Take a musical 

tour of the 1970’s and 

80’s with a multimedia 

production that features 

songs like “Waterloo,” 

”Fernando,” “Honey 

Honey,” “Dancing 

Queen” and many more, 

presented by the talented 

Anne Davies, Chelsea 

Faulds, Scotty Pearson, 

Nick Davies and a lineup 

of stellar musicians. 

From early hits to “Mama Mia” the 

music of Abba always entertains and 

AbbaFab routinely plays sold out shows 

around the country. The members have 

toured the world as solo artists and have 

teamed to present the most entertaining 

Abba tribute that there is. 

Music in the Mountains continues 

two weeks later on July 20 with 

Hollywood U2, the only tribute to the 

rock icons endorsed by Ryan 

Seacrest. Hollywood U2 is one of 

AXS-TV’s “World’s Greatest Tribute 

Bands” and was nominated as Best 

Tribute Artist 2014 by Los Angeles 

Music Awards. The band has 

performed in front of audiences of 

10,000 or more around the world, 

from the Dominican Republic, Costa 

Rica and Panama to Mexico, 

Honduras and Singapore. 

Joseph Hier is tasked with 

capturing Bono and a couple years ago 

was paid the ultimate tribute 

compliment when the star called him on 

Bob Seger tribute on Aug. 3 

stage during a U2 concert. Hier teamed 

with Bono on “The Sweetest Thing” as 

the crowd roared. 

He duplicates songs like “With or 

Without You,” “Still Haven’t Found 

What I’m Looking For,” “One,” “Sunday 

Bloody Sunday,” and many more notefor-note. 

The band has rocked the Cave 


Cabins • Suites • Rooms • Cottage • Vacation Rentals • Close to Lake 

#1 on Trip Advisor! 

Trip Advisor Certificate 

for Excellence 2014 – 2018 

Walk to Village, Alpine Slide, 

Hiking Trails, Restaurants! 

• Wood Decks & Patios with BBQs 

• Fireplaces 

• Full Kitchens with Coffeemakers 

• Flat Screens and DVD Player 

• FREE WIFI and Movies 

• Pet Friendly 

909.866-7330 • 40241 Big Bear Blvd. 

www.HillcrestLodge.com 

6 • BIG BEAR SUMMER 2019



on previous visits and is a crowd 

favorite. Live from Earth opens with 

tribute to 80’s rocker Pat Benatar. 

The series continues August 3 when 

Turn the Page presents its amazing 

tribute to the great Bob Seger and the 

Silver Bullet Band. Sam Morrison Band 

presents a show that is much more than 

just a tribute as audiences are often left 

wondering if the sound is lip synched or 

features backing tracks; actually every 

note is live performed by a group that 

has sold over 750,000 downloads of its 

Seger tribute CD on Itunes and Spotify. 

Featured on CNBC as one of the 

nation’s top tribute bands—and later 

recorded live for AXS-TV’s “America’s 

Greatest Tribute Bands” at the Whiskey 

A Go-Go—Turn the Page has toured 

the country. Songs like “Old Time Rock 

and Roll,” “Night Moves,” “Against the 

Wind” and namesake “Turn the Page” 

take audiences back to their youth. The 

playlist is practically endless with 

Seger’s ten consecutive platinum 

albums. 

Fortunate Son opens with its tribute 

to Credence Clearwater Revival. The 

magical music of John Fogerty comes to 

life note for note on songs like “Down 

on the Corner,” “Bad Moon Rising,” 

“Who’ll Stop the Rain” and the band’s 

namesake tune. A great night of classic 

rock under the pines! 

Aug. 17 sees the “Kings of Country” 

present tributes to Willie Nelson and 

Johnny Cash. Michael Moore presents 

his outlaw portrayal of Willie with some 

of the most beautiful country songs ever 

written. Tunes like “On the Road 

Again,” “One in a Row,” “My Heroes 

Have Always Been Cowboys” and more 

dot the play list. 

Cash’s music is immortal and Philip 

Bauer does an incredible job presenting 

the Man in Black. 

He’s brought Cash 

to life for over a 

decade with all the 

moves, patter and 

sound that 

personified the 

legend. He’s 

recognized as one 

of the leading 

Cash tribute 

artists for good 

reason; songs like 

“Folsom Prison 

Blues,” “I Walk the 

Line,” “Ring of 

Fire” and others are reproduced with 

the passion that fans love. 

The Long Run closes out the series 

with Experience the Eagles on Aug. 31. 

Formed in 1999 by accomplished 

musicians, The Long Run is considered a 

top Eagles tribute band and plays all the 

legendary group’s greatest hits...even 

the solo work done by Eagles Don 

Henley, Glenn Frey and Joe Walsh. 

The band mixes in the studio quality 

that marked the Eagles music with their 

own live concert energy show. With lush 

vocal harmonies and exceptional 

musical accuracy The Long Run 

captures the unique Eagles sound. 

General admission tickets for all 

shows are $37 as guests bring their own 

lawn chairs and sit under the trees. 

Premium bench seating is $48. Or see 

five shows for the price of four with 

season passes priced at $148 general 

admission and $195 premium. 

Gates open at 5 p.m. with shows 

starting at 6 and there’s free off-site 

parking with shuttle to the event. 

Purchase tickets online at 

www.mountainsfoundation.org or call 

Discovery Center at (909) 866-3437. 

“South Pacific in Concert” 

Rodgers and Hammerstein’s classic 

South Pacific comes to the Big Bear 

stage in concert form for six shows at the 

Performing Arts Center July 5-7 and 12- 

14. 

Big Bear Theatre Project presents the 

tale of two parallel love stories on an 

island paradise during World War II with 

limited dialogue. Instead the focus is on 

the sweeping musical score that 

garnered ten Tony Awards, featuring 

songs like “I’m Gonna Wash That Man 

Right Outa My Hair,” “Some Enchanted 

Evening,” “There is Nothing Like a 

Dame” and many more. 

Tickets are priced between $10-$20 

and are available at the PAC box office; 

call (909) 866-4970. 

July 4th Fireworks / 

Rotary Best View BBQ 

Celebrate 243 years of American 

independence with Big 

Bear Lake Rotary Club’s 

annual barbecue and 

show Thursday, July 4. 

The fireworks have 

been named Southern 

California’s best free 

show with some 

$70,000 in 

pyrotechnics fired, as 

the display gets bigger 

and better each year. 

Each burst lights up 

the sky and water 

below to create a 

visual spectacular that 

stadium shows can’t rival. Any location 

around the lake affords viewing with 

good spots along the north shore. 

There’s 2,000 bursts during the grand 

finale alone. Tune into KBHR 93.3 FM 

to hear patriotic music synchronized to 

each shell for a treat for the ears as well 

as the eyes. 

Best seat in the house to see the show 

is at the annual Rotary Best View BBQ 

on the water at Marina Resort. There’s 

entertainment, midway games in a 

secured area for the kids and barbecue 

from 4:30-7:30 p.m. $34 includes entry 

and scrumptious baby back ribs, or $27 

buys barbecue chicken sandwich, sirloin 

hamburger or all-beef 

hot dog meals, prepared 

by Barnstorm 

Restaurant, one of Big 

Bear’s best. Kids hot 

dog meal is $20. 

Beer and wine are 

available at the 

Hydration Station 

including Big Bear Lake 

Brewing Co. offerings 

plus festival food for 

purchase. Bring your 

own lawn chairs and 

blankets or Rotary has 

commemorative 

holiday blankets for sale. 

VIP guests receive served meal and 

seating on the deck for the show’s best 

view for $100 while for $50 there’s 

private reserved seating area at water’s 

edge. Barbecue guests also enjoy 

exclusive viewing of set pieces and shells 

from a second barge that can’t be seen 

anywhere else. Call (800) 4- BIG BEAR 

Big Bear Air Fair 

Fun on the ground and in the sky 

awaits guests of all ages at Big Bear Air 

Fair at the airport July 6 from 9 a.m.-3 

p.m. 

Vintage warbirds from the Planes of 

Fame air museum in Chino along with 

See a B-25 Mitchell 

at Air Fair 

other antique aircraft will fill the skies, 

while on the ground there’s vendors, 

kids activities, Forest Service helicopter 

water drops, and more. Airplane lovers 

see an array of vintage craft that fly in 

for the event, like a B-25 Mitchell, best 

known as the plane Jimmy Doolittle 

and his squadron used in his famous 




morale-boosting raid on Tokyo. 

For youngsters there’s climbing wall, 

jump house and balloons. Music by the 

Mountain Fifes and Drum Corp is 

always an Air Fair highlight, and Just in 

Time skydivers drop in throughout the 

day as well. 

Free admission makes this 

the best deal of Big Bear 

Summer. Air Fair is preceded 

by the Kiwanis pancake 

breakfast at 7 a.m. 

Call (909) 585-3219. 

Big Bear Chili 

Cookoff 

The heat is on July 13 as 

the fastest chefs in the west 

vie for $3,500 prize purse and 

the right to advance to world 

International Chili Society 

competition this fall. 

The ICS-sanctioned cookoff begins at 

11 a.m. in the Village’s Bartlett Events 

area with live music and dozens of 

vendors selling Western gifts and 

souvenirs as 40+ chefs prepare their 

tastiest concoctions. There’s kid’s play 

area, beer and wine garden, arts and 

crafts and food vendors to make for a 

great day of family fun. 

Admission is free with chili tasting 

kits $5 which allow you to sample all the 

Families & Groups 

Welcome! 



spicy fixin’s you can handle...bring the 

heartburn medicine. There’s prizes and 

trophies for best red and green chili, 

salsa and the People’s Choice award 

which comes with an additional $500 

prize. Live music all day too. 

Call (800) 4-BIG BEAR. 

“Spirits of the West 

Brewsfest” 

Celebrating National Day of the 

Cowboy by toasting the hardworking 

hero of the American West during the 

7th annual Brewsfest on Saturday, July 

27 at the Convention Center. 

It’s a western day for the whole 

family with arts and crafts vendors 

outside. Bring the kids for bounce house, 

face painting, games and arts and crafts 

Select cabins have private, in-room spas, 

perfect for relaxing after your alpine adventure. 

• All of our cabins have knotty pine interiors, fireplace, 

Flat Screen TVs with cable, full bath and refrigerator. 

Some are equipped with 

either a kitchen or kitchenette. 

Book 

Online! 

Stay 2 Weekend Nights, Get 3rd Night 

FREE * 

* 3rd night either Sunday or Thursday 

* Based on availability. Restrictions Apply 

* Valid April 1 — June 30, 2019 and Valid Sept. 2 — Nov. 30, 2019 (excludes holidays) 

• We offer a wide variety of cabins - from cozy studio cottages to 

spacious 2-bedrooms... and now Vacation Home Rentals 

Vacation Cabin Rentals 

Book on-line 

Convenient location near the Village, Alpine Slide, 

minutes from the Lake & Ski Resorts. 

email: info@cozyhollowlodge.com 

that include decorating real horseshoes. 

Big Bear’s western heritage dates back 

to the late 1800’s, which included cattle 

drives up to the mountains from the 

deserts of Palm Springs, Morongo and 

Yucca basins 

Everyone will love action shooting 

starring Old Town Temecula 

Gunfighters who put on a great 

western drama with heroes and villains. 

Wyatt’s Cafe & Saloon is open with 

ranch-style grub in huge portions. Try 

on the several inches high Smokin’ 

Gun burger for a reast feast or slow 

roasted tri tip. 

For the adults there will be some 50 

beers to savor plus spirits including 

whiskey, tequila and bourbon. Wine 

sampling has been 

added with over 20 

varieties from several 

different vintners. 

Proceeds benefit 

National Day of the 

Cowboy Association. 

There’s two live 

bands including 

Disneyland favorite 

Sligo Rags. Admission is 

free; call (909) 585-3000 

for Brewsfest tasting 

packages. Make it a 

weekend with South of Santa Fe playing 

Friday at Wyatt’s plus Sunday brunch. 

Big Bear 

Renaissance Faire 

There’s new dates but it’s the same 

fun event as Big Bear Renaissance 

returns for four time-traveling 

weekends. 

Return to days of yore with period 

grub, grog and merriment on the 

beautiful north shore of Big Bear Lake 

in Fawnskin at historic 

Pedersen Sawmill. An 

exciting, vibrant village 

springs up among 

towering pine trees four 

consecutive weekends 

from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. 

starting July 20-21 and 

continuing July 27-28, 

August 3-4 and 10-11. 

There’s knights 

jousting on horseback in 

live competition, archery 

tournament, live steel 

battle, Queen 

Elizabeth’s Royal Court 

and Midsummer Fairy 

Forest Children’s area. 

The days of William Shakespeare and 

the Renaissance are presented with 

nonstop entertainment by strolling 

entertainers, stage performances with 

belly dancers, jugglers, musicians and 

singers, beautiful crafts and plenty of 

period food and drink. 

Thrill to live jousting courtesy of the 

Imperial Knights. This is no dinner show 

but rather live contact action with no 

predetermined winner. Wearing 130 lbs. 

of armor is just the beginning; each 

competitor peers through a quarter-inch 

slit in their helmet, staring down a foe 

atop a 2,000 lb. horse just as they are. 

When they charge head-on the 

ground shudders and their solid 

hemlock lances often break and yes, 

occasionally so do bones. It’s full contact 

action at its best. 

Entertainment includes Joust 

Kidding, a high energy singing group 

featuring a stage full of pirates, 

Cutthroat Reef and Gallows Humor. 

Black Rose features Celtic music by 

talented performer Kris Colt. Musicians 

and magicians, singers, jugglers, belly 

Imperial Knights in combat 

dancers...they’re all here. 

Of course there’s plenty of good grub 

and grog, with suds freely flowing and 

turkey legs to gnaw, pig on a stick, 

bratwurst and more traditional tastes 

like sandwiches, gyros and tacos. For a 

medieval shopping experience visit the 

marketplace with dozens of merchants 

presenting wares from ere and yon, 

ranging from Renaissance clothing to 

pewter steins, tarts, scents, oils, ceramics 

and much more. 

Medieval Swordsplay 

Daily Faire admission is $25 for 

adults, or $46 buys a weekend pass good 

for both days. Season passes are valid all 

four weekends for only $150. 

Senior/student/military admission is $18 

daily, $34 weekends and $150 season 

pass, 5 and under free. Call (800) 4-BIG 

BEAR or www.bbvrsinc.org. 

Entertainment, 

continues next page


49th Annual 

Big Bear Oktoberfest 

Four bands direct from Germany, 

each playing two weekends. It’s the most 

ambitious entertainment lineup ever for 

Big Bear Lake Oktoberfest in its 49 year 

history, and perhaps a precursor to 

celebrating its 50th next year. 

Celebrate Southern California’s 

favorite Oktoberfest over nine big 

weekends from September 7-November 

2. Find out why AOL named Big Bear 

Oktoberfest the #1 Oktoberfest in 

California and in the Top 10 nationwide! 

Bohemian Street Musicians, 

1 of 4 German bands! 

Longtime favorite The Express Band 

plays opening weekend on Sept. 7-8, 

which features American Heroes tribute 

with color guard, traditional tapping of 

the first keg and 

patriotic music. All 

badge-carrying 

personnel— i.e. police, 

fire, military, medical, 

etc.— get in for free 

opening weekend with 

proper ID. 

Die Franken Power 

Express returns to 

Oktoberfest the 

following two 

weekends, Sept. 14-15 

and 21-22. The eightpiece 

Die Franken 

Power Express Band 

from Hammelburg 

was here four years ago and was terrific. 

The band tours in Europe with up to 20 

performers, with the top eight traveling 

to Big Bear for Oktoberfest. 

Frankenrebellon Express takes the 

stage the next two weekends. Die 

Bohmische Strassemusikanten, which 

translates into “Bohemian Street 

Musicians,” was a favorite last year and 

follows Oct. 12-13 and 19-20. The group 

sports 12 players —half an orchestra— 

making it one of the largest to ever take 

Oktoberfest’s stage. 

Officially the band formed in 2001 

though many performers had played 

together for years before that. Touring 

throughout Bavaria along with Belgium 

and Norway has made the band one of 

the region’s most recognizable, mixing 

upper Bavarian brass music with 

modern tunes to create the ultimate 

party experience. 

Goldeisen Band was 

an Oktoberfest favorite 

three years ago and 

returns Oct. 26-27 and 

closing encore on Nov. 2 

The group will sport 

nine musicians when it 

takes the stage for a mix 

of German standards 

and American favorites. 

Oktoberfest’s 

outdoor stage under the 

pines has two bands 

every Saturday playing 

non-German music that 

ranges from rock and 

blues to country and folk 

Enjoy a beer or bratwurst 

while enjoying Big Bear’s beautiful fall 

colors and the shoppers along the 

Budenstrasse Avenue of the Booths. 

All the bands are good but there’s 

nothing like seeing the 

famous Doo Wah 

Riders performing 

outdoors up close and 

personal (Oct. 19). For 

over 35 years the Doo 

Wah Riders have 

played “high energy 

country with a Cajun 

twist” around the 

country, appearing in 

concert with Garth 

Brooks, George Strait, 

Alabama, Faith Hill, 

Dolly Parton, Tim 

McGraw, Brooks and 

Dunn, Willie Nelson 

and many more. Also catch them 

outdoors on June 8 and December 31 for 

Wyatt’s Family New Year’s Eve party. 

On tap Oktoberfesters enjoy German 

favorites Spaten, Warsteiner and 

Paulaner along with domestic offerings 

plus cider and wine. The redecorated 

Free Tickets, Clinics on ‘Mtn. Bike Holiday’ 

Celebrate International Ride Mountain Bike Day at Snow Summit with free lift 

tickets, clinics, music and more on July 20. Festivities are held from 10 a.m.– 4 p.m. 

with free bike park lift tickets for the first 100 guests on site from the Fox Racing booth. 

There’s also a free two hour basic bike park clinic plus live music and free swag 

giveaways. The official holiday of mountain biking, celebrated every year on July 20, 

features decentralized, community based events around the globe. Mountain bike 

brands, media, professionals, retailers, parks and local riders show their support for the 

sport with group rides, fundraisers, races and demos. 

Kraft Bier Haus features a wide 

selection of favorite and seasonal 

bottles. Sausages from a German 

butcher, strudel from a German baker 

and the tastiest sauerkraut around are 

Outside Fun with Mechanical Bull, 

Play Area 

traditional highlights but there’s also 

Cafe Americano food. 

Dance groups like the Cripple Creek 

Cloggers and Die Gemutlichen 

Schuhplattlers add to festivities along 

with contests including log sawing and 

the famed Oktoberfest Queen stein 

carrying competition. 

Oktoberfest hours are from noonmidnight. 

Sundays are family days from 

noon–5:30 p.m., with balloons, face 

painting, bounce houses, and special 

contests for the youngsters. Kids get in 

for free on Sundays, something parents 

can do too with the coupon for free 

Sunday adult admission in the 

September and October editions of Big 

Bear Today Magazine, available free at 

fine lodges, restaurants and other 

locations in town. 

Party like the Burgermeister with allinclusive 

packages that include 

admission, commemorative stein and first 

beer or wine, dinner, even beads. Buy in 

advance starting August 1 at 

www.bigbearevents.com. and be ready 

to have fun as soon as you get there! 

Read all about Ein Prosit in the 

official the official souvenir Big Bear 

Oktoberfest souvenir edition, FREE at 

many of the same locations you found 

Big Bear Summer 2019. Or go online to 

bigbeartodaymag.com and view each 

page just like you were holding the book 

in your hands. 

Call the Convention Center at (909) 

585-3000 or BigBearEvents.com. ■ 


. . . SNOW SUMMIT’S ADVENTURE PARK . . . 

Trails Abound at Summit Bike Park, More Coming 

The summer trail map at Snow 

Summit looks a lot like the winter 

one, showing just how far 

mountain biking at the resort has come 

after the downhill bike park was 

introduced several years ago. 

And Adventure Park is still expanding 

its worldclass downhill mountain bike 

offerings. Snow Summit is working with 

the Forest Service and San Bernardino 

County on permitting for a new advanced 

downhill trail plus public access hiking 

trail. The downhill would replace the Log 

Chute hiking trail. While still in the permit 

process, the goal is to open both this 

season. 

Snow Summit’s other three top-tobottom 

trails already offer challenging 

terrain with professional design by Gravity 

Logic. The only lift-served downhill 

mountain bike park in Southern California 

sports freshly-cut berms, snakes and nondirt 

features like bridges, paver-lined turns 

Going Green 

trail perfect 

for all ability 

levels 

and drops, long straights and switchbacks. 

Miracle Mile tasks even the best riders 

with an array of sweeping S-turns plus 

rollers, jumps and wood features including 

dramatic 30-foot bridge, diving board and 

berm. Westridge is the signature jump trail 

through the forest as it cuts through the 

woods and across ski runs, boasting over 

45 features top-to-bottom for an actionpacked 

ride. Party Wave is a challenging 

black diamond run with steep drops, 

banked turns, switchbacks and step ups. 

Yet Bike Park isn’t just all hardcore. 

Novices start out at the base area where 

Small Wonder, a modest gravity-fed trail 

about a half-mile in length, serves up all 

the features riders encounter in Bike Park. 

The ride presents an organic singletrack 

feel with little pedaling or braking down a 

gentle 6% grade serviced by Chair 4, the 

popular beginner lift in winter. The halfmile 

trail offers terrain features too, from 

progressive paver turns and dirt berm to 

baby rock garden and small wood feature. 

Skill Builder Park is another beginner 

section at the base area, adjacent to Small 

Wonder. With side-by-side jumps 

progressing from little to bigger and 

training terrain features the area helps 

learners get their wheels under them as 

they discover the 

excitement of 

bike park. 

Going Green is 

the natural next 

progression, a 

wide, winding, 

gentle top-tobottom 

descent. 

Four miles long 

with sweeping 

berms and only 

minimal braking 

or pedaling, it 

serves up 

spectacular views 

as it drops 

through the 

forest. New dual 

slalom course is 

open too in the base area so challenge 

your friends to some head-to-head action. 

Mix in the awesome network of forest 

service roads and trails that unfold from 

the top of the mountain for cross-country 

riders, literally dozens and dozens of miles 

of awesome routes for all abilities, and it’s 

Whole family has fun riding 

Snow Summit's Bike Park 

easy to see why the resort often needs to 

run both of its high-speed chairlifts out of 

the base area to meet demand. Such as the 

new worldclass singletrack found along 

Skyline Trail, part of the renovated South 

Shore network that starts above Bear 

Mountain and continues west. 

Many old favorites, like Bristlecone, 

Pirates and Fall Line, have been upgraded 

as part of trail renovation projects led by 

Big Bear Valley Trails Foundation. Of 

course the ride out to Grandview Point 

remains a favorite, where a quarter-mile of 

singletrack leads to amazing 270-degree 

views of the Santa Ana River Canyon. 

At the base area Basecamp is a great 

place to spend the day with unique 

attractions. Quick Jump serves up the 

sensation of freefalling before slowly 

setting adrenaline junkies on the ground. 

Soar through the trees on the zipline, scale 

heights on the 30-foot climbing wall and 

bounce on Eurobungy. Bighorn 

Smokehouse is open with delicious 

barbecue. 

Scenic Skychair isn’t just for two-wheelers; 

two-footers have fun too, riding the sky high 

to the 8,200 ft. summit. Sightseers are treated 

to panoramic views of the lake, desert and 

surrounding mountains during their leisurely 

20-minute chairlift trip through the forest to 

Summit’s summit. 

At the top enjoy the Mountain Top 

Loop, a gentle one-mile walk at the top 

that starts and ends at Skyline Tap House. 

Have lunch on the mountaintop outdoor 

sun deck with goodies from the grill and 

cold beverages. Play a game on the highest 

horseshoe pit in Southern California or just 

soak up views of snow-covered 11,502 ft. 

Mt. San Gorgonio across the way. 

Snow Summit hosts after dark Movies 

in the Meadow summer series with free 

family-friendly films at 8 p.m. under the 

stars. Limited seating is available or bring 

your own chair and blankets and watch 

favorite flicks on the huge inflatable screen 

including May 25 showing of “Turbo.” 

Bighorn Smokehouse stays open for 

concessions. See the event calendar for full 

movie rundown. 

Purchase Bike Park and Skychair 

tickets at least 72 hours in advance and 

save 20%. Basecamp attractions can be 

purchased individually or day passes offer 

unlimited use. Call (844) GO-2-BEAR. ■ 

Photos Courtesy BBMR/Jared Meyer 

Summit to Host Fox US Open 

One of two wheeling’s biggest events visits Big Bear for the first time 

when the Fox US Open of Mountain Biking arrives at Snow Summit 

September 12-15. 

The US Open has been held on the east coast since its inception in 

2003. This year marks the first time it has been held on the west coast and 

fans and racers can expect the same thrilling open class downhill racing 

with a new twist: in 2019 the Fox US Open will also be the final stop of the 

EWS North American Enduro Series. 

The $10,000 first place prize is sure to attract some of mountain bike 

racing’s biggest names. Up and coming racers are afforded the chance to 

compete against the pros in the Open class downhill event while 

amateurs battle for bragging rights and awesome prizes. Young racers 

can compete in the Next Gen Youth Downhill in intermediate and expert 

categories on a separate track. 

In addition to downhill and enduro, the event also features a USO 

Best Whip Comp, adaptive downhill racing and classic dual slalom. 

Which harkens back to the epic grass slalom races of yesteryear at 

Snow Summit and the rumor mill has it that a throwback slalom course 

is in the works. Team Big Bear, longtime mountain bike promoter and 

one of the sport’s pioneers, is working with the event. 

Indeed the resort used to host NORBA National and World Cup 

events during their 1990’s heyday. More recently Snow Summit’s Bike 

Park has been turning heads and the annual Crafts & Cranks, set for 

July 20-21, draws thousands for riding, music and beer festival. 

Fox is again joined by an impressive list of event partners including 

Vittoria Tires, GT Bicycles, Flat Tire Defender, Clif Bar, Horizon Hobby, 

MOS Gear and more. Vendor village, demos, music and more make for 

a huge party with free spectating. Plus Bike Park is open for riding during 

the entire event week. 

Visit www.USopen.bike for details. 


Tour de Big Bear Marks 10th 

With New Rides 

Southern California’s favorite ride 

gets a new event to celebrate its 10th 

anniversary. 

Tour de Big Bear on August 3 is really 

six rides in one, and that’s just on the main 

day! Preceding the main event there’s the 

annual poker ride and a new after dark 

glow ride in the Village shopping area plus 

the Sunday recovery ride. It’s all “geared” 

to showcasing Big Bear as the Southland’s 

cycling capital. 

With six distances to choose from Tour 

de Big Bear offers a route for every cycling 

enthusiast. The event has sold out nine 

straight years, attracting over 2,000 riders 

annually, for good reason. Cyclists cruise 

alpine roadways and trails around Big 

Bear and Baldwin Lakes and over 

mountain passes including Onyx Summit’s 

8,443 elevation. 

All routes feature course marshals. 

legendary nutrition/hydration aid stations, 

first aid attendants, and rider safety and repair 

vehicles to deliver a professional-like 

experience. Plus excellent signage and law 

enforcement at major intersections for safety. 

To mark its 10th anniversary Tour de 

Big Bear is introducing a new shorter 10K 

ride that departs from the Village and 

heads to Eagle Point with awesome views 

along the way and only minimal climbing. 

Next step up is Tour de Big Bear proper, a 

25-mile route with 1,300 feet of climbing. 

Big Bear Valley Tour is double the 

distance at 50 miles and sports over 3,000 

feet of climbing. Then there’s the Grand 

Tour at 70 miles and 4,800 feet of climbing. 

At 106 miles The Climb sports 9,500 feet 

of challenging climbing including 

ascending Onyx Summit...twice! It’s a 

timed event for training purposes. 

If that’s not enough there’s The Challenge, 

a 109-mile ride—all at altitude—with over 

10,000 feet as it climbs Onyx Summit twice 

and heads out past Snow Valley to Green 

Valley Lake and back. 

All Tour de Big Bear riders receive a 

goodie bag, custom-made finisher medal 

and high performance technical shirt along 

with complimentary bike valet so they can 

enjoy the expo and raffle without worry. 

The two-day cycling expo in the Village on 

Friday and Saturday with 40-plus vendors, 

live entertainment and New Belgium Fat 

Tire Beer Garden attracts even non-riders. 

Plus cheer on cyclists on the Freedom Ride 

from Bend, Ore. to Newport Beach, raising 

awareness of human trafficking. 

The famous aid stations are worth the 

price of admission themselves, offering 

delicacies like ribs, fruit, bacon, smoothies 

and much more. Even a chocolate 

fountain! Plus 3,000 gallons of water, 

generously donated by Arrowhead. 

Some 300 volunteers help Big Bear 

Cycling produce a professional-quality 

event that attracts riders from around 

the Southland including top teams. Last 

year participants came from 18 states 

and six countries. 

Come up a few days early to acclimate 

to Big Bear’s 7,000 ft. elevation prior to the 

Tour. There’s free group rides held by Big 

Bear Cycling so competitive and 

recreational cyclists can get used to the thin 

air by biking on roads and trails in a 

beautiful mountain landscape. 

Visit www.TourdeBigBear.com. 

Crafts & Cranks Racing, Beer Fest 

Mountain bike race, beer festival, live 

music, even carnival rides. 

The 5th annual Crafts & Cranks returns 

to Snow Summit July 20-21 with all of the 

above and more. The one-of-a-kind event 

features serious mountain bike 

competition with some of the world’s top 

pros vying for huge cash purse that last 

year was $43,500, largest on the West 

Coast. Races include California Endoro 

Series and State cross-country 

championships, Endurance #6 series final 

and Snow Summit downhll series final. 

Sample 40-plus craft beers from over a 

dozen of Southern California’s favorite 

breweries from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Big-name 

live music—last year featured 

Guttermouth—carnival rides like Ferris 

wheel and Tornado, terrific vendor village 

and more round out Crafts & Cranks. And 

if that’s not enough, there’s always Base 

Camp attractions to enjoy along with the 

Scenic Skychair. 

Crafts & Cranks admission is free. Beer 

tasting tickets, which include souvenir 

event glass, and carnival passes available 

for purchase. 

Call (844) GO-2-BEAR 


BIG BEAR LAKE 

We’ve got your Water Sport! 

New Pontoons, Tour Boat 

at Big Bear Marina 

Six brand-spanking new pontoon 

boats, still with that new boat smell. 

New tour boat. New fishing boats, 

even a crackerjack new boat mechanic. 

Other than all that, not much is 

happening at Big Bear Marina! 

With the lake rising nearly 10 feet after 

the big winter Big Bear Marina’s launch 

ramp is again operating along with fuel 

dock. The convenience store with fishing 

bait and tackle, snacks, beer, wine, ice and 

much more is again in its easy access 

location adjacent to the parking lot. 

Looks to be a great Big Bear Summer 

at the marina. Water enthusiasts are going 

to love the new 2019 Lowe pontoon boats 

equipped with everything necessary for a 

day of play. Bluetooth-compatible, each 

sports premium sound system with fourway 

speakers including bass with iPhone 

and USB connectivity. 

With comfortable bench seating, drink 

holders, slip-resistant vinyl flooring and 

lots of storage, each pontoon boat is a 

virtual floating living room. Bimini tops 

provide shade on sunny days and there’s 

lots of storage to keep gear out of the way. 

Larger pontoons accommodate up to 12, 

smaller ones 10 and feature high-tec fourstroke 

Mercury outboard motors. 

Pontoon boats are the comfortable way 

to explore with ample seating and shade, 

and Big Bear Marina has 34 of them in its 

fleet, many newer. Load up the family, 

coolers, picnic lunch, canoes or kayaks, 

even the family dog and head our for fun 

on the water, whether you’re trolling for 

trout with fishing lines in the water or 

anchored in a quiet cove where the kids 

can swim. They’re as easy to drive as a car 

so even inexperienced skippers have no 

trouble navigating. 

Big Bear Marina also has new fishing 

boats that figure to get plenty of use this 

year. The 14-foot aluminum vessels seat up 

to four anglers and are perfect for going 

out to where the fish are biting. 

“Fishing has been good, really good, 

amazing actually,” said Big Bear Marina’s 

Steve Fengler. “We offer specials on lures 

throughout the year that change weekly 

depending on what the fish are biting on. 

The store is well-stocked now. We even 

have Make America Great 

fishing poles.” 

The marina is also Big 

Bear’s official weigh station 

with its only tournament 

scale. If you hook up with a 

big one be sure to hit 

“Mac’s Shack” at Big Bear 

Marina and see if you have 

a lake record trout, large or 

smallmouth bass, crappie or 

other species! 

For self-propelled fun 

check out the marina’s new 

water bikes, only ones on 

the lake. These recumbent 

bike-style rides feature handlebars and 

pedals, but instead of two wheels there’s 

two pontoons. Making the rides very 

stable, even in rough water. 

Plus water bikes are comfortable and 

practically maneuver on a dime with a 10- 

foot turning radius. With rudder and 

propeller water bikes have boating 

features but are as simple to ride as any 

cycle on land. 

“They go three knots without having to 

pedal very hard at all,” Fengler said. “And 

they move through the water even into the 

wind.” 

Bike the lake with new rides at Big Bear Marina 

Ample deck space allows water bikes to 

carry up to three people. “Or a couple can go 

out and bring a cooler,” Fengler said. “Plus 

there’s a tray up front to put your phone or 

snacks. They’re a great way to have fun and 

get exercise at the same time.” 

Standup Paddleboards are also musclepowered, 

the latest rage to hit Big Bear 

Lake. Stand up on 

the Hobie surfboardlike 

boards nearly 12 feet long and 

paddle to enjoy the lake and get 

exercise at the same time. 

Big Bear Marina has 18 

kayaks including single, 

double and even triples. 

Plus two-person pedal 

boats as legs are the 

power source. 

A new fullycovered 

tour 

boat arrived in 

May that seats 30 

and has its own 

potty. It joins the 

marina's other 

tour boat, 

longtime 

favorite Big Bear Queen, skippered by 

the lake’s most experienced and 

knowledgeable captain, Chris Bellows. 

The colorful boat with the flags and 

paddlewheel offers the lake’s most 

colorful narration as Bellows relays Big 

Bear’s colorful history, much of which has 

family has seen first hand. 

His father Dave skippered the Queen 

for many years and now Chris continues 

the family tradition. The 2. p.m. outing is 

the lake’s only guaranteed tour, sailing 

every day even with only one person on 

board. Saturday sunset cruises sail at 

twilight from July 6 through August 31, as 

guests enjoy the nicest part of the day on 

the lake with beverages they bring and 

snacks provided on board. New moonlight 

cruises are expected to debut this summer 

as well. 

Call Big Bear Marina at (909) 866- 

3218. 

Pirate Ship Tours, RV 

Park at Holloway's 

Every pirate ship worth its sea salt has 

a plank to walk. Time Bandit does too, 

except guests use it to get on and off the 

ship. 

Indeed the one-third size replica of a 

17th century Spanish galleon that sets sail 

daily from Holloway’s Marina for the 

most unique tours of Big Bear Lake has 

everything pirates need for swashbuckling 

adventure. Three 50-foot masts, rigging, 

firing cannon that billows smoke with 

each thunderous shot, treasure chest filled 

with booty, Jolly Roger flag, it’s all 

here...right down to rum drinks poured by 

a scurvy-dressed wench, as Time Bandit 

offers the only full cocktail service found 

on any lake vessel. Yo-ho-ho there’s a 

bottle of rum! Plus wine, whiskey, beer 

and more. 

Guests “aargh” sure to have a good 

time aboard the famous pirate ship as they 

take in the lake’s sights and sites during 

daily tours all Big Bear Summer long. If 

Time Bandit looks familiar it’s because 

you’ve seen her before; she starred in the 

1981 movie of the same name. More 

recently, she made world news a few years 

back after sinking at her berth during a big 

Sail on a pirate ship 

that was in a movie! 


storm. Time Bandit was raised and 

completely refurbished and is now better 

than ever. 

Built by a father and son team in their 

backyard over a nearly 10 year period, 

Time Bandit is much more than a mere 

movie prop, weighing an incredible 27 tons 

with lead keel and 38-foot waterline. 

She’s been sailing the Big Bear seas for 

over a decade as one of the most unique 

tourist attractions around. Other tour 

boats see the many movie locations in Big 

Bear, but Time Bandit was one! Formerly 

berthed at the San Diego Maritime 

Museum, she also toured Los Angeles 

Harbor and Newport Beach’s Fun Zone in 

her colorful past. Getting Time Bandit to 

Big Bear was a feat in itself, requiring 28 

different permits and a 2-1/2 day journey 

from Dana Point. 

Up to 25 guests enjoy topside seating as 

they sail the lake in search of pillage and 

plunder, powered by reliable outboard 

engines instead of sails. When Time 

Bandit cruises around a point and into a 

bay she looks like a sight straight from the 

Caribbean. 

Youngsters especially love Time 

Bandit, since they get to raid the treasure 

chest in search of “booty” that includes 

toys and rub-on tattoos so they can look 

the part too. The captains even let kids 

take a turn at the wheel, during daily 90- 

minute trips out of Holloway’s Marina at 

2 p.m. plus noon, 4 and 6 p.m. as demand 

dictates. 

When other vessels approach Time 

Bandit sends shots across their bows with 

her mighty cannon, packed with firing 

powder. “Fire in the hole” is the captain’s 

call, followed by a roaring “boom!” that 

echoes across the lake. 

Holloway’s Marina is also home to Get 

Wet Water Sports Center, which offers the 

largest selection of waverunners and jet 

skis on the lake. Choose from multi seat 

Sea Doos and Yamaha SUVSs to threeperson 

rides and even two-seaters. 

Combined with machines at 

North Shore Landing 

there’s a fleet of over 20 rides, so there’s 

usually a ski available even in busy 

times. 

Personal watercraft have come a 

long way since the days of the stand-up 

jet ski, which required skill to mount 

though once you did, they were as fun 

as anything out there now. Get Wet still 

has one around for the occasional 

diehard who wants it. But sit-down 

versions bring the sport to the masses; if 

you can ride a bike, you can ride a 

waverunner. 

Four-stroke (or cycle) waverunners 

are clearly the machines of choice for 

lake enthusiasts. Four-cycles have 

about 20% more power than twos, nice 

at Big Bear’s Lake’s 6,750 ft. elevation, 

and they’re so stable they exude a 

feeling of confidence riders pick up on. 

Best of all, four-cycles are friendlier to 

the environment. 

Early birds get the glassy lake and 

deals like the 10-10-10 discount on jet 

ski rentals at Get Wet Water Sports 

Center. Go out before 10 a.m. any 

morning when the lake is at its best and 

get 10% off plus an extra 10 minutes 

free on any jet ski rental. 

Holloway’s RV 

Park is considered one 

of the nicest and most 

popular facilities 

around. Surrounded 

by lake on one side 

and quiet Metcalf Bay 

neighborhood on the 

other, there’s 118 level 

sites with trees and full 

hookups that have 

been upgraded to 50 

amp service. Each has 

great lake or 

mountain views and 

all are well away from 

busy street noise. At 

Holloway’s, campers hear only boats 

and birds. 

Camping at the RV Park dates back 

over a hundred years ago when “Dad” 

Charles Holloway rented lakeside 

cabins for a buck a head per night. The 

present day park was developed in the 

early 1970’s by the Hafen and Turner 

families, who continue to operate the 

facility today. 

Holloway’s offers complete facilities 

including convenience store with 

everything from beer and wine to 

groceries, ice and camping supplies. 

There’s also a nice kids playground, 

propane, hot showers, laundry and 

dump station—everything RVers need 

for an escape to the mountains. 

And the full-service marina is just 

steps from your trailer. Rent a pontoon 

or fishing boat, go paddleboarding, take 

out a kayak, all just a short stroll away. 

Call Holloway’s Marina (909-866- 

5706), North Shore Landing (909- 

878-4FUN) or www.800bigbear.com. 

Play in the spray 

to beat the heat 

Lake Activities, 

continues on page 14 

Fish for Bucks, Boat at 

Trout Tourneys 

The big winter has resulted in a big influx of fresh water into 

Big Bear Lake, making for incredible fishing that should 

continue all Big Bear Summer long. 

In fact over 17,000 acre 

feet of water has brought 

the lake level up nearly 10 

feet from its low last fall. 

With each acre foot 

measuring 325,851 gallons, 

that’s a lot of fresh water 

coming in and the fish seem 

to like it. 

The spring bite has been 

very active with lots of limits 

reported and large trout 

taken. Plus 100,000 trout— 

that’s no typo— are set to 

be planted in 2019, with 

some put into the lake in 

early April and the rest in 

June just prior to “Fishin’ 

for $50K” on June 8-9. 

Tons of cash prizes are 

on the line during the event 

with five tagged grand prize 

fish good for $10,000 each. 

Still another 75 are worth 

cash prizes, with 25 tagged 

fish worth up to $200 each Anyone can catch Trout in Big Bear! 

and 50 consolation trout 

worth $50. That’s a total of 80 tagged trout out there and while grand prize trout was 

elusive last year, lots of $200 fish were reeled in. 

If that’s not enough, someone will take home a fishing kayak courtesy of Hobie 

and Big Bear Sporting Goods at the Sunday awards ceremony at 3:30 p.m. at Bartlett 

events area where there’s general raffle for thousands of dollars in fishing gear, bait 

and tackle from national manufacturers. 

Fishing is from 6 a.m.-2 p.m. each day. The $80 entry is for both derby days and 

includes free Pautzke Fire Bait and a wristband that provides discounts at local 

restaurants, shops and services. $20 of each entry goes to Big Bear Lake trout fishery 

program. 

Get 50% off entry by booking lodging or pontoon boat rental for the event. The 

event is limited to the first 750 anglers. Call (800) 424-4232. 

Back for its 15th year is the annual Western Outdoor News Big Bear Lake 

Troutfest, held October 5-6. Co-sponsored by Holloway’s and Big Bear Marinas, the 

event has become one of the premier fishing tournaments in the region and for good 

reason: everyone who enters gets goodie bag stuffed with line, hooks, sinkers and 

more, and someone is going to take home a boat and trailer valued at almost $20,000. 

Trout have landed trucks for lucky anglers and there’s again tons of prizes at stake. 

The lake sees $15,000 trout stock in advance of the event by Western Outdoor News 

to make sure anglers enjoy heavy-hitting action. 

Every entry has a chance to take home the grand raffle prize: a $13,000 Klamath 

boat package with trailer and 20 hp Suzuki Marine tiller. There’s also a Sea Eagle 

Fish SUP valued at $1,300. 

All participants receive one raffle ticket— no others are sold— for prizes like 

exotic fishing trips, getaways, fishing gear and more. Tens of thousands of dollars in 

cash and prizes are up for grabs during the event and there’s also a special raffle for 

juniors with separate grand prize. 

All anglers are eligible for the $5,000 blind bogey contest, in which $20 from each 

entry fee is put into a pool with 25% of the proceeds going to fishermen whose 

catches come closest to predetermined weights. 

Fishing gets underway each day at 6:30 a.m. and continues till 4 p.m. Saturday, 2 

p.m. on Sunday. The $75 entry includes event hat and Sunday barbecue, blind bogey 

contest and raffle ticket. Registration is limited to 1,000 anglers and the first 600 to 

sign up receive the free well-stocked goodie bag. To register call (949) 366-0248. 

Visit bigbearfishingassociation.org. ■ 


Lake Activities, continued from page 13 

More the Merrier at 

Pleasure Point for SUP Fun 

Why go paddleboarding solo 

when you can bring the whole 

gang along? 

Pleasure Point Marina rents Airhead’s 

Super SUP that accommodates up to 8 

paddlers, so big even the dogs can come 

along Everyone gets to experience the fun 

of dipping a blade into the cool lake water 

as up to eight riders simultaneously stroke 

to provide propulsion around peaceful 

Metcalf Bay, where calm tranquil water is 

ideal for paddleboard fun. 

“The trick is to get 

everyone paddling at the 

same time,” noted 

Pleasure Point’s 

Larry Whittington. 

“Some find it hard, 

for some it’s really 

easy. It’s a real 

team building 

experience for sure 

and no one gets left 

behind.” Life vests are 

provided for safety. 

With eight inches of 

nose/tail rocker—just like modern 

powder skis and snowboards have—the 

inflatable Super SUP glides through the 

water. It’s super stable with sturdy, rigid 

platform and recommended for all ability 

levels, especially beginners who appreciate 

the extra wide platform with plenty of 

room to stand and stroke. Paddle or just 

float and enjoy the lake and mountain 

views! 

At 18-1/2 feet long and five feet wide 

the board looks like it could accommodate 

Paul Bunyan, making for a stable SUP 

platform. EVA traction pad and heavyduty 

reinforced drop stitch construction 

with x-cross 

technology 

are other nice features. 

Pleasure Point is the only marina on the 

lake offering SUP for up to eight after 

acquiring the gargantuan board at a Las 

Vegas marine show. Of course guests can 

go out solo on it but really this is a ride 

meant for families or groups and it’s a lot 

to handle without help. 

“The bay is the best area for a board 

this big because it’s clean, smooth and 

safe,” added Pleasure Point’s Carole Shaw. 

Super SUP rents for $50 for the first hour, 

$45 each additional hour, pretty affordable 

fun when shared by a group! 

Pleasure Point is the second oldest 

continuously operated marina on Big Bear 

Lake, first opening in 1914 as Belt’s Boat 

House. In 1926 the name was changed to 

Pleasure Point Marina and the “History 

Wall” in the office documents its treasured 

history. Cowboy legends Roy Rogers and 

his wife Dale Evans had a cabin nearby 

and were regular fishing guests! 

Today Pleasure Point is a full-service 

membership-owned marina that offers a 

range of water activities including pontoon 

and fishing boats, kayaks, jet skis, pedal 

Super SUP Carries 8! 

boats, and of course SUP boards including 

the Super “8”. Plenty of paved parking too, 

In addition Pleasure Point is an official 

weigh station and offers Fishing Charter 

too. Plus full-service repair shop, snacks, 

fishing gear and gas dock. 

Call (909) 866-2455. ■ 

Real Gear...Real Track... 

Real Racing! 

• Full-Featured 

Sodi Kart Racing 

• Grand Prix-Style 

Fifth-of-a-Mile 

Course! 

• Races Timed, 

Fastest Times Posted 

• Safety First With Helmets, 

4-Point Restraints 

• Single & Double Karts with 

2 Steering Wheels 

(passenger must be 

min. 36” tall) 

(909) 585-0075 

Open April – October 

Daily Summer Season 

(Starting June 8th) 

KART RACING in BIG BEAR 

 

 

State-of-the-art 

 

 

Free Print Out 

of Lap Time Results 

• Opening Summer 2019 

• 6,400 square feet of challenges 

• 2 Stories Tall 

Located at Big Bear Snow Play 

42825 Big Bear Blvd. • Big Bear Lake 

www.BigBearSpeedway.com 


Canoe, Kayak Tours Back at Discovery Center, Treks Too 

Nearly 10 feet of new lake level is 

enough to see the return of popular 

canoe and kayak Eco-Tours offered 

by Big Bear Discovery Center. 

The big winter and even spring showers 

brought Big Bear Lake up enough to fill 

marinas and coves, including Grout Bay, 

where guided kayak and canoe tours will 

again paddle their way through marshes and 

around secluded north shore locations in 

search of great blue herons, baby ducks and 

even beaver. Guests may even spot Big Bear’s 

famous bald eagles including two hatchlings 

born this spring! 

Tours are mid-June through August. Canoe 

outings are on Fridays from 4-6 p.m. and 

Sundays 1-3 p.m. Kayakers head out Saturdays 

from 4-6 p.m. and Sundays 9-11 a.m. 

The two hour tours led by naturalists begin 

with a quick paddling lesson and then groups 

head to the water to experience dipping a 

blade. Along the way paddlers learn about the 

history of the lake, gold mining, and various 

animals found here. 

Of course every day is a good day to visit 

Discovery Center, open Thursday-Monday 

from 9 a.m.-4 p.m., which last year celebrated 

its 20th year as Big Bear’s recreation 

destination Think visitor center on steroids 

with exhibits, displays that depict Big Bear’s 

colorful history including the gold rush, hiking, 

biking and off-road maps, camping 

information and much more. 

It’s also a great place to park and hike or 

campground across 

from Discovery Center. 

Family activities at 

Discovery Center 

include Gold Panning 

for youngsters 

Saturdays from 10 

a.m.– noon. The “gold” 

that fills their pans is 

really just pyrite, but 

Guided canoe and kayak tours return in 2019! kids love to swirl sand 

and water just like 

bike to nearby Cougar Crest Trail since no miners did 150 years ago in Holcomb Valley 

Adventure Pass is needed. Hands-on during Southern California’s largest gold rush. 

activities for kids include the free Nature 

Discovery Zone, which opened three years 

ago with unstructured play areas just for 

Kids take their findings home with them and 

even a certificate, included in the $3 fee. Held 

through September 1. 

youngsters. Nine interactive areas encourage 

outdoor exploration In addition there’s an 

adjacent half-mile interpretive loop, strollerfriendly 

for a forest walk the whole family can 

enjoy. 

Saturdays at 1 and 2 p.m. and Sundays at 

11 a.m. and noon, there’s free Nature Walks 

around Discovery Center’s forested grounds 

with a naturalist, who identifies mountain 

flora and fauna along the way. These 30- 

minute adventures are non-strenuous and 

Caught in the Discovery Zone 

perfect for the entire family. 

Popular Evening Programs are held 

Naturalists also lead Thursday Night Hikes 

at 7 p.m. through August 30 along Cougar 

Crest Trail. Learn how the forest changes as 

the sun goes down during these free hourlong 

non-strenuous outings. Meet at Serrano 

Fridays and Saturdays except concert nights 

through August 30 at 8 p.m. There’s campfires, 

singalongs, informative ranger talks and more, 

sponsored by California Land Management. 

Suggested donation is $5. 

Build a Birdhouse during two-hour 

programs sponsored by Butcher’s Block. 

Bluebirds love the well-designed avian 

residences families build together on June 15 

and 29, July 13 and 27, Aug. 10, 24, and 31 and 

the cost is just six bucks per kit. 

Discover the worldwide scavenger hunt 

known as Geocaching during 90-minute 

introductions to the fun activity. Learn how to 

go online to find caches, use a GPS to track 

them, and become educated on the 

environmental ethics of the sport. Programs 

are free and held from 9-10:30 a.m. June 29, 

July 13 and 27, and August 10 and 24. 

Give back to the forest during Community 

Trail Work Parties from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. as 

volunteers smooth ruts, maintain switchbacks 

and build water diversions. Get down and 

dirty giving trails love on May 25, June 22, July 

27, Aug. 24 and Sept.. 28. 

Greenthumbs volunteer days are also back 

in 2019. Efforts focus on restoring disturbed 

land in the forest and improving habitat for 

rare wildlife and plant species including 

monarch butterflies and other pollinators. 

Activities include collecting and dispersing 

native seeds, and planting native trees, shrubs 

and nectar rich species in the forest. Dates are 

on June 15, July 13, Aug. 17, Sept. 28 and 

October 19. 

Pick up free Big Bear Today Magazine in 

town for the latest events or call Big Bear 

Discovery Center (909) 866-3437. ■ 


Fast Times, New Ropes Course 

At age 15 AJ Wayne wasn’t old 

enough to drive but he already 

had a license. To race, in fact, at 

Big Bear Speedway, where he registered 

the track’s second fastest time of the day 

one Saturday, even as he counted down the 

days till his learner’s permit. 

Better yet, his clocking of 25.77 was 14th 

fastest of the month at Big Bear Speedway, 

faster even than his dad Matt’s time of 

26.02. Truly a quarter-second makes all the 

difference in the world when you’re racing 

against the clock. 

State of the Art 

2-Story Ropes Course 

Feed your need for speed at Big Bear 

Speedway, as racers negotiate high-tech 

Sodi Karts around a one-fifth mile Grand 

Prix-style track. Tires squealing in the turns, 

engines roaring, push the karts to the limit 

in a real Go-Pro experience while hitting 

speeds up to 30 mph. Tecpro barriers used 

in Formula 1 and circuits around the world 

line the track to make the experience even 

more authentic. 

These aren’t your parent’s go-karts 

from yesteryear; Sodi’s RT8 is a fully 

featured vehicle with self-adjusting 

hydraulic brakes and vacuum fuel pumps 

that come straight from the automotive 

industry. The karts handle like race cars 

and the Honda Whisper Motors generate 

amazing power, enough for cars to lay 

rubber through turns though virtually 

impossible to roll. 

The racing experience at Big Bear’s 

fastest attraction begins in the base lodge 

where first time guests view a two-and-ahalf 

minute safety video. 

Then they’re issued Big 

Bear Speedway licenses— 

complete with picture— 

good for one year and 

assigned a heat number. 

After donning head 

socks and helmets adorned 

with visors and last minute 

instructions, the pit crew 

waves drivers onto the track 

in staggered starts, no more than 11 cars per 

heat. First lap is not timed so racers can get a 

feel for the car and track. Timing starts with 

the second lap and drivers get about seven to 

nine laps or more depending on how fast they 

go. At the end of the heat drivers are waved in 

to the pit area where they get a printout of 

their time and the six fastest times in the heat. 

The leader in karting, Sodi Karts 

balance speed and safety with four point 

seat belts and Extra Enhanced remote 

controls so the pit crew can shut down or 

throttle back any or all karts at any time for 

safety. Sodi RT8 sports design elegance 

and fully adjustable pedals to serve up the 

ultimate race experience. Big Bear 

Speedway has 17 single karts and six 

doubles which have two steering wheels 

and two brake pedals for training or parent 

riding with a child. Times are posted for all 

to see plus there’s family priced snack bar 

and video games. 

Initial Big Bear Speedway membership is 

$20 (double kart $25) which includes license 

valid for one year, one race and mandatory 

head sock worn under the helmet. 

Subsequent visits cost $15 per race or buy 

credits in advance which are stored on your 

license for a year and save up to 30%. 

Active law enforcement, fire and 

military personnel again get 2-for-1 racing 

Be Part of 

the Story! 

Put the pedal to the metal 

at Big Bear Speedway 

during Badge Days all Big Bear Summer 

and the discount is now valid each 

Monday through Thursday (nonholiday). 

Just show proper ID and get two 

Speedway passes for the price of one, a $20 

value. The badge holder can have the free 

race added to their license and use it 

themselves, or give to someone else. 

Look for the latest attraction to open at 

Big Bear Speedway Big Bear Summer 

2019. The new two-story ropes course 

6,400 square feet of challenging elements 

including 80’ zip line and is the first of its 

kind in Big Bear. The course has tate-ofthe-art 

safety harnesses and is a custom 

design of the Sky Trail Discovery by 

Ropes Courses Inc. 

Big Bear Speedway is in the parking lot 

at Snow Play (42825 Big Bear Blvd.) Call 

(909) 585-0075. ■ 

9 

Eight Weekends 

Sept. 7 – Nov. 2 


• 27 Beers 

on Tap! 

• German 

Family Fun! 

Pre-purchase Tickets at www.BigBearEvents.com 

Follow Us 

on Facebook 

@bigbearoktoberfest 

More Weekends... More Fun! 

• 4 Oktoberfest Bands 

Direct from Germany! 

585-3000 

(909) 

Pre-Tickets on Sale • Mid-July 

The Convention Center at Big Bear Lake 

Corner of Division Dr. & Big Bear Blvd. in Big Bear Lake

S U M M E R 2 0 1 9 C A L E N D A R 

O F 

E V E N T S 

Big Bear Happenings 

(Use area code 909 with these telephone numbers unless otherwise indicated.) 

Contact us on-line for calendar updates! www.bigbeartodaymag.com 

Big Bear Discovery Center - 866-3437 

Weekends 

"Music in the Mountains" 

Discovery Center Outdoor Concert Series 

July 6 - Bee Gees Gold / AbbaFab 

July 20 - Hollywood U2 / Pat Benatar Tribute 

August 3 - Bob Seger / Creedence Clearwater Revival Tributes 

August 17 - Willie Nelson / Johnny Cash Tributes 

August 31 The Long Run Tribute to the Eagles / K-Tel All-Stars 

· · · 

Farmers Market - Convention Center 

Tuesdays through October 

· · · 

Big Bear Historical Museum - 585-8100 

Open 10:00am Weekends, Wednesdays and Holiday Mondays 

Memorial Weekend into September 

May 2019 

25-26 • Maifest Spring Celebration, 

Convention Center, 585-3000. 

26 • Free Car Show and Pinewood 

Derby, Big Bear Snow Play, 585-0075. 

June 2019 

1•NationalTrailsDay/Run&Hike, 

Discovery Center, 866-3437. 

1•FreeBirdWalk,ChirpNature 

Center, (888) 412-4477 

1-2•TeamBigBearMountainBike 

• 

Shootout #1 with cross-country, 

downhill,enduranceandenduro 

events, Snow Summit, 633-6729. 

8•SummerWineWalkintheVillage, 

878-8044. 

8•DooWahRidersConcert/Wyatt’s 

Swearing In, Convention Center, 

585-3000. 

8-9 • “Fishin’ for $50K,” Big Bear 

VisitorBureau,(800)4BIG-BEAR. 

15 • Snow Summit Series mountain 

bike#1attheresort,866-5766. 

15 • MountainTop Strings Peak 

Experience,SnowSummit,866-5766. 

15 • Movies in the Meadow “School of 

Rock,”SnowSummit,866-5766. 

15 • 23rd Annual Holcomb Valley 7K, 

15Kand33KTrail Runs,633-6729. 

15-16 • Carp Roundup on Big Bear 

Lake,866-5796. 

22-23 • 25thAnnual Trailriders Big Bear 

Run,ConventionCenter,585-3000. 

22-23 • Team Big Bear Mountain Bike 

Shootout #2 with cross-country, 

downhill, endurance and enduro 

events, Snow Summit, 633-6729. 


bike #2, 866-5766. 

July 2019 

4 • 4th of July Fun Run, Meadow Park, 

runbigbear.com. 

4 • Independence Day Fair, 


4 • July 4th Fireworks and Rotary Best 

View BBQ on the lake, Marina Resort, 

(800) 4 BIG BEAR. 

4 • Above the Boom fireworks party, 

Snow Summit, 866-5766. 

4-7 • Art on the Corner, Big Bear 

Village, 585-2868. 

5-7 • “South Pacific: in Concert” by Big 

Bear Theatre Project, PAC, 866-4970. 

6 • Free Bird Walk, Chirp Nature 

Center, (888) 412-4477 

6 • Big Bear Air Fair, airport, 585-3219. 

6 • Movies in the Meadow “Trolls,” 


6 • Free Fishing Day on the lake, no 

license required, 866-5796. 

7 • Paddle Big Bear, Meadow Park, 

(800) 4-BIG BEAR. 

11 • KOLA-FM Slide Day at Alpine 

Slide, 866-4626. 

12-14 • “South Pacific: in Concert” 

by Big Bear Theatre Project, PAC, 

866-4970. 

13 • Ice Cream Safari, Big Bear Alpine 

Zoo, 584-1299. 

13 • ICS-Sanctioned Big Bear Chili 

Cook Off, Bartlett Parking Lot, 

(800) 4-BIG BEAR. 

19 • Jefferson Starship in concert at 

The Cave, 878-0204. 

19-20 • Women’s Club Flower Show, 

PAC, 866-4970. 

20 • Xeriscape Garden Tour, Sierra 

Club, 866-4607. 

20 • International Ride Mountain Bike 

Day & Red Bull movie, Snow Summit, 

866-5766. 

20-21 • Crafts & Cranks brewfest/ 

mountain biking, Snow Summit, 

866-5766. 

20-21 • Renaissance Faire, Pedersen 

Mill in Fawnskin, 237-0448. 



21-27 • National Zookeeper Week, 

Alpine Zoo, 584-1299. 

24-28 • Festival Angaelika, PAC, 

866-4970. 

27 • Teddy Bear Clinic, Big Bear 

Alpine Zoo, 584-1299. 

27 • “Spirits of the West Brewsfest” 

Celebrating National Day of the 

Cowboy, Convention Center, 585-3000. 

27 • Ted Nugent in concert at The 

Cave, 878-0204. 

27-28 • Summer Artwalk Fine Arts 

Festival, Bartlett Events area, (818) 

621-1350. 



August 2019 

2-3 • Big Bear Lake Quilters Guild 

Show, The Lodge Holiday Inn, 

866-3121. 

3 • Tour de Big Bear, Southern 

California’sfavoriteride! 

bigbearcycling.com. 


• 

Center, (888) 412-4477. 

3•MoviesintheMeadow“Ralph 

• 

Breaks the Internet,” Snow Summit, 

866-5766. 

3-4 • Renaissance Faire, Pedersen Mill 

in Fawnskin, 237-0448. 

9-11 • Antique Car Club Annual Fun 

Run, in the Village, 866-4607. 

10 • Ryan Hall’s “Conquer The Wall,” 



bike#3,866-5766. 



16-17 • Kodiak 100 Ultramarathon, 

finish festival in the Village, 744-4056. 

17 • Movies in the Meadow 

“Ratatouille,” Snow Summit, 

866-5766. 

17 • Antique Wooden Boat Show, Pine 

Knot Marina, 844-5337. 

31 • Free Fishing Day on the lake, no 

license required, 866-5796. 

31 • Cool Run in the Mountains Car 

Show, Convention Center, 585-3000. 

31 • World Peace Music & Poetry, PAC, 

866-4970. 

31-September 1 • Mountain Treasures 

Quilt Show, Middle School, 866-3906. 

September 2019 

1-3 • “Art on the Corner” in the 

Village, 585-2868. 


• 

Center, (888) 412-4477. 

7•MoviesintheMeadow,“Howto 

• 

Train Your Dragon: The Hidden 

World,”SnowSummit,866-5766. 

7-8 • 49th Annual Oktoberfest, every 

weekendthroughOct.31,Convention 

Center, 585-3000. 

12-15 •FoxUS Open of Mountain 

Biking, Snow Summit, 866-5766. 

14• • 

FallWineWalkintheVillage, 

878-8044. 

14-15•49thAnnualOktoberfest, 

• 


21 • 16th Annual Hot Dawgz and Hand 

Rails Summer Snowboard event, Bear 

Mountain,866-5766. 

21-22 • 49th Annual Oktoberfest, 

ConventionCenter,585-3000. 

BIG 

BEAR 

Only 7000 Ft. Away 

...FROM: 

Victorville 

........................ 1 Hour 

Inland Empire 

........................ 1 Hour 

Los Angeles 

...................... 2 Hours 

Palm Springs 

................... 1.5 Hours 

Orange County 

...................... 2 Hours 

San Diego 

................... 2.5 Hours 

San Fernando 

Valley ......... 2.5 Hours 

Las Vegas 

................... 3.5 Hours 

27 • Gary Puckett & The Union Gap in 

concert at The Cave, 878-0204. 

28 • Big Bear Mountain Bike Gran 

Fondo and Grizzly 100, the Village, 

866-8000. 



October 2019 

November 2019 

5 • Free Bird Walk, Chirp Nature 

Center,(888)412-4477. 

5 • Big Bear Yoga Festival, PAC, 

bigbearyogafestival.com 



5-6 • Western Outdoor News Big Bear 

LakeTroutfest,866-5796. 



18 • Oktoberfest Unplugged, ConventionCenter,585-3000. 



26 • Howl-Oween, Big Bear Alpine 

Zoo,584-1299. 



31 • Halloween in the Village, 866-4607. 

1-2 • Big Bear Comedy Festival, in the 

Village, 866-4607. 

2•49thAnnualOktoberfest,Conven- 

• 

tion Center, 585-3000. 

15-17 • “Importance of Being Earnest” 

by Big Bear Theatre Project, PAC, 866- 

4970 

22-24 • “Importance of Being Earnest” 

byBigBearTheatreProject,PAC, 

866-4970 

28 • Big Bear Turkey Trot, 3, 6 and 9 

mile runs, Meadow Park, (800) 4-BIG 

BEAR. 

29 • Santa’s Grand Entrance and 

ChristmasTreeLightingtheVillage, 

866-4607. 

29-December 1 • Mountain Christmas 

Boutique, Convention Center, 585-3000. 

30•ChristmasTreeLightinginBig 

• 

Bear City, 585-2362. 

December 2019 

31•NewYear’sEveTorchlightParade, 


31•NewYear’sEvePartyfeaturing 

• 

nationally renowned Doo Wah Riders, 

Wyatt’s,585-3000. 

Look for 

"Ski Big Bear" 

Magazine 

Coming in November! 


Join Us For 

Sunday Brunch 

(909) 866.7887 (909) 585.1818 

40989 Big Bear Blvd 

Big Bear Lake CA 92315 

Fresh Halibut Daily! 

Happy Hour Specials! 

Sunday-Friday 4:30 — 6 pm 

Bring the Whole Family or 

Just Be Part Of Ours! 

Ranchstyle Food & Libations 

Big Bear’s only Country Bar 

located at 

THE CONVENTION CENTER 

AT BIG BEAR LAKE 

(909) 585-3000 

Open Wednesdays, Fridays & Saturdays 

Country and Line Dancing Wednesdays 

with Free Lessons 

Fridays & Saturdays Live Music! 

Doors open at 4 p.m. 

Dancing Starts at 7:00 p.m. 

Follow us on Facebook 

watts/bigbear 

www.bigbearevents.com 

 

or Chicken...Fish...Ribs...Sushi... 

Find out in 

Available FREE at your favorite 

Big Bear Lodge, Restaurant 

and all the Visitor Locations 

And if You Can't 

Pick Us Up 

Then 

Click Us Up! 


Now with 

FULL BAR! 

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in Los Angeles Area" 

Authentic selections popular in Nepal, Tibet 

and North India...in Big Bear Village! 

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Enjoy specialties including Tikka Masala, 

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many vegetarian dishes, too! 

Open Daily 11 am-9 pm • Fri. & Sat. until 10 pm 

Relaxed Setting in The Village 

(909) 878-3068 

672 Pine Knot Ave.• In The Village 

www.himalayanbigbear.com 


Worldclass Skyline Trail Fun to Hike or Bike 

Judging from the tracks Big Bear’s 

newest trail is more popular with twowheelers 

than two-footers. 

Which is fitting because the people 

responsible for creating Skyline Trail are 

well represented by cyclists, both road and 

mountain. Just when it seemed like there 

would never be another new local trail 

after a couple decades without one, along 

came Big Bear Valley Trails Foundation 

which has built some and rehabilitated still 

more to Forest Service standards. It’s since 

become part of Mountains Foundation, 

but by any name the group continues to 

repair and create path in Big Bear. 

The showcase effort is Skyline Trail, 

about 15 miles of worldclass singletrack 

that spans Big Bear Valley’s southern 

ridge. The trailhead at Skyline’s eastern 

terminus off Clubview just past Bear 

Mountain is inviting with parking, trail 

system sign and benches. Actually the 

trailhead services two routes, Skyline and 

also Fern that heads north, one of several 

trails being reworked as part of a revamp 

of the South Shore system. Along the way 

Skyline accesses numerous paths 

legendary in mountain biker lore, like 

Pirates and Cabin 89. 

Ascending up the ridge Skyline feels a 

lot like sections of the Tahoe Rim Trail 

with gradual uphill stretches and sharp 

switchbacks. Its multi-use design has a low 

average grade of 7-8% so mountain bikers 

generally don’t get going too fast, pleasing 

equestrians and hikers who also share it. In 

truth, most users ride instead of walk it, so 

buddy John Daskam and I as two-footers 

stand out from the rest when we’re on it. 

The trail is perfect in every way, 

professionally designed by Dave Kotlarski 

with the assistance of Gavin Burkey from 

Southern California Mountains 

Foundation and Jeanette Granger of the 

Forest Service. Unlike long upper sections 

of the trail which were machine cut, the 

first 2.5 miles of the eastern section was 

hand-cut. International Mountain Bike 

Association (IMBA) analyzed much of 

the South Shore Network and helped flag 

the general route. 

Much of the trail’s early eastern 

sections are dotted with oak trees, some of 

which sadly appear to be under attack. In 

the fall this section is spectacular as the 

oaks turns yellow and rust colored for a 

real autumn feel. 

The trail gradually climbs up the ridge as 

views of Big Bear Lake and the East Valley 

emerge. A mile of so in it crosses 2N10, 

commonly known as Skyline Dr. and the 

trail’s namesake, and continue to climb. It’s 

another mile-and-a-half to the top of the 

Southern ridge, about 600 ft. elevation gain, 

where Radford Rd. descends to Seven 

Oaks at the trail junction. 

Continue further on Skyline Trail and 

the route circles behind Snow Summit as 

views across the Santa Ana River canyon 

to San Gorgonio Wilderness unfold, 

including the 11,502 ft. mountain of the 

same name, highest point in Southern 

California. Go far enough to Skyline’s 

western terminus in the Mill Creek area 

and there’s still more trail options. 

A forest fire is largely responsible for 

Skyline Trail. After the Old Fire roared 

through neighboring mountain 

communities in 2003, fuel break was 

created around Big Bear Valley including 

the south shore, to give firefighters 

2-wheelers love Skyline Trail, 

2-footers do too 

something to defend in the event of flames 

coming up Santa Ana Canyon. 

Environmental studies conducted for 

the fuel break were applied to Skyline 

Trail as well. And though the creation of a 

fuel break is what made Skyline Trail 

possible, there is plenty of natural shading 

and forest canopy left behind to afford 

quality hiking and biking. 

On multiple visits we’ve spotted deer 

along the way, apparently unfazed by 

mountain bikers. ■ 

— by Marcus Dietz 

www.trailsfoundation.org 

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Zoo Adds 7 Species to Photo Ark, Move Coming Soon 

Like Noah, Joel Sartore is building 

an ark, and for both the mission is 

the same: to save species from 

extinction. 

The National Geographic 

photographer is building his ark out of 

photos instead of gopher wood, 

documenting as many of the world’s 

animal species with his camera as possible. 

The opportunity to tick an elusive species 

from his list brought Sartore to Big Bear 

Alpine Zoo earlier this year, where he 

planned on adding the 

rare Humboldt flying 

squirrel to his groundbreaking 

Photo Ark. 

Actually it’s been 

known locally as the San 

Bernardino flying 

squirrel. “It’s no longer 

considered a subspecies 

but a species, which 

peaked (Sartore’s) 

interest,” said BBAZ 

curator Bob Cisneros. 

“When I first came here I 

started trying to get him 

to come up to photograph 

flying squirrels.” 

Sartore began the Photo Ark in 2005 

when his wife had cancer and he had time 

to reflect during a break from National 

Geographic to care for her and raise the 

kids. How to get people to care that many 

species around the globe face extinction? 

So he set out to create a photographic 

record of every species in captivity, 12,000 

in all, and he’s 75% there with 9,000 

images in his Ark and counting. 

Turned out, coming to Big Bear Alpine 

Zoo was a bonanza for Sartore. He 

photographed seven species instead of just 

the one, including the San Joaquin Kit Fox. 

He also added bush rabbit, Steller’s jay, 

acorn woodpecker, American crow and 

the raven to his collection, 

which continues to grow. View 

it at JoelSartore.com but be 

prepared to spend a lot of time 

to see the entire Photo Ark! 

When National Geographic 

posted Benjamin the bush 

rabbit on Instagram, people 

took notice. “We doubled our 

followers in less than one 

night,” Cisneros said. “On 

average 1,000 or so likes is 

normally a good post. On 

Easter Sunday we got 19,000!” 

Benjamin is missing an eye 

after being attacked by a pet. 

“It’s a reminder to people to 

keep their dogs and cats away 

from wildlife,” Cisneros said. 

Big Bear Alpine Zoo has been an ark in 

its own right since its creation in 1959, 

rescuing and rehabilitating animals. Those 

that can be returned to the wild are release, 

while those which can’t get homes for life. 

Like two red foxes that arrived at the 


Snow Leopards! 

facility from gold country near Sutter 

Creek. The orphans were less than a year 

old when they arrived, very skinny. 

“Red foxes are an invasive species in 

California, and according to state law we 

can’t rehabilitate and release an invasive 

species,” Cisneros said. “So we can’t release 

them but we can keep them on as 

ambassadors. Now they’ve fluffed out. We 

had to amputate the male’s tail. It was 

broken out in the wild and was creating a 

hardship so we had to remove it.” 

The zoo also has 

three new fallow 

deer, in small, 

medium and large 

sizes. “You can’t 

tell them apart 

other than their size 

difference,” Cisneros 

said. “They’re about 20 

pounds apart from the 

biggest to the smallest. We’ve 

tagged one and will tag the others so 

we can tell them apart.” 

One of only two alpine zoos in the 

country—the other is in Colorado 

Springs—Big Bear became an ideal home 

for endangered Himalayan snow leopards 

Mountain Lion... up close & personal 

Asha and Shanti, which arrived from 

Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle as part of 

the program. The climate is much more 

inviting for animals accustomed to living at 

elevation, though the cats can’t see their 

surroundings after being born with rare 

eye conditions that left each blind. 

The zoo is also home to four black bears, 

which were introduced to the local 

mountains a hundred years ago after the 

grizzlies were extinct. “There’s 400 

estimated in the San Bernardino 

Mountains and 40,000 in the state,” 

Cisneros said. 

One of which is Pooh Bear. 

The black bruin was 

scheduled to be 

euthanized after he 

raided a honey farm 

but was rescued by Big 


Alpine 

Zoo. 

Similar 

story for 

three 

grizzlies, as a 

mother with two cubs 

raided one too many 

campsites in Yellowstone 

and faced a death 

sentence. 

So Big Bear is now one 

of only 

two 

zoos in 

California where 

grizzlies, the state 

symbol, can be seen, and 

these massive animals 

with the rounded back 

and several hundred 

pounds are impressive. 

Their toys include 

empty beer kegs! At 

one point Big Bear 

Valley was flush with 

grizzlies, but by early 

after the turn of the 

century all were gone. 

The last California 

grizzly was seen in 

Sequoia National Park in 1924. 

Mountain yellow-legged frogs have also 

been part of the zoo’s focus. Endemic to 

California but now endangered, the frogs 

were found locally until fires, trout 

predation and other factors thinned their 

Kit Fox, one of 7 species added to 

the Photo Ark, along with 

Humboldt flying squirrel (middle) 

and one-eyed bush rabbit 

Benjamin (bottom) 

numbers to zero. The zoo will be a prerelease 

facility for the frogs in 

reintroduction efforts and will have them 

on display. 

All of which is keeping Big Bear Alpine 

Zoo busy as it awaits its new location just 

down Clubview Dr. Already the facility is 

tantalizingly close to being complete, but 

some enclosures have to be finished and 

landscaping is a ways off yet, given all the 

rain and snow of the winter. 

“We’re looking at moving in late 

summer, hopefully by Labor Day,” 

Cisneros said. 

Grizzly bears love to snooze 

In the meantime Big Bear Alpine Zoo 

remains a terrific family outing with 150- 

plus animals on display. Noon animal 

presentations and behavioral enrichment 

programs are daily highlights. 

The zoo is open daily at 10 a.m., till 5 

p.m. Memorial Day weekend through 

Labor Day, then closing at 4. Admission is 

$12, $9 ages 3-10/60 and over, under three 

free. 

BBAZ is at 43285 Goldmine Dr. 

across from Bear Mountain. Call (909) 

584-1299. ■

New Rides and Attractions at Alpine Slide 

Soar, slide, soak, speed or swing this Big Bear Summer, with 

a world of adventure awaiting at Alpine Slide. 

In fact the area’s newest attraction is taking guests to new heights. 

Soaring Eagle, first one in California, treats riders to spectacular 

views of the lake and a thrilling 500 ft. descent during a ziplinetype 

experience with a couple notable differences. 

Riders sit instead of lie down and ride up to the top tower 

backwards! And what a ride it is, dropping almost two football fields 

in distance during a 125 foot descent that reaches speeds up to 26 mph. 

Double seat belts secure up to two riders and they shoot to the top 

in the opposite direction they come down, almost as exhilarating as the 

descent itself. Soaring Eagle zips down above the tree tops and riders 

hit top speed as they approach the bottom before the attraction comes 

to a stop. 

At $12 per ride Soaring Eagle is priced less than other similar 

attractions. Riders can go solo or with a companion to share the 

experience. Guests must be at least 42” tall and those between 42-48” 

must ride with an adult. Photo and video of the experience can also be 

purchased. 

The namesake Alpine Slide, another unique experience found only 

in Big Bear, brings the thrills of Olympic bobsledding to the masses. Riders control how fast— 

or slow—they go on the most unique ride around. Unleash your inner Olympian while 

navigating sleds you control down two quarter-mile long cement tracks. The sleds sport ballbearing 

wheels and teflon runners so snow and ice aren’t necessary, but otherwise the ride is the 

same as drivers whip through turns and down long straightaways. 

While similar tracks are found worldwide and at a couple dozen locations in the country, 

mostly at prominent ski resorts, the closest other one is in Park City, Utah. Each ride serves up 

the ultimate Go Pro moment as drivers with cameras donned shoot through the turns. Bobsled 

rides cost just $6 each, or $25 for a five-ride book. 

Then beat the heat with more thrills on the double water slide. The recently-refurbished 

flumes are sliding as good as new or even better after gel coat was applied by Teca Aquatics, 

same company that works on water parks around the country including Raging Waters in San 

Dimas. 

Flume #1 is considered the slower of the two, with a more gentle descent at the beginning 

but a series of sharp turns at the bottom that really whip riders around. Flume #2 on slider’s 

right drops quickly at the onset of the ride and takes riders through a series 

of gyrating turns. Both rides end at the bottom by splashing sliders into the 

solar heated pool. 

Water slide rides are inexpensive—just $15 for an all day pass, 10 rides 

for $10, or two bucks each. Going to be around for a few days or coming 

back this Big Bear Summer? Season passes are just $49 valid Sunday 

through Friday (excluding July 4) or $69 anytime. 

A great way to beat the heat, and parents who don’t want to play don’t 

have to pay to get in, unlike the soaking they get at down-the-hill water 

parks. Spread a blanket out on the grass or take a seat on one of the two 

outdoor decks and soak up rays while the kids play. And don’t forget the 

family-priced snack bar inside the base lodge, including gourmet ice cream 

counter. 

Alpine Slide is also home to 

Putt ‘N Around go-karts and 

18-hole miniature golf course, 

Fly like an eagle 

filled with water hazards, 

on newest attraction 

breaking greens and “sand 

traps” plus new carved bear 

that’s really cool. Go-karts feature 5.5 horsepower 

Honda motors and a slew of safety features like 

professional three-point restraint systems similar to 

those found in race cars, rack and pinion steering, 

even roll bars. 

Experience it all at a steep discount on the July 

11 “Slide Day” held in conjunction with KOLA- 

FM. There’s a live broadcast from the area, and for $24.99 guests receive an all-day water slide 

pass, two trips down the Alpine Slide, one on the Soaring Eagle, Go-Kart ride and round on 

miniature golf. The deal even includes hot dog lunch with chips and drink! 

Alpine Slide is at 800 Wildrose Ln. on Big Bear Blvd. 1/4 mile west of the Village, home to 60 

specialty shops. Call (909) 866-4626. ■ 


History jumps out of the textbooks 

and into the senses at Big Bear 

Museum, where visitors 

experience the past even as they learn 

about it. 

See how enormous a working fivestamp 

mill really is. At one time these 

massive machines were operating up and 

down Holcomb Valley, pounding ore with 

a thunderous roar in search for gold, some 

mills even bigger with up to 40 piston-like 

stamps at work. When it fires up on 

weekends the powerful stamp mill in an 

impressive sight. 

Hear working blacksmiths pounding 

hot iron with repeated blows, just like they 

did in every western town 150 years ago. 

Smell the smoke as coal burns hot, 

especially when the blacksmiths fan the 

flames of the fire, which is where the 

expression originally came from. 

Feel muddy water swirl around your 

hands in a working sluice while panning 

for “gold” just like miners did during 

Southern California’s 

largest gold rush, right 

here in Big Bear. 

Naturally the findings are 

only pyrite aka “Fools 

Gold” but they sparkle 

brilliantly nonetheless 

inside vials sold for just 50 

cents. 

Taste a beverage 

straight from Wild West 

saloons, not whiskey but 

sarsaparilla, just two 

bucks for each ice cold 

bottle. Truly visiting Big 

Bear Museum is a treat 

for all senses. 

Now there’s more to 

see and hear at the 

museum with last year’s opening of an 

exhibit dedicated to the late Mel Blanc, 

“Man of a Thousand Voices.” Blanc was 

the voice of great Warner Bros. voices like 


. . . BIG BEAR MUSEUM . . . 

Mining to Mel Blanc, History Makes ‘Sense’ at Museum 

If you can’t pick us up ... then click us up! 

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Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig, Daffy Duck, 

Tweety Bird, Yosemite Sam and many 

more along with Barney Rubble and even 

Mr. Spacely from The Jetsons. 

He built a home in Big Bear and a 

portion of his life is on display at the 

museum, from fishing pole and hat to early 

photos and more. Guests can even hear his 

Town Blacksmiths at work... 

...or with 

free panning 

kids love! 

NEW 

WEBSITE 

All Available On-line: 

www.BigBearTodayMag.com 

famous “Big Bear Lake” song on demand 

by pulling the cord. 

Next to Blanc’s exhibit is one dedicated 

to the late Robert E. Lee Brown, known to 

many as the “Leonardo of Leather” and 

rightly so. His brilliant portraits intricately 

cut into leather and then handpainted with 

colors he mixed are breathtaking with a 

couple on display. Like Blanc, Brown was a 

master at his craft and he worked with 

Hollywood’s most famous, dressing 

cowboys from John Wayne and Hopalong 

Cassidy to Lash LaRue and Sunset 

Carson. 

Feed the senses outdoors where 

blacksmiths including Jim Lanners, who 

entertains with storytelling and banjo 

when he’s not pounding hot iron into free 

peanut butter pirate knives he gives to any 

guest who wants one. All around there’s 

mining equipment, most of it from local 

operations including Rose and Gold 

Mountain Mines. 

The latter was a 40-stamp mill operated 

by Elias J. “Lucky” Baldwin, who left his 

name all over Southern California— 

Baldwin Park is named after him. Baldwin 

founded Santa Anita racetrack and made a 

fortune in real estate and even at horse 

racing, only to lose much of it on his 1875 

mining operation in east Big Bear Valley 

around Gold Mountain. 

It’s wasn’t so much that they didn’t find 

gold because they did, in large quantities, 

but it was mostly low grade stuff that cost 

more to extract than it was worth. 

Subsequent owner J.R. DeLaMar rebuilt 

the mine working the so-called “Mountain 

of Gold” in 1900, using an advanced 

cyanide process to separate gold more 

economically, and at its peak pulled $4,000 

a week from Gold Mountain Mine, but it 

eventually shut down around 1920. 

Kids get psyched for class by stepping 

into the authentic schoolhouse and see 

what it would have been like if they’d been 

born 150 years ago. The museum’s display 

is a re-creation of Anna Crain’s one-room 

schoolhouse in Doble, one of the mining 

towns that sprung up in Big Bear during 

the gold rush, where she taught during the 

early 1900’s. It’s so authentic because it’s 

based on an old photo and even sports the 

original bell, unearthed years ago and 

donated to the museum. 

Head to Minnie’s, the Camp Juniper 

cabin moved from its original location on 

the north shore near Alpine Pedal Path to 

the museum and restored to represent the 

kind of general store found in every 

frontier town at the turn of the century, for 

that cold sarsaparilla or water. 

With print shop, dentist office and 

barbershop, authentic cabins and more, the 

museum located at Big Bear City Park is 

really more of a western town. With teepee 

and Native American kiic representative 

of lodging used by local tribes. 

The museum is at 800-B Greenway Dr. 

in Big Bear City and open Wednesdays, 

Saturdays, Sundays and holiday Mondays 

from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. through second 

weekend in September. Admission is just 

$5, 14 and under free. 

Call (909) 585-8100. ■ 

Your Best Source for activities and happenings in the Big Bear Lake Area 

Monthly! 

Summer! 

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Boating • Fishing • Hiking 

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All Things Oktoberfest! 

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with all the insider information. 

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Big Bear Summer Magazine 2019

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