There are several misconceptions the Big Bear area can’t seem to get rid of. Logic and hearsay don’t always come together. Until I visited Big Bear my first time, I had a few of these preconceived notions.
Do any of these sound familiar?
* Big Bear doesn’t have electricity. I was asked this question, while the TV was blaring in the background.
* Big Bear doesn’t have running water. That has to be a fact because…
* Big Bear’s residents all live in little 1-room log cabins in the deep, dark forest.
* Big Bear’s residents heat their little 1-room log cabins with firewood, in stone fireplaces.
* Big Bear’s residents cook with iron kettles over wood fires.
* Big Bear’s residents only come out for Oktoberfest Local’s Night and the New Year’s Fire Snake. (Well, that may be true!)
* Chains are required. Always.
* Big Bear is only for camping.
* Big Bear is only for skiing and boarding.
* Big Bear is full of Forest Rangers.
* They live at the Discovery Center.
* They all know Smokey Bear personally.
* Wild animals have the run of the mountain.
*Bears are seen everywhere and you’ll never know when one will come to your door.
*Coyotes, Bobcats, Mountain Lions, Deer, Burros, Bald Eagles, Ravens, Squirrels and Rainbow Trout may attack and drag off your pets and children at any time.
Many people who come up to Big Bear are surprised at what’s actually here.
* We’ve got Pizza! Big Bear City hosts a Take and Bake Pizza. Big Bear Lake has everything from the Village, to the Boulevard to the Von’s shopping center. Dominos even delivers!
* We’ve got enough restaurants to satisfy the most picky eater, from national chains to superb local artisenal fare.
* We’ve got 2 supermarkets, Vons or Stater Brothers and they’re right across the street from each other.
* We have a K-Mart, a Big 5, a Walgreens and a CVS.
* We have 8 gas stations!
* We have 2 hardware stores!
* We have more coffee shops than you can imagine! Big Bear Coffee, next to the fire station on the Boulevard, fresh roasts their coffee.
* We have bus service and a taxi company.
* We have an airport!
* And a lake!
* We have electricity!
* And, no matter what you think, wild animal attacks are so rare, you’re more likely to get bit by someone’s excited puppy.
* As far as the Forest Rangers go, ask them!
Some of this writing was just to have a little fun. I hope you’ll expand your horizons and look at Big Bear, California in a different manner.
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I lived in BB for 30 years and remember a few good ones heard at the ski slopes like, ” where does the white go when the snow melts?”, “What happens to the chairs when they reach the top?” And at PKL (Pine Knot Landing) , “what time does the 2 o’clock boat tour leave?”
Heard back in my lodge-owner days:
“Big Bear has year-round snow”
“There’re too many trees”
“Where’s the porter?”
“is there anything to do here in the summer?”