by Bob Sparrow
The Arrowhead Queen
There are two major mountain lakes in southern California, Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear Lake, they are both in the San Bernardino National Forest about 25 miles apart. They’ve been sibling rivals since 1922, when a dam was built to form Lake Arrowhead. They are both man-made lakes, with the dam that formed Big Bear Lake constructed back in 1884.
Having grown up around Lake Tahoe, I have a deep appreciation for scenic mountain lakes, so have visited both of these local resorts on numerous occasions, Arrowhead more than Big Bear, primarily because it’s a little closer and esthetically more appealing to me. In fact I had not been to Big Bear in several years, until a few weeks ago, when I visited my daughter, Dana’s mother-in-law’s place to check out the ‘new’ Big Bear. I say ‘new’ because over the last several years, Big Bear has made a concerted effort to up-grade its redheaded stepchild image, with considerable success I might add.
The Village at Big Bear Lake in Winter
As I explored Big Bear, I imagined a discussion between these two alpine lakes going something like this . . .
Lake Arrowhead (LA): “It’s nice to see that you’re finally cleaning up your act.”
Big Bear (BB): “Yeah, well let’s see what you look like when you get to be 132 years old!”
LA: “Why do they even call you Big Bear anyway, there are no big bears around?”
BB: “There used to be lots of Grizzlies here until man hunted them into extinction; and by the way, they used to call you ‘Little Bear Lake’”
LA: “But I still have 14 miles of beautiful shoreline.”
BB: “I have 22, which is why you were called Little Bear!”
LA: “You used to have 22 not-as-beautiful-shoreline-as-mine, but it’s shrunk considerably with the drought.”
BB: “Same shoreline, just much more beach now for a population of just over 5,000 to enjoy.”
LA: “That’s nothing; I have a population of over 12,000.”
BB: “So you’re saying that it’s more crowded there than it is here?”
Celebrity homes on Lake Arrowhead
LA: “If crowded means we’ve had more star’s homes here like Tom Selleck, Shirley Temple Black, Priscilla Presley, Brian Wilson, Patrick Swayze and Michael Jackson, then yes, I guess we’re more crowded.”
BB: “Yeah, well we have the homes of Britney Spears, Mike Judge, who did the voices for Beavis and Butthead, Michael Richards, Krammer on Seinfeld, the metal band, Korn, and Richard Karn, who was the sidekick to Tim Allen in Home Improvement.
LA: “See, you have to explain who your ‘stars’ are; Michael Jackson needs no explanation.”
BB: “Michael Jackson needs a lot of explanation, but that’s besides the point. So let’s stay in the show business genre, what movies have been shot there?”
LA: “The Courtship of Miles Standish, The American President and Space Jam to name a few.”
“Frankly Scarlet . . .
BB: “Yeah, a few that are not very well known. Here’s some of mine you might remember: Heidi, Shane, Old Yeller and you may recall this one, Gone With the Wind. Case closed, let’s move on the skiing.”
LA: “We have great water skiing.”
BB: “You are a ‘private‘ lake and many activities are restricted to residents only. I have two marinas where the public can rent pontoon boats, go fishing, rent fishing equipment, take wakeboard or waterski rides, rent kayaks and canoes and ride a pirate ship.”
LA: “Well, the public can take a ride on my Arrowhead Queen and see all the spectacular celebrity homes around the lake.”
BB: “So what happens in the winter? How’s snow skiing at your elevation of 5,174?”
LA: “Well, we have Snow Valley fairly close by”
BB: “But it’s actually closer to me and I’m at 6,750 feet elevation; we also have Bear Mountain and Snow Summit at 8,200 feet elevation; so we are clearly the winter destination. Let’s move on, how’s your summer hiking trails?”
LA: “They’re awesome; I have Goat Trail, Little Bear Creek, Heaps Peak, Crab Creek, Little Green Valley and many more.”
View of Big Bear Lake from Pacific Crest Trail
BB: “Not bad I guess, but I have Heart Rock, Vivian Creek, Castle Rock, Deep Creek Hot Springs, Big Falls, Cougar Crest and, oh yeah the famous Pacific Crest Trail, which goes from Mexico to Canada, runs right by me.”
LA: “Fine! Let’s talk about golf; do you have anything to compare to Arrowhead Golf and Country Club?”
BB: “No, not really, I’ll leave the country club set to you. I’ll admit you’re prettier than I am, but your ‘Village’ is looking fairly tired and my ‘Village’ is buzzing with new shops, restaurants and bars; summer or winter this is the place to be.”
LA: “But you said I’m still prettier right?”
Okay kids, enough! The fact is that neither one is a Lake Tahoe, but for my money, if you’re an adventurer, Big Bear Lake is probably your best destination in the summer and for sure in the winter, but if you just want to get to the mountains to enjoy some clean air and the scenery of a beautiful mountain lake, rent a home on Lake Arrowhead or stay lake-side at the luxurious Lake Arrowhead Resort & Spa and take a cruise on the Arrowhead Queen.
