Big Bear Lake Memorial Day weekend is looking to be at the height of Mother Nature’s Spring. Yellow Daffodils have come up. Grass is greening and already needing cutting! Ornamentals and Apple Trees are blossoming all over town. The Lilacs have finally put out green leaves. In fact, a few brave Lilacs are already flowering. The Willows are turning green. We’re waiting to see the Oaks put out their new pink leaves. By the time Memorial Day arrives, the beauty of Big Bear should be in Nature’s full bloom!

Daytimes are definitely warming. Fishermen are starting to line the lake shore. A few pontoon boats have been seen testing the choppy waters. Runners are shedding their sweats for shorts. Cyclists have definitely grabbed the high altitude challenge. Their brilliant jersies can be seen circling the lake.

The forest roads are open all over the San Bernardino Mountain Range! In less than 2 miles from any entrance, with a Forest Adventure Pass, you can drive deep into National Forest. We’ve already seen sunbathers enjoying the mountain view from the giant rocks behind Snow Summit on Forest Road 2N10.

In town, the Corvettes already have their tops down. Shiny antique autos are coming out of hibernation. Small groups of motorcyclists, motorhomes and boats on trailers are also signalling the return of Spring.

There is still a slight chill to the air. A good jacket is still recommended to keep nearby in the daytime. Nights are finally above freezing, but the overnight chill requires a good sweater or cozy blanket. A glowing fire in the fireplace is also welcome in the early morning.

In Big Bear Village, there is necessary street construction going on. All businesses are open! Park and stroll from the Bartlett parking lot behind the Chamber of Commerce building.

So, what’s happening in Big Bear, Memorial Day weekend?

The 65th annual Old Miners Days is kicking off Memorial Day Weekend with a couple of great events. The Big Bear Chuckwagon Concert Series hosts the award winning country recording artist Brent Payne. Saturday, May 25, 2013 at 6:30 PM.

Sunday is the Big Bear Fun Run, a scenic and challenging 5K course along the National Forest boundary and a FUN start and finish in The Village of Big Bear Lake with Live Music and Local Vendors at the Lifestyle Expo!

The Big Bear Lake Memorial 5k Fun Run is a proud supporter of the Wounded Warrior Project and will be donating a portion of event proceeds to honor Wounded Warriors for their service. Join them Memorial Day Weekend in Big Bear Lake, for the 1st Annual Big Bear Lake Memorial 5K Fun Run on Sunday May 26, 2013.

The Miss Clementine Pageant, one of Old Miners Days oldest and most cherished events, will be held at Mill Creek Cattle Company, 41066 Big Bear Boulevard, Big Bear Lake – Sunday, May 26, 1:00 PM

Participants are judged on their authenticity in dress and portrayal of pioneer life. The coveted ‘Miss Clementine’ and ‘Lucky Baldwin’ will each be awarded an educational scholarship, sponsored by the Sunset Lions Club and Onyx Mining.

Antique Car Club Show & Shine and Pinewood Derby at Big Bear Snowplay, 42825 Big Bear Blvd.
Sunday, May 26, 2013 8:00AM – 3:00PM

Big Bear has a great group of Antique and Classic Car enthusiasts. When they get together, you’ll see one of the finest collections of shiny classics in San Bernardino County. There is no charge for either the show cars or spectators. The Pinewood Derby is for local 5th grade students.

The parking lot is just after the curve, about a 1/2 mile past the Arco station and just before the light at Division; across from the Oktoberfest building.

Of course, the Summer kickoff wouldn’t be complete without all the Yard Sales. Every part of the valley will have enticing and hard to read signs leading to Big Bear’s finest trash and treasures. Don’t forget to check North Shore Drive. The churches sponsor some awesome rummage sales.

Please be careful driving.

Vacation rentals are big business in Big Bear. There are close to 1700 private homes currently registered or pending approval within Big Bear Lake city limits. Add to that the rentals in the un-incorporated areas of Big Bear (Fawnskin, Big Bear City, Sugarloaf, etc.) and the number of available vacation rentals within the Big Bear valley is estimated to be over 2000. The City of Big Bear Lake receives over $1,200,000 annually in tax revenue from vacation rentals based on approximately $15,000,000 in sales.

Back in the late 1990’s a few local Big Bear motel and B&B owners decided that private home vacation rentals were a threat to their businesses and attempted to have them banned. The City of Big Bear Lake studied the situation and found that vacation rentals were “a community benefit by expanding the number and type of lodging facilities available and assisting homeowners by providing revenue which may be used for property maintenance and upgrades.” The City also identified vacation rentals as a “community concern due to the potential for increased traffic, noise, and density in single family neighborhoods if these uses are not properly regulated.”

The result was the birth of Big Bear Lake ordinance No. 99-300 and 2007-375, the rules and regulations that govern the vacation rental industry within the City of Big Bear Lake. The following is an overview of the rental ordinance.

Transient (less than 30 days) private home rentals must be inspected and approved by the City of Big Bear Lake before they can be rented out. This means paying the annual $215 registration fee, passing the inspection process, complying with City standards, obtaining a business license (unless rented through an agency), and paying the Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) equal to 8% of the rental income, every quarter.

Once the fees are paid an independent contractor, hired by the city, will inspect the property to insure that all 30-plus items required by the city, are met. This includes required signage, smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, fireplace ash cans, and several items related to sanitation and safety.

The rules regarding occupancy limits and parking are the first considerations that should be addressed to determine if a property is suitable as a vacation rental. The maximum occupancy of a transient private home rental is one person per 200 square feet of building area, excluding garages or other accessory buildings; however in no case may the occupancy of a transient private home rental exceed 16 persons. Example: A rental home with 2400 square feet of living space may sleep up to 12 persons. A rental with 1,650 square feet of living space can accommodate up to 8 persons, and a rental with 1000 square feet of living space can accommodate 5 persons, etc.

Each vacation rental must have at least one off-street parking space per bedroom that is either paved or gravel. Parking on un-improved dirt areas is prohibited. Vacation rental occupants are prohibited from parking on city streets overnight.

The city of Big Bear Lake recently increased the annual Transient Private Home Rental (TPHR) fees to $215.00 and has begun an aggressive campaign to find un-registered rentals and bring them into compliance with the city ordinance. Illegal rentals are subject to fines and repeat offenders may lose the right to rent their properties permanently.

For a complete list of the TPHR requirements, go to: http://www.citybigbearlake.com/images/stories/DOWNLOADS/CITY_DEPARTMENTS/CODE_COMPLIANCE/PRIVATE_HOME_RENTAL/Private%20Home%20Rental%20Manual.pdf

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First up, Big Bear Lake West.

The most famous part of Big Bear Lake West is Boulder Bay.  Known for its picturesque boulder sand lake setting, it’s a beautiful sight to see as you enter Big Bear along the south shore.  Big Bear Lake West is well treed & quiet, with plenty of outdoor activities nearby, including the hike to Castle Rock and its breathtaking views.  There’s a local park, market, cafe, and marina for the residents in this area.

Next, Big Bear Lake Central.

Big Bear Lake Central is just that, central.  Located in the center of Big Bear Lake is the Village area,  which is filled with restaurants & various tourist related shops.  Surrounded by the lake on the north side, and the National Forest on the south side, Big Bear Lake Central has plenty to offer.  In addition to the Village, there are various trails in the area, 3 marinas, and the Alpine Slide fun park.   Ironwood Estates, located just above the Village, offers some of nicest homes & views in the Big Bear Valley.

Lastly, Big Bear Lake East.

While Big Bear Lake Central may be the center of Big Bear Lake, Big Bear Lake East is the center of the Big Bear Valley, and is home to two large supermarkets and various shops.  Several of Big Bear’s most upscale neighborhoods, including Eagle Point Estates, Eagles Knoll, Eagle Point, Winter Park, Heavenly Valley, & Summit Estates, can be found in Big Bear Lake East.  Close to everything – lake, both ski slopes, shopping, National Forest – Big Bear Lake East is the perfect fit for those looking for all that Big Bear has to offer.

The homes in these Big Bear Lake areas will range from small cabins in the $100,000 range to large estates or lakefronts in the multi-million dollar price range.  It’s safe to say that there’s something for everyone to enjoy in Big Bear Lake!

Next in the cue for our community video profiles is the Fawnskin community.  Located on the North Shore of Big Bear Lake, the community of Fawnskin is known for its private, treed setting & fabulous views of the lake, ski slopes and surrounding mountains.  Throw in the quaint commercial district and numerous outdoors activities, and Fawnskin is the perfect fit for many Big Bear home buyers.  Don’t take our word on it, check out the video profile above for what others have to say about Fawnskin.

For more details on Fawnskin living, properties for sale, & photos of the area, check out the Fawnskin community page on our website.

Interested in other Big Bear community video profiles? Here are the other communities videos we’ve produced.

Big Bear Lake

Big Bear City

Sugarloaf