Just got back spending 2 days in Bear Valley. The Bear Valley lodge is a wonderful place but oh these guys are stuck in the 60s! The overall lodge and the rooms are dated and could definitely use a refresh. They have janky & clunky keys to open doors, old heaters to heat rooms & the world's oldest elevator. Not only that they don't provide coffee machines or an iron in the rooms, forget a microwave or a fridge. For the hefty price they charge, they don't even refresh your rooms or offer turndown service if you stay more than a night. I saw several active leaks in the common areas on the 4th floor and at the check-in desk. The staff literally had a paper cup to catch the leaking water. Plus the restaurant options they have are terrible. If I had another option in BV, I'd definitely avoid this place. But they will continue to have customers as there isn't too many other options for people. read more

The Lodge is a cabin style stay. It shows tattered worn out signs of accommodations and old simple charm it once served. Although in need of a face lift it served its purpose. Don't pay more than 150 a night then you will feel that you were greatly taking advantage of. The hotel provide the shuttle service to the mountain. There's absolutely nothing in the area as far as convenience stores or shops. The Lodge 'convenience store sold some small, very expensive package goods and T-shirts but it smelt like Grandma's armpits. Bring cases of water and your favorite beverages and a cooler!!! Maybe you could bring your own little small barbecue for outside your car if you wanted ! We also brought a coffee maker of our own, which was recommended to us. Best thing we did. Don't forget to bring your favorite treats and snacks up and instant soups and oatmeal. We decided to have wine last night by the fire pit, and it was gas lit very loud and no warmth We went to the grizzly lounge. We had a few cocktails and appetizers that were Mid. You come here to ski, but when you rest your head, you want some convenience and comfort Have a great season ! Pray for snow! read more

We spent three nights at Bear Valley Lodge at the end of December, and it was a mix of cozy comfort and minor inconveniences. Here's the breakdown: Pros: * The lobby area is the heart of the lodge, with a welcoming fireplace and a good amount of seating. * The vibe here is super relaxed, great for families. * A perk was the morning coffee by the front desk. * Its location is great - just 2 miles from both Bear Valley Mountain Resort and Lake Alpine Sno-Park. * The staff were consistently friendly and helpful. * Ample free parking was available * Wi-Fi was free and surprisingly strong Cons: * The food situation could be better. The coffee shop, the only place open for breakfast, had very limited options. * The general market and other food outlets had inconvenient operating hours and limited options. * A single small microwave available 24/7 wasn't quite sufficient. I once waited at least 20 min for a turn at it. There's a better one in the market, but it's closed often. * The walls are pretty thin, so we could hear our neighbors quite well. * Loud bathroom flushes startled our kids every time. * The shower temperature was too sensitive--it was hard to get it just right between scalding hot and cold. Other Notes: * There are shared mini fridges downstairs, which is handy but not ideal. * The lodge has a single, small elevator * The pool is closed in winter Recommendations for Future Guests: * Bring a hot water kettle, plus your own food, bowls, utensils, and cups. You'll save and be more comfortable making simple meals like oatmeal or ramen. * Stock up on snacks and drinks before arriving. The general store is pricey, and the nearest full grocery store is a 30-minute drive back to Arnold. * Check out the local library! It's a nice little spot to visit. Overall, Bear Valley Lodge has its charms and is great for a family getaway if you're prepared for its quirks. We'd consider staying again, especially now that we know what to expect and bring along! read more

Great venue for my wedding on 5/25. Staff was amazing and made sure everything came together so well. We were very happy with the package we received as well as the venue itself. Gorgeous scenery and wonderful experience! The lodge gives perfect ski lodge vibes. read more

*THIS REVIEW IS FOR THE GLAMPING TENTS* This place is amazing BUT there is definitely room for improvement. Check in was smooth and staff was very friendly. I made my way up to my tent (short drive from the lodge) and was taken back by the views. The location is seriously unreal! However, my excitement was short lived because when I got out of my car to check out my tent, I found coffee cups, a water bottle and a wine bottle left in my tent. As such, I Grabbed a trash bag, picked the items up and went about my day. I highly suggest bringing a sleeping bag or your own bedding. I'm not going to say that they don't wash the bed linens, but they weren't clean. There were hairs on the sheets and pillows. And I'm not just talking 1 or 2. Also, when I was moving the pillow, I looked down at my hand and saw a bunch of white flakes. I'm thinking it was dandruff but I'm not 100% sure. I understand it's a step up from camping, so one should expect dirt but I also feel like they could have cleaned up a little better as there was a bunch of dirt, debris and dead bugs along the edge of the tent. Nothing a vacuum couldn't handle. One of the face towels in the tent also had old dried lotion or conditioner on it. Which leads me to the restrooms. The bathrooms are a short walk from your tent. There's two toilets and two showers. The bathrooms are small but you don't need much else. Once again, they just need to clean. The toilets were dirty and for the majority of the day there were no seat covers. I know this review may not seem like it, but I actually really liked this place and it has so much potential. I hope this review inspires change because I would love to come back! The only real issue here is cleanliness, which is such an easy fix. read more

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Just spent 3 days here with my husband for a wedding. Everything was wonderful1 The staff was responsive and cheerful, the lodge was spotless and the food amazing. I loved our room! At night you could open the windows and hear the brook outside. The sky, the mountains - spectacular. I'm confused by the bad reviews. This place IS rustic, but clean and well run. If you want a high end pampered "spa" resort experience, go to Aruba. But really, this place is a gem. NO complaints at all and we have traveled extensively. Thanks BVL, for a great time! PS. Also, a beautiful clean pool, kid friendly. read more

OMG I went to the best wedding there this weekend! The venue seemed odd as we pulled up to the celebration, but once seated, all you see is the crazy amazing view of an alpine valley with snow-capped peaks - an amazing backdrop for the bride and groom. Cocktails back at the lodge on the back deck were great. I met some great folks and it was very chill. Dinner in the main hall was delicious. The hall was decorated with col light fixtures and the soaring ceiling was awesome. We were ushered back to the deck for cake while the friendly staff cleared the tables for dancing and Karaoke. We danced our butts off until midnight or so. Pizza arrived as a late night snack. Then to the bar for the afterparty with pool. I had so much fun and it was such a gorgeous venue. read more

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It was one of the worst hotel's experience I ever had!!!! Where do I begin? First thing first, when you enter the room, the room smell funky. Their WiFi doesn't work, their TV cable has two channels and one of the channel my four year old can't even watch. Their window blind can't only shut 90% so it hella bright in the the morning. But I didn't want to sleep in anyway coz couldn't wait till the morning and get the hell out of there. They left one roll of toilet for us when we booked for two nights. Their clean towels had hair in it, when I open one to dry my hands. (Gross!) The hotel is in the middle of nowhere, if u go on weekday there no restaurant around who open. One breakfast place that closed by who has the worst review. once after you read it, I promise you! You will just stay hungry and better not have any breakfast and I'm pregnant I was hungry!!! The experience was so bad that we had to leave one day early in the morning and don't even care about staying another night. I didn't even shower when I got there or the next day. I feel like if I shower there that just got me even more dirtier lol so I didn't and waited to get back home to just throw myself in my washing machine Oh did I mention the bed smell like dog piss!! Gross!!!!! Do not stay there safe yourself and drive another 30mins and go to Tahoe. Lol read more

Had a really negative experience with Lindsay after an admin error on her part trying to put the blame on our party, as well spoke negatively abt us to another party not realizing we were on the other end of the line . Spoke to us in a Disney Princess voice claiming "she never spoke to us." Alright! read more

The friendly staff. The adventures they have to offer and the general store has everything you need. If they dont....they will order it for you! read more

Beds were hard as wood! My wife and I couldn't sleep at all. We were both up by 4am fans suffering from the uncomfortable beds. The shower door wouldn't stay closed so water kept spilling all over the bathroom floor. The WiFi wouldn't connect in our room. I guess we were too far from their router. They should install a WiFi extender if there going to advertise free WiFi. Some other notes: *Room check-in is at 4pm *Shuttle to the ski resort stops at 3:30 or 4pm *All the restaurants close by 9pm so you better get down there early. *Free coffee available at the general store (which opens at 8am) smh * Place is a little dirty and ran down *Old and outdated Final thought; so much potential but no love going into the lodge. This place needs a serious update. read more

Bear Valley Lodge - More "paper clip curtain savers" - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Bear Valley, California

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We stayed for 2 nights during "ski week" and were delighted with our choice. The area is absolutely gorgeous, and this hotel is in the heart of the vistas. Our room (family studio) was clean and the staff at every single location within the lodge was friendly and accommodating. On-site convenience store (LOVE THIS GUY and his lil pupper buddy!), pizza, cafe, and finer dining were top-notch. I am so sad to see the reviews that bash the place - yes, it is definitely rustic and could use some updates, but it is cared for and clean as it is, exactly what you want in a ski lodge. We will be back! (Also, if you've got kids who want to sled/tube, the Bear Valley Adventure Co is literally across the street and was a lot of fun!) read more

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What a joke. Good luck finding something decent to eat around this place. Your best option is to head back to Arnold to find something decent. Stopped into the general store today inside the lodge because it was the only thing open in the place with food. My advice, unless you're a diabetic suffering from hypoglycemia and have no other choice, avoid this place at all cost. You have been warned! read more

First of all, I give this place an A+ for concept... having said that they get a strong F for implementation. Pros: Amazing view, nice desk person 2 miles away at the lodge, and comfy beds Cons: Stuff from previous occupant still in tent- generator unplugged and in middle of floor(so no electricity, but we were willing to overlook that)-womens bathrooms were locked (no one at the location to get help) no light or windows in shower room..(very dirty and reminded me of a horror flick) We were literally THE ONLY ONES up at the top of this ski resort... No camp host, no workers, no one else staying there- but not in a good way) and in the middle of the night kids were driving up there to party. No one checking to see who comes and goes... Rodent coming in and out of our tent kept us up (AS IT WOULD) and finally at 3 am there were men's voices outside our tent and they were whistling back and forth to each other. We were literally sitting ducks for any meth heads or kids just playing pranks (whichever it was, we did t wait to find out) left at 3 am with no sleep. Did, however, get to watch a beautiful sunset. So much potential here, but epic failure read more

Came here for a wedding. Wedding coordinator brought her baby to the rehearsal. She always seemed to be running late. The next day for the Wedding it rained, had to bring everything indoors. Wedding was still on the mountain top. Glamping tents were not open up for wedding party to use bathrooms. Coordinator opened them up 10 min before the wedding was to start. Hotel not prepared for rain, no umbrellas to pass out. Small amount of bar staff, as in one person working most of the time. Rooms were very rustic, some with cobwebs, nonworking remotes for the TV, questionable WIFI. Such a staff shortage, that we had to give up on a getting a breakfast and drove 25 minutes to another town to eat. I did hear some of the other rooms were recently pained, but not my room. Area is gorgeous and beautiful, just wished the rooms and service were up to par. read more

Glamping is not up to par. Lots of things need to be fine tuned or improved. I wrote to them after our stay but did not get a reply. So feel the need to warn others. A few issues; no matches in our cabin and needed a fire for warmth, no working solar power both days and no assistance in fixing it, not a dark sky location due to bright lights on buildings, and morning coffee is just before the bathroom. Hmmm Better places to stay in the area. Darn it to really wanted to like it. read more

HOTEL REVIEW Overall: It is tough to review this place because I have a love/dislike relationship. (Hate is way too strong). However, I would still come back. A solid 3.5 stars. For $160 a night (peak weekend), we have the family suit with queen and bunk. (My chicks love it) Services: Friendly staff. Don't expect Hyatt services thou. :) Likes: - Extremely family friendly - Free shuttle to Bear Valley mt every 30 mins - 3 full service restaurants (Sky High Pizza, Creekside Bistro and Creekside Dinning Room? + deli and small market) = Sky High Pizza - long wait and not impressed = Creekside Dinning Room? - It is a pub by the lounge. It serves the same menu as Creekside Bistro but you can eat at the lounge. This is my favorite. The ribs and meatballs are very good. - Cozy lobby lounge w fireplace for evening hang out, board games, and live music - Friendly staff Dislike: - The room wall is sooooooo thin, you can hear crying baby and the TV show next door. (It was a rough long 2 nights) - There are only the basic amenities in the bathroom. Don't expect a dryer, coffee machine, mini fridge. (bring your own mini cooler and a water kettle) Decor: The rooms are dated and you might run into lock or shower dripping issue. However, the lobby and restaurants are all remodeled. Very warm and cozy. This lodge has huge potential after the rooms are done remodeling. Kids friendly: SUPER Yes. read more

Bear Valley Lodge - 2017-1-14 Pub and Creekside Bistro Menu. Ribs and meatballs are good. - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Bear Valley, California

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Stayed here with the family many times...as the years go on the rates go up. I understand that for sure but maybe some room upgrades? Great customer service and the general store is fun for the kids as is the pizza parlor. read more

The Bear Valley lodge is an old rustic motel that happens to be on of the closest to Bear Valley Ski Resort. My husband and I arrived really late the first night, but on our way up we called and they said the keys would be waiting for us. Umm nope that wasn't the case we had to call spmeone who couldn't find our reservation. The gentleman gave us a key to a room that wasn't occupid, but no paperwork was signed. Once we got to the room it was basically no extra frills. The bed was comfy and the room was clean so that's all I could ask for. There was also a window showing the most amazing view. In the morning we wanted to call the font desk to see what the breakfast options were, but our room had no phone. My husband headed downstairs but the front desk didn't open until 10am. Just to let you know the food situation on Bear Valley mountain is not cool. In our motel there was small cafe that served breakfast sandwhiches, cinnamon rolls, and croissants, but that's it! If you head up to Bear Valley ski resorts you can have real breakfast but that's a 20 min bus ride. Pack your own food if you choose to stay here. There's a nice dinner place Sky high pizza but they don't open until 4. Beer valley had Internet but it was really spotty this is not the place you come to be connected, this place is more for bonding and relaxing. The bathroom was spacious, but the shower was really tiny. The were hairs on the shower so I'm not sure how housekeeping cleans. The towels appeared to be clean, but were threw on the rack sloppily. Housekeeping entered our room on to empty the trash but they didn't make the bed I didn't like the fact you couldn't opt out of house keeping with the door placard. . Postives about staying here: -shuttle to the ski resort stops here and it's free -snow mobile rent shop in here -shop owners inside are really nice -live music in the evening in the lodge read more

Bear Valley Lodge - Live music in the lodge - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Bear Valley, California

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It is all about expectation and organization. First off, I would assume you are going to Bear Valley becasue you want snow sports and prefer the relaxed drive up Highway 4 as opposed to a white knuckle race to Tahoe. Further, once you arrive you are happy just chilling out and do not require a casino or high end retail experience. We were there for New Years eve and the place was one giant party with a live band (see photo) and fireworks at midnight. Kids were tearing the place up and everyone was having a great time. Does not happen every night but you gotta love the party scene. With regard to this accommodation Eric B summed it up nicely, "keep your expectations low." Yes, the rooms are nothing to write home about, but they comfortable and fine for a couple of nights after a day of activity. (I did read through the 1-star reviews; if you get a bad shower door, ask to be moved) The "service" is very spotty but the friendly staff does not try and pretend otherwise. Yes, the General Store and Deli is extremely hit or miss and the empty shelves do give the place a second world feel. Ok, so why the 4-stars? First off, we came prepared with a nice supply of cheese, wine, prepared meat products and assorted munchies. If your friends classify you as a foodie, then bring a cooler full of goodies. There is also plenty of good food shopping on Hwy 4 on the way up. Yes, the restaurant hours may be limited, but there is enough variety and quality on the menu. There is plenty of comfort food for kids. Further, they were happy for us to supplement our order with stuff we brought. So, we added smoked salmon to their salad or brought a cheese course. In addition they have: * Lagunitas IPA on tap * Good coffee when made on their espresso machine * $5 corkage * Reasonably functional WiFi So the bottom line is this; expect the most basic of accommodations, but chill down have an IPA and socialize with the other folks who are scratching their heads the same way you are. Most likely you will end up sharing your stock of food, wine etc and the kids will be having a blast. read more

Bear Valley Lodge - Live music jam at the Lodge New Years 2014; one big party! - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Bear Valley, California

Yes the hotel is old and rustic, that goes for the rooms and common areas, but I can only imagine how hard it is to maintain a hotel in a pandemic somewhere like Bear Valley. If this hotel wasn't here there would no lodging anywhere in the area! I'm so grateful for everyone who works their butts off to keep it going, Arlene at the front works round the clock. Such a thankless job but she does her best to help each and every person. Same goes for the women at the cafe and general store. The snowy gorgeous trees outside the window bench in our room and the fire in the communal area on the main floor make it all worth it. The shower has been hot and there's coffee in the morning, that's all we need to be happy staying in these beautiful mountains so close to the ski resort. read more

We did not stay at the lodge itself. I have to say that I liked the old school decor and feel of the place. This review is about the General Store and Deli, and Sky High Restaurant and Pub (Pizza) associated with the Lodge. We arrived literally before the restaurant closed so decided to get sandwiches from the deli. We also wanted to buy some additional items to add to the food we had brought up for the weekend. It wasn't going to happen. The store itself is a pretty good size, but half the shelves were empty. There was hardly anything of interest or use to buy. Maybe they stock up more in the winter, but the summer was not good. Mind you, this was on Friday before the beginning of the weekend, and not at the end. The next day, we ended up going to the gas station store (which was tiny) to buy milk. There are two people running the store AND deli (including making the sandwiches). For a while it was only one person. You can imagine how long the sandwiches were going to take. Not only that, but the ordering process was chaotic. We were told to fill out our requests on paper tickets for our sandwiches, then hand them back in. A group of people jumped ahead of us just as we were about to order (my husband had his ticket ready, but was waiting on me). Did they bother to write up tickets? Nope. It pretty much went like this. Guy: I would like sprouts on my sandwich. Counter girl: Sorry, we don't have any sprouts (my husband crosses sprouts off his ticket). Guy: How about avocado? Counter girl: I only have avocado for one person. Guy: I'll take that (my husband scratches avocado off his list) Guy: And I'll have an X, X, X for the rest of the family.... By this time, my kids are fighting with each other, because they are so hungry. The girl is busy trying to make sandwiches for the group of 4 people ahead of us and selling things at the same time, and my husband and I no longer have a sandwich we wanted to eat anyway without the sprouts or avocado (we prefer our sandwiches vegan). We decided enough was enough and left. The girl was just finishing up the other group. We checked into our cabin and ate chips, salsa, and hummus. Which was probably an improvement over whatever we would have gotten at the store. My husband and son went back later for dinner to the restaurant (my daughter was having a tantrum and refused to get into the car so I stayed home with her). They ordered a shrimp pasta dish (hubbie) and a kid's cheese pizza (son) and brought them back. The menu for the restaurant was very basic. Food was the same way. Not worth the price. I was glad I had stayed home and had more bread, hummus and carrots for dinner. At least the bread was from Aria (in Murphy's) and it was fantastic. read more

This place used to be so fun! There is so much potential but it's like no one cares to make it come alive again! Yes it's old. Yes it's dingy. Yes there's absolutely nothing to do there. But it has so much potential. No one answers the phone. Nothing is ever open. The store really needs to get with it! Beer garden. Music, why have a Deli if it's never open? Why have a Pizza place if it's never open? Why have a restaurant if it's never open? There killing themselves! The Bear Valley Music festive shouldn't be the only time they care to do anything. So many memories here that I can no longer share with my family because there never open. read more

Thin walls (and an unlocked communicating door between rooms), but otherwise fine --- and great breakfast burritos. Our beds were simple foam mattresses, which worked well for us --- some of our friends ended up with lumpier mattress-toppers. The general store is better-stocked than expected (and looks like it got a makeover in the last few years) --- it frequently ran out of eggs, but did stock them. The sandwich counter opens for breakfast on the weekends, and does an impressively good egg-and-sausage burrito. No sandwiches until 11 on the weekdays, though. The sandwich counter closes at 3 most days, and the general store at 5. read more

We Loved our Wedding at the Bear Valley Lodge! The coordinator Mariah was extremely accomidating and easy to work with! Everything was beautiful! The only small hiccup was that we were told by some of our guest that they had ran out of some of the food options. This was a little wierd to us since we had 4 guest not even show up. They also did not handle our allergy list well and we were told later that two people who had allergies could not eat. Besides those small things we loved our day!! read more

We were looking for a last-minute getaway from the Bay Area over the holidays, and this place was perfect! We did not want the crowds of Tahoe, or the drive up, which can be anywhere between 4 to 8 hours from the peninsula depending on traffic. This place was three hours away, the accommodations were clean but no frills. The staff was friendly, and they were plenty of dining options for a family of four with kids. On Christmas Eve they had a musician who played the holiday tunes in front of a roaring fire. The ski resort was a short shuttle ride away. The the slopes are great, though we are not pro skiers by any means. Overall, a very good experience as long as you have realistic expectations. read more

Bear Valley Lodge - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Bear Valley, California

The lodge itself was okay for the price, shuttle and proximity to the slopes. The rooms are dated and drab. No breakfast in the morning. I guess we got what we paid for. However, the main reason for my 1 star review is the utter lack of customer service. My son left his stuffed animal behind in the room. Called the lodge and left a message. No one called me back. Called again a day or 2 later and spoke to Savannah. I told her what room we were in on what date. She said the item was not in the lost and found, but she would check with housekeeping and call me back. I never heard back from her. I left a voicemail for her a few days later. No one called me back. I called a week later and spoke to the manager, who never gave me her name. She also said the item had not been turned in, but she would check with housekeeping as well. Next thing you know, my husband gets a call from Savannah that the item had been found. He asked them to hold it, as we intended to go skiing again and would pick it up. That ended up not happening, so I called to make arrangements to have it mailed. Savannah stated she had to search lodge records to get our contact information to let us know it was found. Weird, given she was supposed to call me after she checked with housekeeping the first time, but whatever. She gave me instructions on emailing a shipping label, which I did within 20 minutes of speaking to her. She instructed me to pay for the flat rate box, which is priority 2 day. I followed her instructions. 5 days later, I looked up the tracking number on the USPS website. It showed the item hadn't even been taken to the post office yet. I called and spoke to the manager, who gushed about what a great job Savannah did finding the item and tracking us down. Given she apparently misplaced the contact information she was given during our initial call when she said she would check with housekeeping and call me back, yeah, good for her for being resourceful enough to look up our information. The manager said the item was sitting there (wherever there is) with the shipping label. She advised it would be mailed out the next day. This evening, I checked the USPS website. Still showing it has not been received by the post office. Called the lodge and got Savannah who claims she dropped it off today. Seems weird the post office wouldn't scan it once they received it. Savannah was dismissive, rude and full of patronizing apologies and excuses. I'll be surprised if our son's stuffed animal actually shows up. This should not have been a 3 week ordeal. Worst customer service ever. read more

I stayed there a few years ago and would like to come back. However, the hotel was in need of some remodeling. The restaurants that were there years ago were gone and only the pizza parlor and a place to get coffee was all that was left. I was told that a tram to the ski resort was coming but I have not heard news of it happening. Can someone tell me if any of this has changed. I would like to go back and upgrade my review. read more

After reading all of the Yelp reviews, I set my expectations extremely low! Check-in was a breeze (even got to check in early) :) gave my ID and was able to get my room keys. The woman in the front was super nice & helpful she explained where everything was in the lodge and when they closed. We opened our room and were pleasantly surprised with our view !! The rooms are a little rustic and do need a little help BUUUUT I feel like that ties into the whole feeling of being in a lodge. The lodge felt super comfy and laid back ! We went to the front for a board game, but unfortunately there were pieces missing :( . I loved the lodge. They lose a star for not having an adequate gift shop or having decent food. Sadly, we wasted 50$ on a pizza and mozzarella sticks the sticks were okay but the pizza was a big thumbs down.! Will we return ? Most likely. The people are super friendly and welcoming ! Thanks for a great experience bear valley lodge (: read more

Bear Valley Lodge - The lounge fire - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Bear Valley, California

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The location is beautiful but the place is run down. Definitely needs TLC. Rooms were dusty, WiFi does not work. Used paper clips to hold the blinds together. Food was good but probably not worth the 300 dollars a night stay on the weekends. Also the beds were soooo uncomfortable. read more

No restaurants or coffee shops open during the day. No TV. Dirty carpet. Super old place. read more

Bear Valley Lodge - Green goo on carpet - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Bear Valley, California

If I could give this place zero stars, I would. I understand COVID and all but they shouldn't tell us things would be available when they absolutely are not. Food mainly. But the room was way not worth the price. Felt like we were sleeping on a plank. Absolutely no amenities and yet they charge a resort fee. I will never stay here again. read more

It's not for everybody, but I liked it. It's close about 5 miles to the slopes and there is a free shuttle. The staff was very friendly and helpful. There's a quirky, independent, uncarnushed feel to the place. The night we were there, and super mellow Indy band was playing in the very cool great room as kids ranged around. Some might have a problem with the worn rooms and thin walls, but i was fine with it. My only complaint was that there could have been better communication on accessibility during heavy weather. A little advice on how and where to wait out road closures would have saved us a lot of heartache. read more

I struggled on how to rate this place...the room was pretty bad, service was spotty but the restaurant we ate at was fabulous. Overall, you're sort of stuck with this as your only option if you want to stay near Bear Valley (unless you rent a cabin which I think we'll do next time). The windows didn't close all the way, the shower door was broken so water got all over the floor. But there were great times at the restaurant we ate at as well as the one bar in the area (that every Tom, Dick and Harry goes to because that's all there is!) I think this place could be so much better if they invested some money into upgrading the rooms. I'm hopeful it'll happen but at the same time, wont hold my breath as they have the market cornered for hotels in the area. read more

This place is only best for having a roof over your head, and I wouldn't hold any high expectations for this institution. I would come here only if you want to enjoy the local seasonal sports and sights and not to have to drive from any of the nearby cities that are 20+ miles away. The first room we were given had a non-working toilet, so we had to be switched. The second room we were given fortunately had a working toilet but was not prepared for guests and there were halfway used shampoos and soaps in the toilet. The window-side cushion had a suspicious white splatter on it (if you know what I am saying) and the shower had a hole torn through the ceiling. There was a nice portable heater in the room, which kept us cozy. A nice way to describe the towels in this facility was "exfoliating" since they are so old that they had become rough and worn out, but our sheets were pretty clean and new. The room has only one tv channel, which has cartoons. On one of the days of our stay we specifically put out a provided sign for "immediate maid service" and yet NO ONE came to clean our room at all that day. Basically, don't be surprised if you have to be your own maid during your stay at this lodge. Also, after around 6 everything shuts down and there's nothing to do and nothing open, and you can only sit around the lounge area so much. At one point we were so bored out of our minds that my agnostic family resorted to reading the hotel bible out loud and holding an impromptu bible study. Another main issue is that the central temperature for the entire lodge makes anyone laying on the bed near the ground heater would feel menopausal and there was no way to turn it down, and at one point in the night our room was 83 degrees. But I am happy about the heat in the water, because it was nice to come back from playing in the snow and warm up. The actual restaurant downstairs that they advertise as being available for guests seems to always be booked in advance and they begrudgingly let you order food from them to go, but the staff there treat anyone without a reservation walking in as if they walked into French Laundry uninvited. The bar, however, is much more friendly but unfortunately doesn't offer much to eat. There is a cute little breakfast cafe behind the snowmobile store on the first floor and their pastries are fresh, so at least that is available for the cold mornings. Also, the hotel lounge is decorated pretty beautifully. One thing I can compliment them for was their New Years party, which had decent singers and a fantastic guitarist! I also liked that they provided everyone two drink tickets that night. But still, it was more tailored for the 40+ crowd and I wouldn't hold any Vegas style expectations for future parties. read more

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We did not stay here but came for the day. Our children had a great time at the Adventure Park. We bought the $20 package that included one hour of playtime. There were lots of activities to choose from: bungee trampoline jumping, rock wall, ropes course, Ariel suspension bridge, archery course and obstacle course. The staff were AMAZING. It wasn't too busy, so there was a lot of attention to the kids. We also bought the $5 pool pass. The pool temperature was cool, so the kids didn't last too long. The pool was very clean. There was ample space to lounge around the pool and shade To keep cool. The facilities are dated. The shingles that decorate some of the facilities walls have fallen off. The interior of the lodge is dark. There are tunnel like hallways the connect the different businesses. We would definitely visit again. Good price to keep the children active. Any staff person we spoke with was very kind and helpful. read more

This lodge has a magical 1970's feel. It is super rustic, cozy and homey. A real throwback of a bygone era. I still remember when my mom and I stayed here back in the 70's. Came back as an adult with my wife and had a great time. What a nostalgic old school lodge. A stay here will bring you great memories for years. read more

Wife and I came to Bear Valley Lodge to attend one of her coworkers wedding that was happening onsite. Located in picturesque Bear Valley , the location of the Bear Valley Lodge is hard to beat. Even in June the trees and foliage here are still very green and it was nice and quiet. A real mountain resort. Aside from the location, I only wished the Lodge lived up to the beautiful environment. Best way to say, I don't think much has changed since they built it in the 1960's. First the parking, the only place to park here is across the street and the driveway to the front door can barely accommodate one car. The front desk is very small and there is basically only one person on staff and it's a 9AM - 9PM job. So if you arrive or depart anytime other than from 9-9, you could potentially be SOL. The lodge itself has a very nice rustic feel to it. It's what you expect from an old lodge located in the mountains. Everything done in a very dark wood and not much light to it. The elevator here is pretty old and very slow. They have a nice fireplace area, but I have to say, a bit dark for my taste. Would have been better if they had more natural sunlight to place. After my wife and I checked in, we went to our room. The room was ok. Again lots of wood paneling, it also had a small desk and chair, and an old CRT 18 inch TV but they did have satellite. The bathroom was a beat up and had a 60's look to it. The tile here was chipped in a couple of places and so was the counter. Toilet, Shower, & Sink were all in the same room. Despite the wonderful scenery, our room had a view over looking a roof and all the stuff that goes on the room. While sitting here, I also noticed how dusty the room was like someone would only dust maybe once a month. We got the double bed and wished we paid the extra for the queen. Probably one of the most uncomfortable beds I've been on. Basically from the looks of things, it looks like a Murphy Bed. So no box spring and the almost as hard as sleeping on plywood. My back was feeling it the next morning. Since I wanted to get out ASAP and it was before 9AM, I just dropped off my keys in the box and we left going down to Arnold for Breakfast. We did have a chance to walk the grounds and while they do offer things such as a pizza, fully size restaurant, café, bar, ski shop, and pool, like the room, seems like everything here is a bit run down. Sometimes in life location is all that matters, and if it wasn't for the location, I would be very hard pressed to give a reason why to stay at the Bear Valley Lodge. So the location saves Bear Valley Lodge from a 1 star review, but other than that, there is really no reason to stay here. read more

I got married on 9/28/19 at Bear Valley Lodge and honestly could not be more happy with our choice of the venue. My husband and I cannot gush enough about our experience and feel that anyone looking for a mountain wedding in California should seriously consider this venue. We had about 120 guests, but the lodge can fit about 150. They do their own food and alcohol, which at first I was disappointed about, but it made logistics so much easier and the buffet was really good. The staff are incredibly friendly and easy to work with. So responsive. I live in Texas and had to plan remotely, but having Sarah and Mariah, the onsite coordinators, made it all possible. The wedding site at the top of the mountain at the Ski Resort is absolutely breathtaking. Our guests are still talking about it. The lodge where the reception is held is cute and rustic- with plenty of space to dance. Guests stay on site which makes the whole weekend all that much more special because there is so much more opportunity for your guests to mingle and for you to see them more than 5 minutes at the actual wedding. Compared to other California forrest sites, it was actually really affordable as well. For our dinner, alcohol, appetizers and the actual venue including staff and rentals, we paid about $14,000. You could have course spend more or less depending on your preferences, but we felt like we got a great deal. read more

Bear Valley is always a great time when there's plentiful snow! They recently hosted our companies annual 2 day Ski Trip and did a fabulous job. On Saturday evening, The Lodge had dinner prepared with us fantastic dishes, which included Chicken Breast w/Marsala Mushrooms, Chef carved Marsala Mushrooms, Chef Carved Primed Rib, Tortellini Alfredo w/Sun Dried Tomatoes, Sautéed Seasonal Vegetables, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Wild Saffron Rice Pilaf, Caesar Salad Station, California Fresh Fruit Platter and Chicken Tenders. YUM! Mark Phillips & Vicky Johnson were the contacts I worked with. (Highly suggested) They were overly easy to work with and very accommodating. Bear is definitely the place to come and check out for a day trip or renting a cabin for a beautiful getaway!! *Minus uno star only for the snow factor... read more