Holcomb Valley Campground — Hotel in Big Bear City

This campsite has beautiful views and horses! The service however was a downer on this whole experience. The camp host “Ed”, who introduced himself as the owner, drove into our campsite at a high speed with our small children running around the campsite. He walked up to my family and immediately started recording us with his phone, including our children, stating that there are no camp fires allowed and that he will be uploading this video to his “website” as proof of the fire and that we are being fined $500. He stated that this information was included in the confirmation email - which we did not remember reading in that email. We respectfully accepted and apologized and began pouring gallons of water to put the fire out. As we were doing this, Ed then begins accusing us of not having all of our guests registered on our reservation. We confirmed that we did in fact register everyone and had proof. He reminded us again about the fine that we will receive and then finally left. We felt extremely unwelcome and uncomfortable. We went to sleep early, woke up early, packed our things and left before 9am the following day.

Once I had service back on my phone, I rechecked our email confirmation. The email does not state anything about no fires being allowed. The email includes a link to a 15 page information booklet about the campsite. I opened that up and read through all 15 pages- NOWHERE does it say that fires are not allowed. There is even a “camp fire safety” section that states that you need to extinguish your campfire before going to bed. Additionally, the booklet states that you are able to add firewood to your campsite reservation and they will drop it off to your site. We also noted that there were not any signs anywhere in the campsite OR at the entrance that state that fires are not allowed. We are frequent and competent campers and would not have started a fire if it was not permitted.

I called the camp host Ed and asked him if he could remind me where I could find the information about no camp fires being allowed. He responded “I talked to the owners and they said you weren’t aware of the rules so we won’t fine you”. He continued to be rude and dismissive about it.

We will be back if and when a new camp host is hired. The views were 10/10 and our kids loved...

I'd been 3 times there. First on October 2018, it was cold at night, both host that time so we just paid with the envelope. 2nd on July 4th weekend. I got my site early on the 3rd, hist wasn't there and left a note that would be back in 2 hours but forgot to write the time....I couldn't pay so I left a note telling him I'd be back at night. So when there the guy complain I didn't pay...:(. Third time two weeks after. We got Friday night and the campground was full. We drive around and notice that some people was leavi g next day. So we talked with him and ask if we can stay just for the night in any place (there's plenty of room) he said no in the campground, so we come back next morning 7 am to check and wait for a site and the guy told us that we must way for for him to change the no vacancy sign. I td him and want to drive and wait for a site while people leaving (we'd done that before others campground) the host said no so I reply what you're no friendly with us, we'd been here before and you know we're nice and quiet people so the guy apologixe and explain that many people wants to do the same (we didn't see it )then told us to park and wait outside. We did it and walk to check sites when he called us and assign a site for us. After all guy was nice. Keep bathrooms...

Now I rate this place as a 5 because it was quiet and it's one of the only first come first serve sites I could find lately. This campground was nice and the sites were roomy enough for about 3 or 4 tents depending on size. Restrooms are clean it just has the usual problem of, make sure you bring your own toilet paper or you'll spend all the time trying to get the toilet paper off the roll.

I have two gripes about this campground, but only one pertains to the Campground itself. First is that some of the sites are very close to the road. You can take about 12 paces and you'll be next to the road. I honestly thought it wasn't going to be a problem and then nighttime rolled around and there is suddenly a lot of vehicles passing through.

Second is that MAKE SURE that you have a high clearance vehicle or you will have a rough time driving to the Campground. There are 3 roads, but 2 of the roads I drove down were unmaintained dirt roads. I myself drove in a high clearance vehicle, but my friend came along with a sedan and he did not have a good time.

Overall I enjoyed my time here and...