Fawnskin, California
There's a song in the air and it's not
the birds chirping in the forests, or the Eagles-the bald kind that fly.
Shirley Jones lives in Fawnskin and often lends her beautiful voice to the
traditions enjoyed in this mountain resort set on Big Bear Lake.
During the Christmas holidays in the
village or at the local performing arts center, Jones is one of the local
celebrities who pitches in with perfect tone, helping make Fawnskin the
quaint, charming village with a soul. Overlooking the lake in a place
that's a bit hidden, Fawnskin is gaining greater recognition with a new
addition.
Fawnskin is located at an elevation of
6750 feet in the San Bernardino mountains at the north end of Grout Bay on
Big Bear Lake. Directly across the lake you can see Big Bear Lake and around
the bend closer by is Big Bear City. Fawnskin is just 3.3 miles from
the Big Bear dam at Hwy 18 on Hwy 38. Fawnskin's attractions include a small
shopping area and a new facility open to the public, Big Bear Discovery
Center.
The Big Bear Discovery Center, a
multi-million dollar learning and community complex invites tourists to
visit and learn about the region through displays. Many hands on exhibits
include bins with seeds from local plants and trees that guests can look at
and explore. A gigantic tree base marks the dates in history that can be
detected from the rings showing the trees genesis from a sapling to
maturity.
Outdoors there's a patio for
picnicking which features one of the most serene, spectacular views of Big
Bear Lake afforded. And that's just for starters in the plans to grow this
Center into a larger facility where Moonridge Zoo in Big Bear Lake may one
day relocate.
While Fawnskin derived its name from
hunters who may have arrived in this Holcomb Valley location in the late
1800's and probably found skins stretched to dry in the afternoon sun, its
most notable visitors today are the families of golden and American Bald
eagles protected in this designated habitat. Eagle habitats along the North
Shore in Fawnskin are celebrated with the annual return of the golden and
bald eagles from October to March. Bring your binoculars for the annual
eagle count.
A visit to Big Bear valley, home to
Big Bear Lake (incorporated), Big Bear City (unincorporated), and Fawnskin
(unincorporated), offers great opportunities for exploration, hiking and
lake activities. Several hiking trails begin at Fawnskin's North
Shore—Gray’s Peak Trail, Cougar Crest Trail, Woodland Interpretive Trail and
North Shore Bike and Hike Trail. Big Bear Discovery Center also hosts hikes
(contact the Center for details).
In addition to the year-round
attractions, Fawnskin is home to several annual events that included Doo Dah
Parade, the Loggers’ Jubilee and Fawnskin Festival.
Architecture is unique in Fawnskin,
home to some of the oldest buildings in the Holcomb Valley. Fawn Lodge
(built in 1917), Pedersen Saw Mill west of the lodge and Fawnskin Post
Office are examples of early architecture that are still in use. Housing in
Fawnskin is primarily privately-own cabins and homes with some rentals
available through newspapers or local Realtors.
With the bulk of the accommodations
and hotels 6 miles away in Big Bear Lake closer to the ski resorts, Fawnskin
is a great afternoon visit on a museum tour. Less than five miles away in
Big Bear City is the Big Bear Historical Museum (open summers).
Fawnskin was once a stage stop and
also served vacationers with several lodges, camps, and restaurants. A road
crossing the dam to the South Shore constructed in the 1920s diverted much
of the traffic away from Fawnskin. Today Fawnskin is primarily residential.
