Fireside Lodge

If you’re thinking of staying at Fireside Lodge in Big Bear based on the photos — don’t make the same mistake I did. It may look decent from the road, but once you check in, the truth hits fast: this place is run by people more interested in cutting costs than providing even a bare-minimum guest experience. It started with the check-in: my key and Wi-Fi instructions were handed to me in a tattered, obviously reused sleeve, pulled from a stack of equally overused materials. A small but telling sign of what was to come. The grounds are in disrepair, the outdoor furniture looks like it was dragged off the curb, and the common area outside our room reeked of pot — thanks to neighboring guests lounging in broken plastic chairs that wouldn’t be out of place at a junkyard. Inside the room, it got worse. The bedding looked suspiciously unwashed, the furnishings were outdated and grimy, and the overall feel was less “rustic retreat” and more “neglected roadside flop.” After a full day of driving, hiking, and paddleboarding, all I wanted was a clean room and a hot shower. What I got was so off-putting I slept in my clothes and seriously debated whether to stay at all. I had booked two nights, but bailed after one — even knowing I’d forfeit the second night’s cost due to their arbitrary 30-minute refund window. That’s how bad it was. Yes, they could repaint and toss the junk furniture, but it wouldn’t fix the real issue: ownership that cuts every corner and shows zero regard for guest comfort or pride in their property. Do yourself a favor: spend the extra $20 and book literally anywhere else. Fireside Lodge may fool you with its photos, but it’s far from good — and even farther from worth it.

I had stayed there previously with a good experience, so I booked this place again.

Rooms reaked of some chemical odor (maybe bug spray). It set-off an allergic reaction and we had to leave. We did not spend the night there. Although it was a non-cancellable reservation, I hope the management / owner does the right thing and provides some credit back as our stay was completely ruined.

Sunny was amazing. His son was exceptional, and they were both very professional. We will return

Kitchen

That i didn't stay long enough

I like the setup. It was close to everything.. It was cute

They didn't have very many amenities for the kitchen. I had to go out and buy some things for myself. Also, the stove cooked very slowly.

The concept is good, but poorly delivered

The whole place is dirty. The yard had cigarette butter all over. The jacuzzi smelled like mildew

Very comfortable

The pool was nice. It was close to the village.

We had to wait to check in. They stopped our keys too early, we got home in evening and could not get in. We had to get toilet paper twice. The paint is peeling on all buildings. Tub was stained and no plug for a bath. No chair, desk or table in room. Rugs were dirty and no cleaning while we were there 5 days. We were kind, but staff not friendly at all. If we had not prepaid, we would have gone to another place.

No soap in the bathroom dispenser. Slight inconvenience there. And the ID scanner wasn’t working when we checked in, I had to go to the office later that evening to complete that part of checking in.

Never stayed