The Timeshare Beat
May 14, 2001
Prestige Resort Development has finally broken ground on its new fractional ownership resort, The Club at Big Bear
Village. With an estimated price tag of $90+ million, this private residence club will be the first of its kind
in Southern California.
Scheduled to open in late summer this year, The Club at Big Bear Village is designed for upscale prospective buyers interested in a vacation home without the complexities of traditional vacation home ownership. It will be a gated private residence club and high-end resort, owned by 610 members, each with a 1/10 undivided, deeded interest ownership. It will be owned and managed directly by its members.
It is not known at this time whether or not the resort will affiliate with one of the timeshare exchange companies or remain entirely private.
Located directly inside The Village, the heart of the community, The Club is within walking distance of most major shopping, dining and entertainment in Big Bear Lake. The area's two winter ski and snowboard resorts, as well as the golf course, are only minutes away by private Club shuttle. Two marinas are within four blocks of the resort.
Designed by Bassenian Lagoni Architects exclusively for Prestige Resort Development, the project will include:
The Clubhouse will feature a spacious lobby, reception and entertaining areas; fully equipped fitness center; men's and women's steam and sauna rooms and spa service rooms; adult owners lounge with pocket billiards, pool and eight televisions for maximum viewing; family clubroom with television, games and separate area for tots; teen center with big screen television, Play Station 2, pool tables and video games; youth center with bumper pool, foosball, games and crafts; private gourmet restaurant, extensive wine cellar and a full bar with scheduled entertainment; executive board rooms for private/ corporate meetings for up to 20 guests
The project began sales in December last year and, according to Pamela Jandt, CEO of Prestige Resort Development, it is meeting sales projections and has already launched second-tier pricing beginning at $114,000 for a three-bedroom and $134,000 for a four-bedroom. Ownership at The Club will be limited to a maximum of 10 owners per unit.
Big Bear Lake is Southern California's premier mountain resort, only a 2 1/2 hour drive from Los Angeles, about 100 miles. With over 300 days of sunshine per year, it has long been a popular retreat in all seasons, but has been largely overlooked and underserved by the timeshare industry. In a market with easy access to millions of Southern Californians, there are currently only 3 timeshare resorts in Big Bear: Snow Lake Lodge and Worldmark at Big Bear, both of which are affiliated with RCI, and Lagonita Lodge, which is dual affiliated with RCI and Interval International.
Surrounded by the San Bernardino National Forest, the area receives an average of 120 inches of natural snow in the winter, which is augmented with snowmaking machinery, making it a popular favorite for skiers and snowboarders from the L.A. basin. In the summer, city dwellers retreat to Big Bear to escape the heat and smog.
Big Bear Lake is at an altitude of 6,743 feet and is 7 miles long and 23 miles around. The cluster of private
land around the lake includes residential areas, shopping in an alpine village, ski resorts, an airport, a golf
course, a hospital, and a variety of restaurants and lodging facilities.
The surrounding 737,280 acre San Bernardino National Forest offers stunning scenic vistas, picnic areas, family
and group campgrounds, 538 miles of hiking trails, four Congressionally designated wilderness areas, five downhill
ski areas, miles of OHV trails, and fishing and hunting. There are 193 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail, a trail
system extending from Mexico to Canada, and another 470 miles of National Recreation trails, Wilderness trails,
self-guided interpretive trails and hiking trails.
Big Bear's usually cloudless skies and high altitude clarity cause this valley to experience higher than average
sunshine that offsets the cool mountain temperatures. Fishing and boating activities peak in the summer months
but often are enjoyed all year as the lake only freezes sporadically. (Source: http://www.bigbeararea.com/
)
Not only does Los Angeles provide its great population as visitors to Big Bear, it has a tremendous concentration of affluence to offer as well. Big Bear is still a pristine area, and those looking for value-for-price will find it there, according to Pamela Jandt. Land and home prices are still affordable in the region, compared to similar locations elsewhere in the country.
It is likely that the development of The Club at Big Bear Village will spark renewed interest in the area for timeshare development, and Big Bear may soon find itself no longer a member of the "underserved destinations" club.
For more information about The Club at Big Bear Village, visit their Web site at http://www.clubbigbear.com/
For a history of the area, go to http://home.earthlink.net/~bdewey/big_bear_history.html
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