Hillcrest Lodge

Ken and Val are a couple of the most genuine and caring people I encountered on the mountain. They truly have a passion for their business and it shows. I was in a bit of a bind and Val accommodated me, she eased the burden of a tough day with some much needed compassion and kindness. The cottage was amazing and worth every penny.

We loved our stay at the Hillcrest a couple of months ago. We arrived a matter of hours before it started snowing, and were greeted by Ken warmly and Val came out and we talked — what a nice arrival! We got into the cabin — very nice! We had a nice fireplace and relaxed, my only complaint is that the bed isn’t as nice as my one at home (but I paid $ 1.5k for that, and don’t expect that at a cabin!). The snow started and we had two of the nicest days we have had at Big Bear — Hillcrest is now our #1 place to stay there! The Azteca Restaurant is right nearby, and the Lakeview Market a little farther down, but if you want other food you’ll have to go into the Village, but that’s only a half mile. Can’t wait to go back.

This place is cute and quaint. Very quiet. My Girlfriend and I went for our first anniversary and also for Octoberfest. By far the best place I’ve ever stayed at in BB and it’s close to everything. We are trying to book it again this year! Kent is the man also!

We spent wonderful long weekend in room # 7.
We travel with our small dog so we needed a pet friendly place. We also wanted to have a real wood burning fireplace. Hillcrest Lodge is beautifully managed, very clean place with very pleasant and welcoming owners Val and Ken.
They were very friendly, as a matter of fact, I’ve never came across owners that cared so much for the comfort of its guests. Val remembered my name which is highly unusual. Thanks Val:)
Ken was super helpful too.
As for the room, it was very clean and cozy with small living room area that had wood burning fireplace and super comfy double recliner. We could enjoy the fire and comfortably watch movies. The room also has very functional kitchen with all of the utensils, pots and pans for you to use. There is a small dining area, perfect for breakfast. The bedroom was separate from the rest with plenty of space. The bathroom was clean and of good size. We were very happy with this room. Hillcrest Lodge is a walking distance to the village and all the shops. Because we came during very busy long weekend it was convenient to walk instead of drive to the village.
I highly recommend this place. You won’t regret. It’s a perfect place if you are looking for a clean, quiet, comfy room or cabin with nice owners that clearly care for its guests. We will be back soon!!!
Thank you Val and Ken!

Great little cabin in town with full kitchen and fire place. Owners are friendly and very respectful. Limited parking but one spot assigned to each cabin so as long as people in search of snow don’t steal your spot, you’re good. Good location for access to restaurants, ski resorts, snow play, and it’s right across the street from a brewery.

Loved this place! Pictures do not compare how the place really is in person.
Upon our arrival, we were expecting a mediocre place… But when we arrived it was a complete opposite. Place looked great!
We were greeted by Ken (owner I believe) and he was one of the nicest greeters we’ve encountered.
Check in went smoothly after the 4.5 hour drive due to MLK weekend traffic. Prices were reasonable for MLK weekend. It was approximately $ 220 for a night for a individual cabin.
We also brought my dog which was an extra $ 20 for the entire stay.
This place is great for dogs as they are dog lovers themselves.
The location was very convenient as it was nearby restaurants, shops, and of course the slopes! Snow summit was less than 3 miles away!
The cabin itself is very cozy. Fireplace with wood already in stock, personal parking spots (2 to be exact) right in front of our cabin, and a good size kitchen to cook in!
We will definitely be back soon!

My family and I had a great experience at hillcrest lodge. Nice, clean and warm inside. We stayed at the Millcreek cabin A. It was perfect since it was basically your own private cabin. Ken was so nice to us when we first arrived at the lodge. Everything was in walking distance, so that was a plus! Ken the owner went beyond his way, due to the fact our car got stuck in the snow right in front of the cabin! We called the lodge, and within minutes he came out and helped us out. Since it was our first experience in the mountains and snow we had no idea how to get the car out of the snow! Ken helped my husband by putting on chains and within minutes the car was out! Thank you Ken so much. We look forward in coming back in the near future.

After a great day of snowboarding the snow was so great we had to stay. We found this hotel online that had a decent price for last second reservation. We got to the front counter and the owner was super helpful and friendly. We got to our room and the rooms were small but it had a cabin feel to it. I was very pleased with the room and the service. It would have gotten 5 stars if the DVD/​TV player worked in color.

From beginning to end Hillcrest lodge surpassed all of our expectations of a Big Bear Lake vacation getaway. The owners, Ken and Val’s warm welcome made my family and I feel at home upon arrival. We were assigned, Ken’s favorite cabin, number six. The cabin was the cleanest, and most well prepared we have ever stayed at in Big Bear. The western décor was very well sought out and chosen, it’s rustic beauty was a perfect match of that of the management’s personalities; very professional, yet personal and genuine. The location can’t be beat as it is a stroll away from the village, a simple toss of a jacket, and strap of some boots, and the adventure can begin. If you are looking for simply touring nature, there is no need to strike the key of any engines, as nature is literally Hill Crest’s backyard! This was a remarkable experience that I wish to share from my family to yours. Do yourself a favor and open the door to a wonderful experience; cheers!

Stayed here over the weekend with the family. Cabin #4 fits 5 people. Nice and cozy warm. Parking next to cabin. Free complimentary firewood bundle to start you off and free DVD movie selections. We all enjoyed our stay and will be coming back!

I must commend Ken and Val 110% on what they’ve done with this little slice of heaven in just 2 short years! They gave up their day to day life in So Cal to pursue their dream of owning and running a hotel and what an amazing job they’ve done.
We had 7 family members stay at the lodge in 3 different cabins. 3 of us stayed in the Cottage (2 bedroom/​1 bath, fully functional kitchen, and a really nice size living room with a beautiful gas fireplace. Our other 2 couples stayed in 2 of the cabins, both 1 bedroom/​1 bath, kitchen and smaller living rooms, but still roomy, with wood burning fireplaces (each with a complimentary bundle of wood). All of us gathered mostly in the Cottage, but enjoyed both cabins as well as a group. All kitchens had plenty of dishes, utensils, pots, pans etc., etc., so no need to bring any of that! What a plus! The facility sits in between Big Bear Blvd. and a side street that is nice and quiet for walks with very low traffic… perfect for a walk any time of the day.
The Lodge is very close to the Village, shopping and the recreational areas, but still has that remote feel. Vons is just a short drive if you need anything from the market. For a REALLY great, REALLY amazing, and REALLY BIG breakfast, you must eat at the Grizzly Manor Café just down the road! The pancakes literally hang over the plates! (lil plug for them =) !!!) but you will not be disappointed! Get there early because the place is small and has a huge following, so there might be a wait, but well worth it!
If you’re looking for a clean, ‘down home feel’ place to stay, you found the right spot. Ken and Val will treat you like you’re family and will make sure you are comfortable and have everything you need to make your stay a pleasant one. I will stay here each and every time we visit Big Bear in the future. LOVED it and you will too =)
Thank you Ken and Val for everything you did for us and our family~ xoxo
PS, Best ever is that it snowed for us the first night we got there! What a beautiful way to wake up… everything white!

I had (read: got) to come to Big Bear for work and ended up staying here. It was beyond great. Val and her husband were very friendly, super helpful as far as things to do, places to eat and hikes to be had. The rooms were very clean, comfortable beds. The room I stayed in had a little kitchen, which I didn’t even know when I booked it. The lodge is close to The Village and other places within walking distance. Definitely recommend!!!

We stayed in one of their cabins down the street from their main place. It has a nice little kitchen (stove, mini-​fridge, sink) and breakfast nook, as well as patio to sit on (in the summer).
All in all, a nice place to stay in Big Bear.
**BUT** they do accept pets (for a fee), and after laying down on the bed spread the first night, we found that while the sheets had been changed it was clear the bedspread had not as it was COVERED in dog hair that got all over our clothes, and caused our allergies to flare up.
That said, when we reported the issue the next day, the owners changed the bedding. — Though there was no discount or anything else for the gross state of the bedding previously.
Oh, and the free WiFi is a decent enough speed to watch Netflix (though the owners also have DVDs that you can check out for free from the office)!

I want to keep this treasure a secret but Ken and Val deserve so much kudos for a wonderful experience. They are such nice people and have obviously put a lot of love and attention to detail since they took over and remodeled Hillcrest Lodge a couple years ago.
I stayed in Cabin 6 which has a tasteful cowboy theme. Everything was clean and cosy. The décor is amazing with horse murals in the living room and the bathroom door painted like a horse looking out from its stall. The shower curtain has a quilted horse scene and the shower is huge with deluxe tiling. The bed had a beautiful quilt cover and was very comfy. There’s tv, a kitchen, a dining area off the living room, a bbq on a private patio area with an outside table and chairs, and even a ping pong table in another communal area.
I looked at a couple other cabins near the Village, and wasn’t terribly impressed until I came across Hillcrest Lodge. High quality in both service and accommodations at a reasonable price. I will definitely be back!
I rarely give Unilocal reviews, only when I’m truly inspired by places.

First off let me say that I am incredibly stingy with my 5 STAR reviews and rarely rate anything as 5 stars. Hillcrest Lodge however was a very easy 5 STAR rated experience thanks to the owners & operators Ken & Val Bascom!!!
We arrived at the Hillcrest Lodge and were promptly greeted by owner/​operator Ken Bascom and his welcoming smile and demeanor. Check-​in was quick and easy and Ken had a ton of great recommendations for us from dining to activities in the area. The lodge is just minutes to Big Bear Village, shopping, & many restaurants, so the location is very Prime! There is a FREE DVD library in the front office so we took advantage and watched «My Cousin Vinny» on our in-​room DVD player before going to bed that night.
We chose cabin #6 which has a very fun Cowboy/​Western theme throughout & is true to all the pictures you will see online. When we walked into our cabin the first thing we noticed was how incredibly clean the room was! It had a wood burning fireplace with a free bundle of wood to begin with, a nice flat screen TV, Living area, Dining area, and kitchen as well as a separate bedroom. The bathroom was nicely appointed with a HUGE shower! There is also a shared Bar-​B-​Que outside for use as well. There is ample parking including a recharging station for electric vehicles.
The customer service provided by Ken and his wife Val was on a Superior level! When we arrived for our anniversary weekend, there was a very nice card in our room as well as a nice gift. What a great touch! At one point I thought I detected an odd smell in our room. Ken didn’t waste any time at all coming to our room to check out the furnace to make sure it was working properly. The room is equipped with a carbon monoxide detector so that gave me peace of mind that there was no issue with the furnace. After a thorough inspection of our room, Ken didn’t find anything wrong so he offered to bring us some industrial strength air freshener. That totally did the trick! In the end I chalked up the odor to my incredibly delicate sense of smell and not to anything that was in the room.
We had a very restful nights sleep and the temperature in the room was perfect. Then sadly, it was time to check-​out. We met Ken’s wife Val as we were checking out. She was very busy overseeing the cleaning of the rooms but still took some time to talk with us and allowed us to see some of the other rooms for comparison. All of the other rooms were decorated differently from one another and had different themes which I thought was pretty cool. It makes it easier to remember the great times you’ve had in a particular room in order to request the same room again for your next stay at Hillcrest Lodge.
It was incredibly hard to say good-​bye to Hillcrest Lodge because Ken & Val were just so friendly and accommodating to all of our needs that we left feeling like we were part of their family!!! We had intended on checking out other places to stay for future visits to Big Bear while we were in town, but after staying at Hillcrest Lodge there just wasn’t any need! Hillcrest Lodge is our «go-​to» Lodge in Big Bear for ALL of our future visits and we will certainly be back in the future… in fact, we are already planning our next trip back for the summer of 2016. Who knows, we may even be back before then if our schedules allow.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Bascom’s purchased Hillcrest Lodge in early 2014 and have totally re-​done the lodge! If you should come across any not so positive reviews from 2013 or earlier on other review sites, I ask, as someone who stayed at the lodge in 2015, that you disregard those reviews as they simply do NOT apply to what Hillcrest Lodge is TODAY and what the Bascom’s have done with the lodge and how they, as the NEW OWNERS, are running the lodge as of 2014!!!

The couple that owns this place are AWESOME! My girlfriend and I stayed in cabin #2, and it was perfect for our spontaneous overnight adventure when a snowstorm rolled through in March. Great bang for the buck, very close to town, and excellent wood accents for a real «cabin feel» that you’d expect from a mountain town. There is a table set with two chairs, a coffee maker, glasses, silverware, microwave, and small refrigerator, so not exactly a full kitchen, but was definitely more than enough to cook and more than we expected. We will DEFINITELY be coming back!

I surprised my fiancé with a weekend getaway to Big Bear for his birthday, and chose this place because of the wonderful reviews it had on TripAdvisor and Unilocal,specifically for customer service. Needless to say, Ken and Valerie totally exceeded our expectations! They were so helpful, friendly, and accommodating through every part of our stay. You can tell they truly have pride in their business, and it shows! Upon check-​in, there was availability in a larger suite, and Valerie upgraded us for my fiancé’s birthday– what an amazing treat!
Since it was our first trip up to Big Bear, they gave us tons of recommendations of places to check out, and our suite was impeccably clean. One of our favorite parts of the suite was the wood burning fireplace, complete with a complimentary bundle of logs! Overall, our stay was wonderful, and will be coming back very soon! Thanks Ken and Valerie for a wonderful first experience!

The cabins are clean and the kitchen has everything you could possibly need. Very close to the Village. The owners Ken & Val are amazing. Enjoyed our stay and look forward to staying here again.

It was only by accident we came across this little hotel. We initially thought we had a room at another place down the street only to find out we didn’t, and since they didn’t have a plug for our tesla it wasn’t to our advantage. We googled locations that had a plug! Closest to downtown big bear, the Hillcrest lodge was it! Lucky for us they had a suite close to our car. It had a fully stocked kitchen for cooking, (you supply the food) living room with fireplace separate bedroom. complementary firewood to get us started. Coffee for the am. It was very comfortable. There are several outSide sitting areas, BBQ area. We do not have a dog they also except dogs. The owners were genuine, fun and informative with all the things to do! Bed was comfortable, water pressure good, and plenty of soft towels. We really won on this trip and we will be back!

We stayed in the well appointed Mill Creek Cabin this weekend. It had a great private deck with barbecue, a super clean bathroom and kitchen and a room with a fireplace. The décor was characteristic and tasteful and it was refreshing for us to find a place without plush green carpeting nor jacuzzis in the middle of the living room (it seems this is one of the few places in town, within this price, that is made for adults and not college kids.) The sheets and the beautifully folded towels smelled fresh and there were toiletries. There was coffee for us and a bundle of fire wood for the fire place. The unbelievably friendly and helpful management team made us feel very welcome.
We spent peaceful weekend with our dog and had an experience we would definitely recommend to everyone.