Nature’s Inn

Fun little place with reasonable prices! Love the homey feeling. Ed took the time to show me around. Had a fantastic weekend getaway. We will be back. The only disappointment was that it did not snow that weekend as expected. So we will have to go back to try again.
Thanks Ed!

I called nature’s inn last minute and didn’t know what to expect when my gf and I arrived. they only had 1 room available which was the bear/​romantic room for 150.00. The owners (couple) were really nice and welcoming. The room was nice and my gf loved it especially because it came with a fire place and a jacuzzi and if that doesn’t warn you up they also have a heater. I will definitely be returning next year or during the summer but next time try out the regular rooms.

Awesome little gem, super friendly staff ! Definitely make you feel welcome, they have plenty of info and recommendations for the area. Nice and cozy place with each room a different theme, we got the raccoon room. Great deal even during the holidays and in the summer it’s an even better deal. Would definitely love to stay here again.

I can’t express enough how wonderful and charming this place is! Ed the owner is the best he’s very helpful with getting to know big bear, he upgraded our cabin last minute to make us more comfortable witch I appreciate. The nature in is like home, treat it with respect and you get respect back. I love the fact I can bring my dog here and there’s no fuss. It’s on the best side of town right next to the airport and away from all the traffic! Bjs is an awesome place to eat and it’s only down the street a nice 5min walk and you got the community market as well. I completely recommend staying at the nature inn I had the best experience

We called Nature’s Inn completely last minute during the week between Christmas and New Year’s and we were able to get a room at a very reasonable price. We spoke with Ed, the owner, who was extremely nice and very knowledgeable about the area. He even went out of his way to get us the local newspaper (The Weekender) of things to do and slipped it under our front door mat! We thought that was such a kind gesture by Ed! We stayed (my husband and two kids) in the Owl room and although it was a bit cozy, it was clean. My kids loved the jacuzzi bathtub! The only reason we did not give it five stars was because we felt the place could use a facelift. Thanks for a great «making memories» family trip!

Was in need of a room asap and called to make reservation, good price for 1 night stay (around $ 50). Ed the innkeeper was very friendly and provided information on things to do, and things to see in big bear. The inn is about less than 10 minute drive from the gas station, supermarket, and restaurants. The bear room (room 4 I think) has a large hot tub, mini fridge, microwave and sink. They also have grills outside and chairs to sit on the porch. Definitely beats staying at motel 6 for the night!!!

Ed, the owner, is super friendly and also pretty darn hilarious. He is super accommodating (we had to change plans very close to our date of visit because of a family emergency). The rooms are all animal themed, the bear room has a nice big jacuzzi tub. There were tons of free samples which was a nice treat. The room had a coffee maker and a mini fridge, a tv and free wifi. The building was definitely old, but the house keepers did a really good job. This will be my go-​to spot for Big Bear!

This place was great. Upon pulling up to Nature’s Inn, it looked cute and rustic. As other reviews have stated, it could be updated to be more contemporary, but our group thought its appearance was quite appropriate for a snowy, mountain get-​a-​way.
The parking lot was a bit small (the Inn was at capacity according to the «No Vacancy» sign) so we ended up having to double park our vehicles — a minor inconvenience but we ended up traveling in one car while we were there anyway. Around the parking lot is a long, wrap-​around porch with lounge chairs, bench swings, potted plants, a barbecue, pet tethers and food/​water bowls, trash cans and ash trays that made for a very inviting environment even before checking in (had it been above three degrees, I’m sure we would have been hanging out there).
The office is small and cluttered, but despite the analog reservation system, check-​in was actually very steam-​lined and simple. Ed (the owner) had gotten in touch with us several times prior to our arrival (confirmation, weather/​traffic updates, etc., all very helpful and appreciated) so check-​in was a very familiar-​feeling interaction; he remembered us. He was enthusiastic to have us and very knowledgeable about the area, its attractions, restaurants, road conditions, local deals and discounts, and was pleased to share pamphlets, brochures, and flyers with us about it all. Though the office seemed cluttered at first, it was actually laid out quite nicely once he explained what all of the papers were — he also knew exactly what everything was and where to find it. He offered us copies of newspapers, coupons, etc. and was delighted to make sure our time in Big Bear was enjoyable. He also provided complementary refreshments including locally grown (as in, from across the street) fruit.
After check-​in and a briefing of the area, we got a tour. The Inn has a sort of lounge with a pool table, board games, record albums, furniture, and a lot of seemingly random odds and ends. Though we didn’t need or use any of it, it was nice to know it was available — Ed goes above and beyond to serve his guests (including clothing for backpackers to wear while they do their laundry).
My girlfriend and I spent two nights (12÷31−1÷1) at Natures in with another couple. We opted for the Wolf Room, which, at $ 200/​night is the «expensive room» and sleeps six. It offered a master bedroom with a king-​size bed, full kitchen with appliances, kitchenware and utensils, two futons with plenty of extra bedding and blankets, gas fire place, full-​size bathroom (with hot tub), and a backyard with a porch. It also has all the comfort items you would expect of a hotel (toiletries, coffee, tea, etc.) but maintains an older, rustic feel. The room was decorated nicely and was very comfortable. It fit four adults each with bags and snowboard gear just fine.
The reason I gave Nature’s Inn four stars instead of five is that it could use some work in order to appear a bit more professional. The floor in the kitchen had some tiles coming up, the shower head was not properly installed (though that could be the fault of the previous guests), and we had trouble locking the door (though Ed did warn us of that and demonstrate how to handle it). As for the old appearance and furniture — we loved it and thought it was very appropriate. We all had a great time at Nature’s Inn and appreciate Ed and his staff for what they do to make it such a comfortable stay. Should we return to Big Bear, Nature’s Inn will be the first place we contact for a room.

Fantastic, we were upgraded to his best room. The owner is extremely nice and helpful but has a lot of rules. I can’t express enough how friendly this guy was! The room was large and very cool. We had the wolf room.

I retract my previous review. This guy has screwed me over two years in a row, and I even book multiple weekends during Oktoberfest! When I have booked rooms he changes them on me without contacting me or communicating with me then tried to say that it’s my fault. He double books rooms without writing anything down, can’t remember what he books, and ends up calling someone back to cancel the morning of the day they are to check in. He then gets upset and somehow it’s the customer’s fault. I have read other reviews with the same complaints.
Great location, but I will never stay here again. It’s not worth my headache of needing to find another room at the last minute. Be true to your customers Ed, not the dollar!
Beds are hard as a rock and you can hear everything going on in the next room through the heating vents. You get what you pay for!

We just spent another weekend at Nature’s Inn. While we were on our way, we had received a call from Ed who informed us that the person who was due to check out of the room we had reserved, was not leaving. He would have to switch us to a smaller room. Which was fine with us, stuff happens. A little later, we received a call from Ed who informed us he had a cancellation and would be able to place us in a larger room. That was definitely fine with us!
As I stated in my previous review, it is not a resort. It is rustic, but clean. Being able to sit and relax on the porch /​deck is really nice.
And BTW, we stayed here last year too!
Thanks for another great stay Ed!

Nature’s Inn is a very accommodating hotel/​motel especially for the price. The owner (Edward Stanik) is extremely nice and has great consumer interaction skills. I paid around $ 50 a night (Friday & Saturday also upgraded our room). Everybody who knows Big Bear knows that isn’t cheap. I called around beforehand and the average price for a Friday or Saturday night would be twice as much than we I would pay at the Nature’s Inn. When checking in to your room the owner Ed had gave us a whole bunch of pamphlets and information regarding trails, restaurants, & other fun stuff to do in the area. When Ed showed us the room, there was a decent sized bed, couch, fireplace, TV, jacuzzi tub, shower, refrigerator, microwave, and free wifi. Ed recycles everything which is really nice for our environment. Any leftover food he feeds to his chickens which I think is pretty cool. Honestly if you are a review junkie like me, I think it would be a good idea to give this place a call and see what the prices are and what’s in your budget. With the price you pay and what the room has to offer I am giving the Nature’s Inn five stars.

We stayed here in 2012 and had a wonderful experience. Quaint, good price, quiet, jacuzzi tub, friendly owner and dog friendly. Our second experience was rather strange. The rooms seemed to be long term occupied by seedy local people… all who smoke cigarettes on the balcony (including a pregnant woman-​WTF?!!). We were greeted and checked in by a very nice but rather unprofessional barefoot woman in pajamas. We decided to cook some steaks on their grill (which looked as if it hadn’t been cleaned in years) and as we enjoyed the patio we witnessed multiple cars and people coming and going. Sketchy. After dinner we decided to take a bath (that I found 2 hairs in) and we had luke warm water. We decided to leave after the 4 hours we were there. Instead of throwing a fit or being rude we decided to nicely let the owner know we felt uncomfortable and were dissatisfied. At first The owner apologized, even agreeing with our feelings, acknowledging the seedy local presence, and said he would refund us. We thanked him and left. THEN! He CALLS US BACK 10 min later asking where we were staying and accused us of lying about the hot water and scamming him (??) and that he is charging us for the night. So unbelievably unprofessional.

We have stayed here several times over the last few years and we have to say that this place has really gone down hill. Although the owner is very nice and accommodating the facility itself is very run down, the mattresses were awful not sure if the sheets were even clean as there was hair on them before we even got Into bed. The spare sheets for the fold out bed were the same with hair on them too. You would think the people that live there for free in return for cleaning the rooms would at least make sure they did a good job. That was rather uncomfortable hearing about all the people living there as well. Not the cozy little retreat that it used to be in years past.
Good luck in the future, but we won’t be back.

Pros: Good price, amenities are equal or better than more expensive places. Staff was friendly and helpful. Jacuzzi in the room. Comfortable bed.
Cons: Noisy. Conversations on porch easily overheard. Loud TV’s in neighboring rooms. Slamming doors. Smoking on porch and lingering smoke odor a turnoff for non smokers. Rooms need updating. You can modernize and keep the cozy ambiance in my opinion.
We were uneasy, not comfortable with our stay. Not something I can put my finger on but I will be staying somewhere else on our next visit.

We just wrapped up a 2 night stay at Nature’s Inn. It was a good experience. You have to factor in what you’re paying. I spent 2 nights there and my total was $ 105 out the door. So could it be nicer? Sure. It could also be 3x the cost.
By the time we arrived I had already spoke to Ed twice on the phone. He’s definitely a chatty guy, but he’s nice. He had loads of info to share and you could tell he was happy to. Upon checking in he gave me a tour of the entire premises with all sorts of info, tips, and suggestions. Unfortunately I was there for a private event so I didn’t follow any of his suggestions, but I bet his info was good.
The room: we had the infamous bear room. Apparently this is the desirable room. It was a seriously small but quaint room. You open the door and there’s the queen size bed. To the left, a tiny couch in front of a fireplace with a tv above. There’s a small kitchen area — sink, mini fridge, microwave, and coffee pot. Then there’s the jacuzzi… Seems like this is a selling point, but hotel jacuzzis don’t intrigue me. This one didn’t look so bad, but it was obviously used. Not for me… Lastly there’s the bathroom. Tiny is the best description. Single stand up shower, small sink, and a toilet. Small and basic. The shower left quite a bit to be desired. It was so small that if you’re a big person you might have issues. The shower had some serious pressure but the water shot out very low. I’m 5’9 (on a generous day) and the water was hitting my chest. Bending and moving around to wash hair would result in making body contact with one of the cold (very cold) tile walls.
One thing that bugged me was all the Jesus crap all around. I had 3 bibles on my nightstand and my girlfriend’s side had at least one more plus there was a cross hanging over the door. I don’t believe in god or organized religion and don’t like it to be so in my face. Sure a bible in a drawer of a nightstand is ok. But multiples all over? No thank you. Not everybody believes in that stuff. Keep it subtle if you feel a need to have it there.
So to sum up the room: Small, cramped, the bed could have been more comfortable, but for $ 50/​night it was about what I expected.
I would consider staying at Nature’s Inn again and would tell friends about it. So go ahead and check it out.

This was our 4^th time staying here this time and I must add that I am not sure we will return again.
Ed (the owner) always seems to have some people actually living in some of the rooms, different people every time, sometimes very creepy people. With very racist views, talking about redneck politics and everyone here SMOKES! It’s so gross.
Our room smelled like cigarettes the entire time, I was gagging. I don’t want my kids to be around smoke and weird people. Sorry.
Even the employees, who were right outside our door waiting to clean our room in the a.m. Were smoking, gross, rude, trashy.
The room was still very clean for being a little run down motel.
The rates went up too so I will go back to staying with family or places closer to the lake.

Great value for your money.
Though initial trashy, run-​down feel, the rooms are scrupulously clean and Nature’s Inn takes pride in its customer service.
The fact that dogs are allowed and there is no extra pet fee is one of the perks of Nature’s Inn.
You will get a warm welcome along with a tour of the grounds where your eager hosts will share more than they need to about trails, where to eat, etc. take this all with a grain of salt and find your own way.
They have a community room (for guests) that is filled with old couches and junk, more like a storage room filled with dusting clutter, smelled musky and claustrophobic, i wouldn’t be surprised if Big Bear had their AA meetings in this room.
Though there is no smoking in the rooms, the porch smelled a lot like cigarettes and cigarette butts carpeted the concrete.
The place is run by Ed (who proudly adorns his car with Romney, Limbaugh, and Don Imus bumper stickers), along with his two side-​kicks: an overly friendly skinny mini blonde with sunken cheekbones and a burly, grizzly illusionist. Quite the characters!
Best part is that your furry friends are welcome to stay at no extra charge! While they are not allowed in the room unattended (not even crated) you can still bring them along on your adventure!
The wifi signal is pretty strong. the television has 70+ channels (though grainy and old). Good clean restrooms, an in-​room refrigerator and microwave, a working FIREPLACE, and a jacuzzi (though motel jacuzzis’ really gross me out– they still have one in every room).

DO NOT STAY HERE… you have been warned
Dirty rooms and linen. The owner is extremely rude. Anywhere is better than Nature’s Inn.

I was told about this place through a friend that raved about Ed and the ability to stay somewhere with a dog. Wow, we had a great time. I actually went in September but since looking to go back I saw the POOR review from the person in January and had to write because I don’t think we are talking about the same person. Ed is AMAZINGLY nice and I don’t believe he would tell anyone to F OFF. He loves his guests and treats them like family and the pets like his own (he even has his own dog). He has a lot of recommendations and is very hospitable.
The rooms are the cheapest you will find in town and close to everything. They are charming and all have a little theme… if you are looking for the Ritz or you are high maintenance, then this place is not for you. But if you are down to earth, don’t mind socializing with others and are a dog lover, and on a budget, you won’t find better! We love Ed and hope to go back soon!