BIG BEAR LAKE, Calif., July 25 (High Desert News Online) — Friends of Big Bear Valley and the San Bernardino Mountains Land Trust say they have raised enough money to buy Moon Camp, a little more than 62 acres on the north shore of Big Bear Lake in California, and keep it from becoming a housing-and-marina development.
The groups said the campaign reached $10.5 million, including a more than $5.5 million donation from Anna and Greg Brockman. That total clears the $10 million target the land trust set for the purchase and allows the deal to move forward.
What is Moon Camp?
Moon Camp is a privately held property near Fawnskin in San Bernardino County, less than a mile from the nest of Jackie and Shadow, the bald eagle pair watched closely by bird fans and local conservationists. Before Jackie and Shadow established their nest nearby, Friends of Big Bear Valley said the site drew an estimated 25 to 30 visiting bald eagles each year.
Why does it matter?
The land trust and Friends of Big Bear Valley say the property is an important wildlife corridor. They describe it as habitat for bald eagles, San Bernardino flying squirrels, rare native plants, waterfowl and other species tied to the Big Bear Valley ecosystem.
The campaign was built around stopping a proposed luxury development. Campaign materials and local project records described plans for roughly 50 custom homes, along with a 55-slip marina. Supporters said development on the site would change the shoreline and put more pressure on the area around the eagle nest.
How did the fundraiser work?
Friends of Big Bear Valley launched the public push in February, after years of conflict over the land. The nonprofit said the site has been under threat for nearly 25 years. Reporting on the project history traces the dispute to 2001 or 2002, depending on how the timeline is described.
By May 7, the campaign said it had raised more than $2.5 million. By mid-June, the total had climbed to more than $3.3 million. On July 24, the nonprofit announced it had reached $10.5 million in donations, enough to meet the purchase goal before the July 31 deadline the groups had been using.
What happens next?
The organizations have said the goal is to keep the land protected permanently. In campaign statements, that has meant preserving the property in conservation use rather than allowing homes, docks and other development. One report said the land could later transfer to the U.S. Forest Service.
For now, the sale marks a major step in a long-running land-use fight in the San Bernardino Mountains. It also shows how a real estate deal can become a conservation race when a property sits beside a well-known wildlife site.