Weekend Time Out

A press clipping from the hotel’s history archive — originally published in the Inland Empire Business Journal, August 1993, under the headline “Tchaikovsky and European Elegance at Big Bear Prices,” by Alan Borgen & Kim Harty.

By 1993, the Big Bear Inn — today’s Chateau Big Bear Boutique Hotel — wasn’t just an escape into European antiques and themed rooms. It had become the stage for a summer-long Tchaikovsky lecture series and ballet season. Here’s the review in full.

When one thinks of Big Bear, it is usually the rustic cabins, great ski slopes and the quaint little gift shops that first pop into your mind, however, a stay at the Big Bear Inn will surely give you a new perspective of this lovely resort.

Located just below Bear Mountain ski lodge, and a stone’s throw away from Snow Summit, the Big Bear Inn has established itself as the European Centre of California.

What sets this European Chateau apart from other first-class hotels are its rich European furnishings and appointments that adorn the entire hotel.

As you enter the grand foyer, you are greeted by original 17th- and 18th-century etchings along with a magnificent Satsuma vase from Japan that proudly sits next to the beautiful stone fireplace.

As impressive as the lobby is, the 75-guest rooms and three suites are fit for a king. All of the rooms are decorated with antique furnishings, brocades, gas-burning fireplaces, marble bathroom counters and warmers in the bathrooms.

Although all of the rooms are special, it’s the specialty theme rooms that make the jewels in this crown sparkle.

Each distinctively unique, the rooms range in elegance from the “Don Giovanni” room which is richly decorated with tapestries and silks from Seville, Venetian antiques, and a room full of treasures which depict a Victorian interpretation of Don Juan’s female conquests to the charming “Contessa” room which is dedicated to the “Marriage of Figaro” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and is a recreation of the stage set of Zaffirelli for the very first postwar Munich production.

If you’re looking for the perfect setting for that special business meeting, workshop, banquet, or even a wedding, the Big Bear Inn has a variety of rooms that can accommodate up to 200 people, along with various services and a full catering department that can make your stay memorable.

The Executive Suite, which is approximately 3,000 sq. ft., features three massive rooms with one king bed, a sitting room, conference table, bar, exercise room, a large jacuzzi, sauna and wet bar. Talk about the perfect hospitality suite!!

The restaurant Orpheus is a Venetian-chinoiserie fantasy composed of Victorian tableware, Murano chandeliers, oriental paintings and is accented with damask and silks, and offers a nice selection of gourmet continental dishes.

After dinner, the Moonridge Lounge, which is dedicated to Greek, Spanish and French impressionists, features a full bar, live music and a dance floor.

To further enhance your stay at the Big Bear Inn, Paul Rizos, who owns this marvelous resort, is also celebrating the 100th anniversary of Tchaikovsky’s death in a most dramatic way.

Rizos has chosen to highlight the great composer’s life with a three-hour lecture, which draws you into the life and times of Tchaikovsky, and by the end of the lecture, you feel that you actually went back in time.

If his dedication for accuracy and thoroughness isn’t impressive enough, the fact that he uses no notes during his three-hour lecture should surely impress you. In addition to the mid-day lectures, three different live shows include: Letters of Tchaikovsky, The Queen of Spades, and Tchaikovsky and Ballet: A Romantic Tale. These first-class presentations are performed by The Pacific American Ballet Theatre and The Overture Company of the Opera Pacific on the newly enlarged stage.

The performances take place on each Saturday from July 3 to November 20, and are priced at only $20. This includes coffee and cake during intermission.

Rizos, 37, whose family owns hotels in Greece, is an internationally acclaimed lecturer at classical music, as well as an accomplished stage designer, choreographer, writer and chef. He is a warm and charming man who takes great pride in enlightening, entertaining and introducing you to the wonderful world of classical music.

What makes his lectures remarkable is the fact that he spent many months and even went around the world researching the life of Tchaikovsky just so he could present an accurate portrayal of this great, yet troubled classical composer.

Special weekend and one-night special rates are available, as well as a full catering department that can handle any event big or small.

Sheila Moore, who is the executive manager, and is an accomplished historian and ballerina, oversees the daily operations of the inn. She will be happy to work with you on any party or event.

Considering all the attractions and accommodations the inn has to offer, it’s no wonder that this is one of my favorite weekend getaways, and to think, less than two hours away! The Big Bear Inn is located at 42200 Moonridge Road, Big Bear Lake. The phone number is 1-800-BEAR INN.

— Inland Empire Business Journal, August 1993. Alan Borgen is the co-host of “Table for Two,” a restaurant review show which airs Tuesday and Saturday nights at 6:30 p.m. on KVCR, Ch. 24 PBS TV.

The Same Hotel, Two Reviews

Much of the description here — the grand foyer, the Don Giovanni and Contessa rooms, Orpheus, the Moonridge Lounge — echoes an earlier 1992 profile, European Elegance at Big Bear Prices. Different writers, same hotel, same old-world details, eighteen months apart. Orpheus is now Tiffany’s Bistro.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the Tchaikovsky lecture series at the Big Bear Inn?

In 1993, the Big Bear Inn hosted a summer-long series of Tchaikovsky lectures and performances presented by the Pacific American Ballet Theatre and the Overture Company of Opera Pacific, held each Saturday from July 3 to November 20 for $20 per person, including coffee and cake during intermission.

What live performances were part of the series?

The series included three performances: Letters of Tchaikovsky, The Queen of Spades, and Tchaikovsky and Ballet: A Romantic Tale.

Who managed the Big Bear Inn in 1993?

Sheila Moore, described as an accomplished historian and ballerina, managed the daily operations of the Big Bear Inn and its events.

Is the Big Bear Inn the same hotel as Chateau Big Bear?

Yes. The Big Bear Inn, described in this 1993 feature, is the same hotel now operating as Chateau Big Bear Boutique Hotel.

Original Clipping