Big Bear’s newest retreat for travelers is a cozy escape for Angelenos – and has some intimate ties to Old Hollywood.
Launched in February 2026, Arkouda Cabins is the newest property in the Big Bear scene following a $300,000 renovation. Featuring nine individually designed cabins, it feels more like a dog-friendly mountain estate than a traditional hotel, with privacy and exclusivity, and all the perks of Big Bear, like year-round access to hiking, skiing, lake activities, and forest trails. The property is also a short walk away from the Big Bear Lake Village, providing easy access to shops and restaurants.
“It feels like a world away from LA and Southern California sprawl,” Joseph Lontos, co-founder of Arkouda Stays, tells Secret Los Angeles. “Even the altitude alone, the air feels crisper. It just feels different up there.”
Following last week’s rain, Big Bear became a beautiful winter wonderland, bringing visitors from across the state.
When did Marilyn Monroe stay there?
The cabins originally opened in 1935 as Embers Lodge – and the property had a special tie to Old Hollywood.
“There was this rule that the studios in L.A. used to have back in Hollywood’s golden era called the 2-hour rule,” Lontos explains. “Basically, actors or talent, if they weren’t filming, they could be anywhere outside of LA as long as it was within 2 hours. If the studio needed to call them in to continue filming, they needed to be able to get back within 2 hours. Big Bear is about 2 hours away, so that’s why a lot of celebrities used to go, just to get away.”
Big Bear Lake became a popular destination for film crews and stars filming in the San Bernardino Mountains, including Monroe. “There was quite a bit of filming that happened back in the 30s, 40s for films that were supposed to be set in the Midwest and Western films. There were some actors who had a propensity already to go up there anyway.” Other names to come through included Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, Audie Murphy, Howard Hughes, and cast members of 1959 series Bonanza.
“We’ve all gone crazy and wild thinking of what may have happened,” says Lontos. “We don’t have any conclusive evidence, but we do know that Marilyn Monroe had been to Arkouda Cabins at some point.”
Today, Arkouda Cabins’ two-story cabin with two bedrooms “actually does have Marilyn Monroe handprints in the cement in the entrance.”
There’s more to come from the team.
Later this year, the Arkouda Stays team is opening Arkouda Hotel, a 20-unit hotel, also in Big Bear.
📍 Arkouda Cabins, 40229 Big Bear Blvd, Big Bear Lake, CA 92315