BIG BEAR LAKE, Calif., July 25 (High Desert News Online) — Friends of Big Bear Valley and the San Bernardino Mountains Land Trust have raised enough money to buy Moon Camp, a parcel of more than 62 acres on the north shore of Big Bear Lake in California, after a months-long campaign to block a planned housing and marina development.
The campaign began with a $10 million goal and a July 31 deadline tied to an option to purchase the land. By July 24, the groups said they had collected $10.5 million, including a donation of more than $5.5 million from Anna and Greg Brockman, allowing the purchase to move forward.
What is Moon Camp?
Moon Camp is a stretch of land near Fawnskin in San Bernardino County, less than a mile from the nest used by Jackie and Shadow, the bald eagles that have become widely followed in Big Bear Valley.
Before Jackie and Shadow established their nest nearby, Friends of Big Bear Valley said the site was used by an estimated 25 to 30 visiting bald eagles each year.
The conservation groups describe Moon Camp as an important wildlife corridor that supports bald eagles, San Bernardino flying squirrels, native plants, waterfowl and other species tied to the Big Bear area.
Why was the land being contested?
For years, the site has been tied to a proposed luxury development. Campaign and local project descriptions say the plan called for about 50 custom homes, or more than 50 homes, along with a 55-slip marina.
Friends of Big Bear Valley and the land trust said the goal was to stop that development and keep the land in conservation status instead.
How did the fundraiser work?
The land trust said it had a limited window to buy the property for $10 million. Campaign materials said the money had to be raised by July 31 or the development plan could move ahead.
Friends of Big Bear Valley first urged supporters to donate in February. The groups said the effort was racing against the deadline, and updates over the spring showed the campaign climbing from more than $2.5 million in early May to more than $3.3 million by mid-June.
The final push came in late July, when the Brockman gift closed the gap.
What happens to the land now?
Friends of Big Bear Valley and the San Bernardino Mountains Land Trust said the aim is to keep the property protected in perpetuity, or under permanent conservatorship. One report said the land may later transfer to the U.S. Forest Service.
That would matter beyond the eagle nest. The land sits in a region where development pressure, habitat protection and public access often compete for the same space.
Why does this matter for real estate?
This is a land deal as much as a wildlife story. A private owner agreed to sell a large tract near a high-profile natural landmark, and conservation groups had to assemble a nine-figure-style fundraising campaign to compete with a development proposal.
The transaction shows how quickly land values can become tied to location, scenic views and potential building rights — even in a place better known for wildlife than for housing.
In this case, the buyer was not a developer but a land trust backed by donations, with the goal of taking the site out of the development market altogether.
