BIG BEAR LAKE, Calif., July 25 (High Desert News Online) — Moon Camp, a stretch of land on the north shore of Big Bear Lake in California, has become the focus of a $10 million conservation campaign because of where it sits: less than a mile from the nest of Jackie and Shadow, the bald eagles that have drawn wide attention in Big Bear Valley.
Friends of Big Bear Valley and the San Bernardino Mountains Land Trust say the money is meant to buy more than 62 acres of the property and keep it from becoming a housing and marina project. On July 24, the nonprofit group said it had received $10.5 million in donations, enough to move ahead with the purchase.
What is Moon Camp?
Moon Camp is private land near Fawnskin, on the north shore of Big Bear Lake. Friends of Big Bear Valley describes it as an important wildlife corridor and habitat for bald eagles, San Bernardino flying squirrels, rare native plants, waterfowl and other species.
The land has also been tied to a proposed development for roughly 50 custom homes, or more than 50 homes, plus a 55-slip marina. Friends of Big Bear Valley and the land trust say buying the property is the way to keep that project from moving forward.
Why is the site so important?
The nonprofit says the area matters because of both wildlife and location. Jackie and Shadow’s nest is close by, and the group says the surrounding landscape is part of the habitat that supports the eagles and other animals.
Friends of Big Bear Valley has also said the broader Big Bear Lake area once supported many visiting bald eagles in winter. One campaign quote from the group said there used to be 20 to 35 visiting bald eagles at the lake during winter, while now the number is far lower.
The conservation push is not just about one nest. Supporters say the land is part of a larger ecological network that helps protect the valley’s wildlife.
How does the deal work?
The land trust has an option to buy the property for $10 million. In real estate terms, an option gives a buyer the right to purchase land at a set price before a deadline.
That deadline has been listed as July 31, 2026, in campaign materials and related statements. Friends of Big Bear Valley said the campaign needed to reach the full amount by then in order to secure the land.
The fundraising effort began after a long-running dispute over the property. Friends of Big Bear Valley says the site has been threatened for nearly 25 years. Coverage of the campaign traces the fight back to the early 2000s.
Who is involved?
The campaign is being led by Friends of Big Bear Valley and the San Bernardino Mountains Land Trust. The development side has been tied to RCK Properties, and Steve Foulkes, identified in coverage as a vice president for RCK, confirmed the option to buy the site for $10 million.
On the conservation side, the land trust says the goal is to place the property under permanent protection. One campaign description says the land could eventually be transferred to the U.S. Forest Service.
What happens now?
With the goal reached, the land trust can work toward completing the purchase. The group has not publicly provided a full closing timeline in the materials reviewed, and the sources do not show whether the transfer has already been recorded.
If the deal closes, Moon Camp would be preserved instead of developed, ending one of the most closely watched land-use fights in the Big Bear Valley area.
For supporters, the purchase is both a conservation move and a real estate deal: a set price, a deadline, and a property whose future now depends on whether the conservation purchase is completed and protected for the long term.
