“Chad’s has survived the wars, earthquakes, and the ups and downs.”

Rollin’ into the Village on a hot summer Saturday afternoon, you can park your Harley in one of the “bikes only” spots alongside all the other shiny hogs and join in the revelry, dancing, and serious pool playing going on inside Chad’s. Over a cold beer you can swap stories with tourists and locals alike about the world situation, the Lakers, or the drought in Big Bear. Chad’s today is truly an international gathering spot, at least by mountain standards.

But it wasn’t always this way. In fact, that was probably the furthest thing from the minds of Fred and Blanche Chadbourne as they arrived in the sleepy little town of Pineknot for their honeymoon in April of 1918.

The newlyweds very soon fell in love with the area and decided they would open a café in “town,” the area known today as the Village. Fred was one of Big Bear’s first commuters. He owned a men’s store down in Redlands, and split his time between the two businesses until his permanent move to Big Bear in 1938. Known about town as a rough and gruff kind of guy, he was also said to have a heart of gold. Born in Maine in 1872, he moved to Redlands in 1909, and ran his store there for thirty years. After moving here full time, he lived only four more years, passing on in 1942.

As time went by, the Chadbourne’s added Chad’s Camp, an assortment of log cabins in the area today known as the Bartlett parking lot. The last of these were torn down in the 90’s when the Village was modernized. Blanche sold the business in 1944 and spent the rest of her days here, until she died at the age of 76.

Chad’s café moved from its original location to just a few doors west and stands today in the heart of the Village that has grown up around it. Chad’s has survived the wars, earthquakes, and the ups and downs of Big Bear’s economic cycles plus a series of five ownership changes. Somewhere along the line it established the reputation of being haunted. A team of “investigators” came in with a truckload of equipment, including sound and video monitors and spent a few nights there. Sure enough, their findings detected a presence of something not of this world.

Over the years, Chad’s the café and camp became Chad’s the bar and developed a reputation as a rowdy place in the late 60’s and 70’s. As owning and riding a motorcycle became more acceptable, so did hanging out at Chad’s.

Today, under the new owners, you are as likely to find doctors and lawyers among the leather clad riders, as you are Hell’s Angels. Old Fred and Blanche would be proud of their legacy - starting, owning, and operating what is one of the oldest businesses in Big Bear.

- Big Bear Magazine: Nov/Dec 2002