Pirate ship lake tours and a ton of water fun
Holloway's Marina, home of the famous Time Bandit pirate ship tours, also features water ski and wakeboard lessons along with personal watercraft rentals from Get Wet Water Sports Center. Check out the new Wakeboard Cable Park with 2 hours of pulls just $35 including equipment! 398 Edgemoor Rd., Big Bear Lake. (909) 866-5706 or (909) 878-4040.
Guests "aargh" sure to have a good time on the Time Bandit
Every pirate ship worth its sea salt has a plank to walk. Time Bandit does too, except guests use it to get on and off the ship.
Indeed the one-third size replica of a 17th century Spanish galleon that sets sail daily from Holloway’s Marina for the most unique tours of Big Bear Lake has everything pirates need for swashbuckling adventure. Three 50-foot masts, rigging, firing cannon that billows smoke with each thunderous shot, treasure chest filled with booty, Jolly Roger flag, it’s all here...right down to rum drinks poured by scurvy-dressed wench, as Time Bandit offers the only full cocktail service found on any lake vessel. Yo-ho-ho there’s a bottle of rum! Plus wine, whiskey, beer and more.
Guests "aargh" sure to have a good time aboard the famous pirate ship as they take in the lake’s sights and sites during daily tours all Big Bear Summer long. If Time Bandit looks familiar it’s because you’ve seen her before; she starred in the 1981 movie of the same name. Built by a father and son team in their backyard over a nearly 10 year period, Time Bandit is much more than a mere movie prop, weighing an incredible 27 tons with lead keel and 38-foot waterline.
She’s been sailing the Big Bear seas for over a decade as one of the most unique tourist attractions around. Other tour boats see the many movie locations in Big Bear, but Time Bandit was one! Formerly berthed at the San Diego Maritime Museum, she also toured Los Angeles Harbor and Newport Beach’s Fun Zone in her colorful past. Getting Time Bandit to Big Bear was a feat in itself, requiring 28 different permits and a 2-1/2 day journey from Dana Point.
Pirate "pillage and plunder" adventures await you
Up to 25 guests enjoy topside seating as they sail the lake in search of pillage and plunder, powered by reliable outboard engines instead of sails. When Time Bandit cruises around a point and into a bay she looks like a sight straight from the Caribbean, except instead of Jack Sparrow from the hit movies at the helm, she’s crewed by captains Donovan Lichti or Maria Da Re. Each adds their own personal touch to the excursions, relaying lake history and fun trivia during breaks in music as they cruise around China Island, past Teetering Rock, the dam and other spots.
Youngsters especially love Time Bandit, since they get to raid the treasure chest in search of "booty" that includes toys and rub-on tatoos so they can look the part too. The captains even let kids take a turn at the wheel, during daily 90-minute trips out of Holloway’s at 2 p.m. plus noon, 4 and 6 p.m. as business allows.
When other vessels approach Time Bandit sends shots across their bows with her mighty cannon, packed with firing powder. "Fire in the hole" is the captain’s call, followed by a roaring "boom!" that echoes across the lake.
Time Bandit is the lake’s only tour boat with full bar, including bottles of rum, so yo-ho-ho a good time. Fares are $19, $12 children 12 and under.
Holloway's Marina also is home to Get Wet Water Sports Center which offers the lake's largest rental fleet of personal watercraft, plus pontoon and fishing boats. The RV park sports waterfront camping sites.
