6 Facts about The Pines Resort & Bass Lake

If you follow our social media or blog, then you probably know a lot about the Resort and the surrounding area. In addition to sharing promotional content and giveaways, we also provide a lot helpful information about the Yosemite area. By now, you probably know that the water level in Bass Lake fluctuates with the seasons. You are also probably aware that “The Great Outdoors” movie was filmed in Bass Lake, and we just celebrated the 33rd anniversary of filming. If we were to guess, you are more than likely aware of the different types of accommodation that we offer, and maybe you even know that we have recently added some luxury rental homes to our inventory. Did you know that we are only 17 miles from the southern entrance to Yosemite? Yes, you probably knew that as well.

In this article, we are going to share 6 Fun and Helpful Facts about the Pines Resort. How many of them you were NOT aware of?

FACT 1: It gets much colder at night

For some, this might be obvious, but for others, especially guests who visit from the Valley or the Coast, you may not be aware that there is a significant difference between day and nighttime temperatures. In Summer, once the sun sets, temperature may drop as much as 30 degrees. While that would not be considered “cold”,  average nighttime temperatures in the Summer will be in the low to upper 60s, while during the day, you can expect low to mid-90s.

You may not think about it during a warm day, while enjoying the lake, beach or nearby hiking, but once the evening comes, you will be happy you brought a sweater, a hoodie or something with long sleeves.  Find out what else to pack with you here.

FACT 2: Entrance is upstairs

Those of you who did not have a chance to stay at the Resort have a difficult time understanding that you enter each cabin … upstairs! No, you do not have to climb a flight of stairs to reach the entrance! This is because all cabins are located on a sloping hillside, climbing from the parking lot up towards the Bass Lake neighborhood. While many units have a rear entrance (downstairs), you will find most cabins with the entrance on the upper level. On the entry level, you will find a full kitchen and a living room. From there, you will take steps downstairs to your bedroom and adjacent bathroom.

FACT 3: Year-round Resort

The Pines Resort operates year-round. Our hours of operations may be slightly adjusted to reflect demand, but our hotel rooms, cabins, restaurants, market, etc. are open. With that said, many other, privately owned businesses in the Village, including gift shops, clothing stores, bakery, etc. may not follow a year-round schedule and limit their hours to weekends and holidays in the off season. Please double check their hours of operations before making shopping plans.

FACT 4: Events are for everyone

All of the special dining events (Holiday brunches, Beer Dinners, etc.) and entertainment events (Halloween Carnival, Tree Lighting, concerts, comedy shows, etc.) are open to the public and you do not have to be a Resort patron to attend. We offer a variety of events, both free and payed, that cater to various ages and interests. Events occur year-round and registration is often required. If you feel like taking a road trip one afternoon or looking for a fun way to spend a holiday weekend – you are welcome to stop by the Village and attend our special events.

Comedy Show – February 2020

FACT 5: Diversified destination

Visiting the Pines Resort is not only fun because of its location, but also for cultural reasons. A lot of our guests comment that, when they were visiting, they felt, as if they were a part of the family. While customer service at the Pines is always top notch, the atmosphere is rather relaxed and casual. Our employees come from different backgrounds, nationalities, and cultures (Korean, Polish, Irish, Hispanic, etc.). This definitely brings a new perspective to the organization, that is often reflected in the quality of work and productivity.

In the past, The Pines Resort has also participated in an international student exchange program, where collage students were able to come work for 3-months during their summer break to learn American culture and practice English while travelling. We have hosted students for all over Europe (Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, Russia), South America (Brazil) and South-East Asia (Thailand, Vietnam).

FACT 6: Bass Lake watersports & Marina are privately owned

This may come as a big surprise to some, but based on your feedback, we decided to clarify that Bass Lake watersports and Marina are privately owned and operated. Completely independent from the Pines Resort. The Resort and its owners have no authority over their operation, employees and do not own the building or the land where they operate. Yes, their location is very convenient to our guests, and for that reason, we often recommend it to our guests for any watersport needs. With that said, there are two other boat rental locations, often with much better rates, on the south shore of the lake and our guests are free to choose the one that meets their needs.