Captain’s Anchorage Restaurant And Bar

Posted: 04.08.2025 | Updated: 04.08.2025

When locals need a break from the traffic, crowds, and hustle and bustle of Los Angeles, they often hop in their car and go for a day trip outside the city. One of the most cherished areas to relax and soak up nature is just a couple of hours away: Big Bear. 

Big Bear is known for its serene lake, quaint lakehouses, and the hidden gems of restaurants scattered around the area. This includes the fine dining offered at the Captain’s Anchorage. 

Once owned by a famous actor, the popular restaurant is said to have a more illicit past than many realize from its idyllic look. Illegal gambling and embezzling led to a former employee’s death — and his ghost decided that there was no better place to spend eternity than his former haunt. 

While the Captain’s Anchorage offers some of the most spirit sightings in Big Bear, many people find that a day or two in the area fills that need for nature. After you’ve had your fill of fresh air in Big Bear, head back to LA and continue your ghostly adventure by booking a ghost tour with LA Ghosts. By the end of the night, who knows how many otherworldly observations you’ll have racked up?

Is the Captain’s Anchorage Haunted?

Staff and diners alike agree that the Captain’s Anchorage is haunted. The owners openly speak about their resident ghost — who they call George — and even advertise him on their website. 

So, what is George’s backstory? And how did his tragic end lead to him haunting the Captain’s Anchorage? It all begins with the restaurant’s original owner: Andy Devine. 

Captain’s Anchorage: A Place for Locals and Celebs Alike

In the 1940s, Hollywood was in its Golden Era. Actors and actresses were becoming recognizable wherever they went, and sometimes, they wanted to get away from the city and retreat to someplace a bit quieter where they could hang out with friends undisturbed. 

Actor Andy Devine understood this for himself. A comedic actor known for his signature raspy voice, Devine successfully starred in many movies and TV shows, particularly Westerns, for over four decades. 

His career ranged from acting in Stagecoach in 1939 to voice acting in the 1970s, voicing Friar Tuck in the classic Disney animated film, Robin Hood. However, this wasn’t his only venture. Devine also dipped his toe into the world of fine dining. 

Devine decided to open a restaurant just off of picturesque Big Bear Lake in 1947. Named the Sportsman’s Tavern, Devine leaned into the log cabin appeal and offered hearty, delicious meals to anyone passing by. 

Before long, his Hollywood friends decided to make the trip to try out Devine’s food. On any given night, you might spot John Wayne enjoying a beverage at the bar or Roy Rogers eating a steak. Jimmy Stewart also often dropped by the spot to support his friend. 

Devin owned the restaurant and bar until 1966, when he sold it to Woodrow and Charlotte Meier who changed the name to Captain’s Anchorage. Ever since, the Anchorage has been a staple in the lakeside community of Big Bear — becoming a must-see spot for foodies and spectral lovers alike. 

The Seedier Side of the Original Captain’s Anchorage

Back in the day, many people stopped by the Sportsman’s Tavern strictly for the food. However, there are stories that there was more happening at the bar and grill than met the eye. 

The bar was said to host illegal gambling. This included everything from high-stakes poker games for special guests to placing heavy bets on horse races. There may have even been a secret room where a roulette table and slot machines were tucked away from the guests in the dining room. 

Devine trusted his bookkeeper, George, to keep track of the money coming in and going out of the business. But George may have been a bit greedier than his employer realized. Many believe that George was embezzling funds from the illegal side of the business and putting it into his own bank account. 

At some point, George’s game was found out. When he was discovered, one of two things happened: 

1. George committed suicide at his home, just down the road from the restaurant. 
2. George was murdered by someone who was angry he was stealing from a powerful group of gamblers. Who exactly ordered the hit is unknown.

Either way, George’s life was cut short when his scheme was figured out. Yet, rather than peacefully go to the other side, George decided to stick around. 

George: Captain’s Anchorage Resident Ghost

Many believe that George returned to the restaurant because it was where he was happiest. For that reason, George isn’t a vengeful ghost. He’s there for a good time, occasionally pulling a prank on the bar staff or visitors.  

Stories of George’s antics have been told by generations of workers. Some have witnessed liquor bottles shattering on their own when no one is behind the bar. Wine bottles have been caught on camera wriggling out of the rack and falling to the ground. 

Lights will turn on late at night after everyone has gone home for the night. The glass washer has also turned on inexplicably by itself more than once. Workers are often frantically looking through drawers during a busy dinner rush, trying to find the silverware that George has moved and hidden somewhere else. 

Heavy footsteps are often heard coming down the stairs as well when no one is upstairs, and candles will suddenly extinguish on diners’ tables, almost like someone has blown them out. 

One waitress witnessed a dark shadow sneak behind the chef one night. She screamed, startling the chef, who spun around. The chef said that right when the waitress screamed, he felt someone squeeze behind him — but when he turned, he couldn’t see anyone. 

George is most often seen in the upstairs section of the haunted restaurant, which is where his office was when he was living. Mediums who have investigated the property claim that George is very content living in the building and doesn’t intend on leaving anytime soon.

Haunted Los Angeles

While Big Bear may have experienced a brush with illicit activity through Andy Devine and George, Los Angeles has a storied history with all kinds of illegal acts, from gangsters to prostitution to murder. 

These macabre acts have led to lingering spirits in restaurants, bars, hotels, and other famous landmarks around Tinsel Town. There are also spirits who, like George, don’t want to leave a good time. Marilyn Monroe’s ghost is said to still frequent the Hollywood Roosevelt, while the original owner of the famous Magic Castle can’t seem to move on from the exclusive clubhouse. 

If you want to learn about Hollywood’s most shocking tales and see the sites where ghosts roam freely, book a ghost tour with LA Ghosts tonight. 

Haunted locations with ties to famous actors and artists can be found all around the United States. If you want to learn about other haunted hotels, restaurants, and buildings that were once connected with Hollywood royalty, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. For more posts about LA-focused haunts and tragic stories, be sure to check out our blog. 

Sources:

• https://captainsanchorage.com/about/
• https://laghosttour.com/
• https://www.vvdailypress.com/story/lifestyle/travel/2021/10/31/beyers-byways-have-drink-george-ghost-captains-anchorage-big-bear/6190628001/
• https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0222596/bio/?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm
• https://www.discoverbigbearlake.com/blog/is-a-ghost-haunting-a-big-bear-lake-restaurant
• https://www.sfgate.com/la/article/steakhouse-haunted-by-former-accountant-big-bear-19723869.php