X-TREME SPORTS
HISTORY
Big Bear Through the Years
From the Gold Rush to snow resorts, Big Bear boasts a storied past.
GOLD IS FOUND IN BIG BEAR In 1855, early settlers in Big Bear Valley discovered gold. A few years later, the first recorded mining operation began at Starvation Flats, near what is now the intersection of Division and Big Bear Boulevards.
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1911–1925: HOLLYWOOD DISCOVERS BIG BEAR
1888–1911
With its scenic vistas of majestic mountains and tranquil forests, Big Bear Valley became an attractive backlot for the burgeoning film industry in nearby Los Angeles, driving a surge of tourism to the area.
THE BEGINNING OF A RESORT TOWN As a sign of the times to come, the Valley’s first resort lodging, the Bear Valley Hotel, opened its doors. New roads increased access to the Valley as well; in 1908, the first roundtrip through the mountains by automobile was completed in 13 hours and 17 minutes — a breakneck pace at the time.
HOLLYWOOD’S NATURAL BACKLOT Since its founding, Big Bear Valley has been no stranger to the silver screen. The region was featured in classics such as Heidi (starring Shirley Temple) and Gone with the Wind, and the Valley became a favorite destination for movie stars looking to escape the glitz and glam of Hollywood. Today, Big Bear Valley continues to serve as a scenic backdrop for hit films and TV shows, including Grey’s Anatomy and The Bachelorette. Catch sights of locations from some of your favorite movies and shows, or discover a production in action — and if you’re lucky, you just might spot a famous face or two.
1883
1860–1879: THE GOLD RUSH In 1860, a bear hunter named William Holcomb found gold in the backcountry after tracking a bear’s trail to a creek filled with flakes of gold. News of the discovery spread, and Southern California’s largest gold rush was on.
BIG BEAR LAKE IS BORN To supply citrus farms in Redlands with water, Frank Brown began construction on a dam across the Valley, creating a reservoir that became Big Bear Lake.
SAN BERNADINO COUNTY MUSEUM; SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; BIG BEAR VISITOR BUREAU
THE PIONEERS In pursuit of outlaws who had been raiding ranches in Riverside, Benjamin Wilson led a posse into the mountains. Once they reached the top of the mountain range, Wilson and his team found a valley swarming with grizzly bears, inspiring the moniker of Big Bear Valley.
1855 – 1859
SAN BERNADINO COUNTY MUSEUM (2); SHUTTERSTOCK.COM (2)
PRE-1840: THE NATIVES The first known inhabitants of Big Bear were the Yuhaviat (meaning “people of the pines”), who have lived in the Big Bear region for thousands of years.
1928–1949: THE (WINTER) FUN BEGINS The first winter facilities were constructed in 1928, when a ski jump competition was held just west of Big Bear Village. In 1938, a toboggan run and sling lift were developed behind the Village. The 1930s and ’40s saw an explosion in tourism as people flocked to the area to ski, and the first ski resort was built in 1949.
1958–1961: SNOW DAY! Hoping to extend the winter season, nearby Rebel Ridge Ski Area began experimenting with snowmaking technology. In 1961, Snow Summit was the first Big Bear resort to use the new advancements, churning up snow created from Big Bear Lake’s water supply.
In the late 1980s, snowboarding exploded on the winter scene, and Big Bear’s ski resorts became early adopters of the new sport. Snow Summit and Bear Mountain would serve as training grounds for some of snowboarding’s biggest stars, including Olympic gold medalist Shaun White. Fittingly, Big Bear would host the first ever Winter X Games in 1997.
1998: BIG BEAR DISCOVERY CENTER
Co-managed by the Southern California Mountains Foundation and the U.S. Forest Service, the center operated as a steward for the San Bernardino National Forest. Today, it services more than 190,000 annual visitors looking to explore this pristine landscape.
1988 – 1997
2002
SNOWY PARADISE Snow Summit acquired Bear Mountain and became Big Bear Mountain Resorts, creating an unparalleled mountain experience for skiers and snowboarders.
MOVING ON UP In 2014, Mammoth Mountain Resorts purchased Big Bear Mountain Resorts, consolidating the four major ski resorts in the area; three years later, Mammoth Mountain Resorts was acquired as part of what would become Alterra Mountain Company, a resort company boasting 15 destinations across the U.S. The annual IKON pass gives adventurers access to all 15 destinations, including 23 ski resorts.
2014 — 2018
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