H I S TO RY
Through the Years
Over the centuries, Big Bear has seen its share of adventures — from the Gold Rush to the opening of the ski resorts.
—Rick Keppler, Local Historian
What’s in a Name? Back in 1845, Benjamin Wilson led a posse into the San Bernadinos in pursuit of ranch-raiding outlaws. Once they reached the mountains’ apex, Wilson and his team found a valley swarming with grizzlies— inspiring the moniker “Big Bear.”
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1855–1879: THE GOLD RUSH Early settlers discover gold in the Valley in 1855, the first mining operation begins a few years later, and in 1860, a bear hunter tracks a trail to a creek filled with flakes of gold. Suddenly, Southern California’s largest gold rush is on.
1883: BIG BEAR LAKE IS BORN Work begins on a dam across the Valley, creating the reservoir that will become Big Bear Lake.
1928–1949:
1911–1925: BIG BEAR GOES HOLLYWOOD
1888–1911: The Beginning of a Resort Town
The Valley’s first resort, the Bear Valley Hotel, opens its doors. New roads increase access to the Valley; in 1908, the first round-trip drive through the mountains is completed in 13 hours and 17 minutes.
With its majestic scenery, the Valley becomes an attractive backlot for the burgeoning film industry in nearby LA. Big Bear will go on to cameo in Heidi, Grey’s Anatomy, and other films and shows.
1988–1997: X-TREME SPORTS In the late 1980s, Big Bear’s resorts become early adopters of the newest craze in snowsports: snowboarding. Snow Summit and Bear Mountain later serve as training grounds for some of snowboarding’s biggest stars, including Olympic gold medalist Shaun White. In 1997, Big Bear hosts the first ever Winter X Games, a popular extreme sports competition that continues to this day.
THE (WINTER) FUN BEGINS In 1928, the first winter facilities are built in Big Bear Valley for a ski jump competition. A toboggan run and sling lift follow in 1938, and in 1949, the Valley’s first ski resort opens on Lynn Hill.
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: SHUTTERSTOCK; SAN BERNARDINO HISTORY MUSEUM; BIG BEAR MOUNTAIN RESORT; SAN BERNARDINO HISTORY MUSEUM
“I like the west end of the lake, where the dam is. If the water level is low enough, you can see the original 1884 rock dam. Without these two dams, Big Bear history as we know it wouldn’t exist. It’s also a pretty spot, where I like to hike and shoot photos.”
