Big Bear History
Before Big Bear Lake became a four-season resort destination, it was once a gold mining mecca !
Did you know that Big Bear Lake is a man-made wonder? It was once revered as the eighth wonder of the world. Frank E. Brown began the construction of Big Bears first major dam in 1883, even though there were many who were skeptical of the project. In 1884, Brown finished the worlds largest man-made lake. The new dam was built in the year 1911 and this contributed to the increase of the size of the lake.
​
Many vacationers enjoy visiting the Big Bear Valley Historical Museum to learn about the colorful history and the diverse culture of Big Bear Valley. The Valley was once called Yuhaviat Valley. Yuhaviat is a Serrano Native American word which means Pine Place. The Native Americans who inhabited the area thousands of years ago called themselves the Yuhaviatam. But the Spanish settlers named the tribe Serrano, meaning highlander.
​
The Serranos are peace-loving people who believe that grizzly bears are their great grandfathers. For them, these huge animals are sacred. There were 30,000 Serrano people who resided in Big Bear Lake before Columbus, since then the Serrano population has declined. Today, there are about 200 tribe members left. The tribe still performs their sacred ceremonies around the area.
​
The Big Bear name came about in 1845 when Southern California land owner Benjamin Wilson and his men, chased after local Indians who had stolen horses from ranchers in Riverside, California. Some of Wilsons men routed through the San Bernardino Mountains and discovered a high mountain valley heavily populated with grizzly bears. Because of the abundant population of grizzlies that once roamed the mountains, Wilson called the area Big Bear Valley.
10 Fun Big Bear Lake Facts
1.
In 1845 Benjamin Wilson came to the area looking for Native Americans who had been raiding ranches in Riverside. He and his 22 men found and killed grizzly bears that used to call the valley their home. At the time, the natural water reservoir now known as Baldwin Lake was filled and Wilson named the area Big Bear Lake. The Serrano Indians called the area Yahaviat, or Pine Place. Logging became an important industry for building cabins in Big Bear Lake. Unfortunately, grizzly bears quickly became extinct, but brown bears still roam the area.
2.
Gold was first discovered in the mountains in 1850, but mining in Big Bear Valley didnt begin until 1859 at Starvation Flat and continued into the 1920s. Bill Holcomb started Southern Californias largest gold rush in 1860 with a mining camp, increasing the areas population to over 1,000. The first road into Holcomb Valley was completed a year later and started near Hesperia.
3.
Big Bear Lake is a man-made lake. In 1883, plans were made to construct a rock damn that would hold water to supply the citrus farms in Redlands. In 1885 the first water began to flow after 26 months of planing and construction. The first damn held 25,000 acre feet of water. The new damn construction was started in 1910 and was completed a year later. It nearly tripled the amount of water in the reservoir. It wasnt until 1924 that a road was built over the damn to connect the village road leading into Big Bear with the Rim Of The World highway.
4.
The first hotel was opened in 1888 just south of todays Village by Gus Knight Jr. and John Metcalf Jr. Over the years it was bought and sold and grew to have over 64 cabins and became known as Pine Knot. By 1925, over 200 resorts were serving the area. Today, cabin rentals in Big Bear Lake are one of the top industries and the main street through The Village is Pine Knot Ave.
5.
The first motion picture was filmed and completed in Big Bear Valley in 1911. Five large wagons were used to haul sets and scenery up the mountain from the railroad. The production company stayed for two months. Since then many major motion pictures have been filmed here, including scenes from Gone With The Wind, Old Yeller, War Games and Better Off Dead. Hollywood has made Big Bear its backdrop for first-rate productions. Other movies include: When a Stranger Calls, Next, Dr. Doolittle II, Gone with the Wind, The Insider, Frankenstein, Magnolia, Rocky Mountain Mystery, Kissin Cousins, Paint Your Wagon, The Girl in the Empty Grave, Beethoven's 3rd & War Games. Television shows include Grey's Anatomy, The King of Queens, The Average Joe, Next Great Champ, Jimmy Kimmel and Extreme Dating. Catalog and commercial productions include J.C. Penny, St. John's Bay, Orvis, Toyota, Mountain Dew and many others.
6.
The first school opened in 1919. Big Bear Lake now has two elementary schools, a middle school and high school. A new K-12 charter school is also enriching the towns youngest citizens.
7.
In 1920 about 100 people stayed in the area through the winter. In 1925 skiing was introduced to the Big Bear Valley. In 1938, the first toboggan run on Lynn Hill was completed with a sling lift that could drag up to 10 people to the top of the hill. Winter activities allowed lodges and cabins in Big Bear Lake to stay open all year. Big Bear Lake became known as a 4 season resort town.
8.
The population of Big Bear Lake ranges from just over 5,000 people to over 100,000 people depending on seasonal events and activities. Fourth of July is one of the most popular holidays. Big Bear Lake relies heavily on tourists for income, with the winter resorts being the most popular reasons to visit the area.
9.
Thanks to its elevation at over 7,000 feet, as well as its proximity to major cities like Los Angeles and Las Vegas, Big Bear Lake is a popular place for athletes to train. In the 1990s it was a famous place for boxing champions like Oscar de la Hoya and Mike Tyson. Today, MMA fighters like Tito Ortiz frequent the area, as well as professional bike riders. Big Bear Lake will host a portion of the timed trials for the Amgen Tour in 2015.
10.
Big Bear Lake has some of the best weather in Southern California. Average temperatures range from 21 degrees at night to 82 degrees during the day, with July typically being the warmest month. The highest temperature recorded was 94 degrees back in 1998. Most vacation rentals in Big Bear Lake do not have air conditioning and feature fireplaces for added warmth on chilly nights.