Go Right To
The Internet Travel and Fun Guide
For Big Bear - or read a little about Big Bear Lake below, then go on the Index

Situated at the 7,000 foot level in the San Bernadino mountains, Big Bear Lake is a short drive from all parts of Southern California and the Southwest. Three scenic well-maintained highways provide year around access to the area.

The History Of Big Bear Lake

Big Bear was a pristine, pine tree mountain valley populated by bears and Indians until 1846 when Benjamin Wilson and 24 men rode over the crest of the hill after cattle rustling Indians. When gold was discovered three years later in Northern California, it sent adventures thourought the state. A few miners made the trip to Big Bear, but had limited luck. It was with worn humor they christened their mining "Starvation Flats", an area located just across from today's Stanfield Cutoff.

Prospecting was hard, discouraging work until May 1862 when a young man named Bill Holcomb discovered gold while hunting Grizzly in the valley to the north that now bear his name.

News of the strike electrified Southern California. Small townssprang up, stores were established, roads built, and stages scheduled for "Bellville". Today only a memory, but at one time Bellville was only second to Los Angelos in population.

Because of the abundance of Grizzly bears, the high mountain basin became known as Big Bear Valley. The Grizzly, deer, beave, and waterfowl attracted hunters to the area.

But mountain men began to seek much more than wild game. Soon the discovery of gold in California mountains triggered a hunt for mineral wealth in Big Bear Valley. The region was rich with gold and silver ore, luring enough prospectors to form the Bear Valley Mining District in April 1861.

Adding to the excitement was the gold rush in Holcomb Valley immediately north of Bear Valley, a discovery which caused the greatest mining rush in the San Bernardino Mountains.

To feed the influx of miners, the ranchers brought their cattle to Big Bear Valley. From the early 1900's hundreds of cattle grazed each summer on the rich grass, and migrated to the desert in the winter.In 1884 the valley changed from hunters and miners paradise into a haven for sportsmen and vacationers.

This major transformation resulted in one man's vision to create a reservoir for the town of Redlands. Located south west of Bear Valley, Redlands was a growing community with many citrus groves. Although the Santa Ana River and nearby creek provided water for the trees, a more dependable year round source of water was necessary.

Pioneers seeing beyond this, decided to build a dam which would harness the mountains winter flood waters for summer use. A 45 foot dam was completed in the valley's west end in 1884, creating a beautiful lake over five miles long, known today as Big Bear Lake.