Historical Timeline
Pre-1800s: For over 2,000 years, the Serrano people lived in Big Bear Valley. They called themselves the Yuhaviatam, or “People of the Pines.” They thrived in the forests, gathering acorns, hunting deer and rabbits, and holding sacred ceremonies in the clear mountain air.
1845: Benjamin Davis Wilson led a group into the San Bernardino Mountains searching for raiders. What they found instead were dozens of grizzly bears. Impressed and slightly alarmed, he named the place “Bear Valley” and called the marshy lake “Big Bear Lake.”
1859: Prospector William F. Holcomb struck gold in the valley. That discovery kicked off a local gold rush, and Holcomb Valley quickly became the busiest settlement in San Bernardino County.
1884: Entrepreneur Frank Brown built a dam in Bear Valley to store water for farms down in Redlands. The result was Big Bear Lake — at the time, the largest man-made lake in the world.
1912: A second, taller dam was built to hold even more water. The original dam still sits submerged beneath today’s lake surface.
1920s: As cars got better and roads improved, more people came up to Big Bear to escape the city. The cool air and pine forests made it a natural resort town. Hollywood even started filming westerns and outdoor scenes here.
1921: Emile Jesserun opened the Pan Hot Springs Hotel, one of the first major resorts. People came to relax, breathe the fresh mountain air, and soak in the hot springs.
1929: Big Bear got its first ski jump, setting the stage for winter sports. It was the beginning of Big Bear’s transformation into a year-round getaway.
1952: Tommy Tyndall opened Snow Summit, one of the first full-scale ski resorts in the region. Skiing, snowboarding, and tubing became part of local life and a big draw for visitors.
1968: Construction began on the Big Bear Solar Observatory, built right on the lake to take advantage of the clear skies and high elevation.
1980: Big Bear Lake officially incorporated as a city on November 28, giving the mountain town its own local government and a clearer sense of identity.
Present Day: Big Bear is a four-season destination — skiing and snowboarding in winter, boating and hiking in summer, fall colors, spring flowers, and crisp mountain air year-round. It remains a beloved mix of natural beauty, frontier history, and outdoor adventure.