Historical Timeline
Pre-1800s: The lake was a boundary zone for Native peoples including the Tataviam, Kitanemuk, and Serrano. The Tataviam may have called it “Kivarum.” These tribes gathered, hunted, and traded in the surrounding mountains and valleys.
1780: Spanish missionaries arrived, and Junípero Serra gave the lake a spooky name — “La Laguna de Diablo,” or Devil’s Lake — thanks to local stories of a creature said to live in the water.
1830s–1850s: The lake was later renamed “La Laguna de Chico Lopez,” after Francisco “Chico” Lopez, a rancher who ran cattle in the area during California’s rancho era.
1858–1861: Elizabeth Lake became a stop on the Butterfield Overland Mail route — an early stagecoach trail linking the American West. It was a rugged but important link between Los Angeles and points east.
1869: The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors created the Elizabeth Lake School District. At the time, it was the only school between Los Angeles and Bakersfield. Samuel and Almeda Frakes donated the land for it — a big contribution in a sparsely settled land.
1907–1911: Work began on the Elizabeth Lake Tunnel, one of the biggest undertakings of the Los Angeles Aqueduct project. Built 285 feet underground, the 5-mile tunnel set records in tunnel construction and helped bring Owens Valley water to a growing Los Angeles.
1924: Judge Hughes renamed a nearby sag pond “Lake Hughes” and turned it into a recreation spot, helping shift the region toward a mix of ranching and tourism.
2010: The Crown Fire swept through, burning over 13,000 acres and destroying homes. It was a painful reminder of how harsh and unforgiving the high desert can be.
2013–2023: The lake completely dried up due to years of drought — a striking symbol of California’s water struggles. Locals watched as a once-reliable water source turned to cracked earth and dry brush.
Present Day: Elizabeth Lake is a quiet, unincorporated community with a mix of longtime ranchers, weekend escapees, and folks drawn to the stillness of the high desert. Ghost stories still swirl about the “Devil’s Lake,” and the aqueduct tunnel runs silently beneath the ground — a reminder of the lake’s deep place in California history.