Take a Walk Through Big Bear's History

With the completion of Big Bear Lake's 1912 dam and the construction of better roads into the valley, came the development of Big Bear's tourism industry. Amenities like hotels, marinas, and The Village developed quickly to accommodate the growing number of visitors. In 1916, the Bear Valley Land & Water Company permitted use of the lake for boating and fishing. Modern day Big Bear was in the making.

Today, many of Big Bear's early structures still stand - some in better condition than others - and remind us of the vibrant history of our resort community. Take a look - or venture out to see some of the valley's most historic buildings.

Knickerbocker Mansion

Renovated in 2017, Knickerbocker Mansion now serves as a picturesque venue for weddings, retreats, family gatherings, and other events. Three separate buildings accommodate 33 people in total with 14 Master Suites, 15 Master Bathrooms, full-sized kitchens, dining areas, laundry facilities, rec areas, and living rooms. There's even a wintertime sledding hill on the mansion grounds!

Knickerbocker Mansion today.

The Bluff Lake Cabin

Bluff Lake is a protected ecological reserve with roots in Big Bear's earliest tourism days. Open daily and free to the public, Bluff Lake Reserve features remnants of cabins once used by visitors on the way to Big Bear Lake.

At one entrance to the reserve sits the stone foundation remains of a cabin, once the home of James S. Edwards, who purchased the land 1921. A log cabin was built for John Healy Williams, a congregational pastor, next to the Edwards family's stone and wood house.

The Dam Keeper's House

Over the course of 90 years, the Big Bear Lake Dam Keeper's House was home to numerous dam keepers and their families. The Dam Keeper lived on site, year-round and performed maintenance on the dam as well as regulated the flow of water into the valley below. Bill Knickerbocker - mentioned above - was one of the dam's more notable dam keepers and lived in the home from 1909-1918. Now, the crumbling remains are all that's left of this bygone era.

The remains of the Dam Keepers House sit above the Big Bear Dam. Photo cred: Bending Energy Photography

The Belleville Cabin

Holcomb Valley's original gold mining town was named Belleville and was the textbook image of a Wild West town with its outlaws, claim jumpers, and general debauchery. The Belleville Cabin is one of Big Bear's most notable landmarks and is located along the popular Gold Fever Trail. The original purpose of the cabin is up to your imagination, but the style was quite common in the area as it could be built quickly to shelter the rush of gold miners.

The Belleville Cabin is one of numerous historic remains along the Gold Fever Trail.

The Village

Big Bear's dining and shopping hub is known as The Village. The area was originally called Pineknot before the name Big Bear Lake was adopted in 1938. Even before 1920, this area saw hotels and general stores spring up. Today, many of the buildings date from 1923! Some of the most historic structures you can shop and dine in include:

• The Village Faire Upstairs Mall, La Pergola, The Village Sports Bar, Himalayan Restaurant, & Bear Essentials all dating from the 1940s.
• The Teddy Bear Cafe was established in 1944 and serves hungry guests to this day.
• Stillwell's got its start in the 1920s as a hotel and resort. Originally located along the shoreline (currently the Pines Restaurant) the business is now a successful dining hub in The Village.

Village Drive circa 1940s. The buildings pictured stand today and are the current locations for The Leather Depot, O Koo Ran, and Whiskey Dave's.