⛏️ From Gold Rush to Gateway: Discovering Big Bear’s Wild West History
Big Bear Lake didn't start as a destination for winter sports and summer boating. Its identity was forged by a dramatic history involving massive grizzly bears, a stampeding Gold Rush, and engineering feats that created the stunning lake we know today.
Taking time to explore this colorful past will deepen your appreciation for the mountain community. Here is your guide to the three key eras that shaped Big Bear and how you can still experience them.
1. The Naming and the Bears (Pre-1860s)
Before the prospectors arrived, the valley was known to the native Yuhaaviatam (a clan of the Serrano people) as Yuhaaviat, or "Pine Place." The area was dense with California Grizzly bears.
The Discovery: The name "Big Bear" was cemented in 1845 when Colonel Benjamin Davis Wilson (Don Benito Wilson) led a posse into the mountains pursuing cattle thieves. His team found the valley "swarming with bears," leading to the area being dubbed Bear Valley.
Today’s Connection: The Big Bear Alpine Zoo is now a sanctuary for rescued mountain wildlife, including bears (though not the extinct Grizzlies), providing a link to the valley's original inhabitants.
2. Gold Fever and the Wild West (1860s–1870s)
In 1860, the discovery of gold by William "Grizzly Bill" Holcomb in a nearby creek sparked Southern California's largest gold rush. This decade dramatically transformed the area.
The Boomtown: The discovery led to the immediate creation of Belleville, a classic Wild West boomtown that, for a time, was the largest town in San Bernardino County. The camp saw prospectors, saloon keepers, and the lawlessness typical of the era.
Experience the Rush: You can explore the remnants of this era by driving or hiking the Gold Fever Trail (Forest Road 3N16) in Holcomb Valley. This self-guided, 4x4-friendly route takes you past historical markers like the old Belleville town site, the Hangman's Tree, and the remains of the Gold Mountain Mine. You can even visit the Big Bear Valley Historical Museum (seasonal) to see relics from this time.
3. The Birth of the Lake (1880s–1911)
The creation of Big Bear Lake itself was an act of audacious engineering, initially driven by agriculture, not tourism.
The First Dam (1884): Businessman Frank E. Brown oversaw the construction of a unique, multiple-arch rock dam to collect water for irrigation in the citrus groves of Redlands. This created the original Big Bear Lake and was considered the largest man-made lake in the world at the time—nicknamed the “Eighth Wonder of the World.”
The Modern Lake (1911): As tourism boomed, a new, larger 'Cyclopean' concrete dam was built directly downstream of the first, significantly expanding the lake to its current size and shape.
Today’s Connection: The old 1884 rock dam is often visible when the lake level is low, a fascinating piece of history located just downstream of the current dam. You can view the current Big Bear Dam from various points on the west end of the lake, a monument to the valley's transformation.
This combination of native history, a dramatic gold rush, and the creation of a massive reservoir laid the foundation for the thriving, four-season resort community Big Bear is today.
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