The Photo Archive
Big Bear Lake Photographs

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Big Bear Lake-1884
The original Rock Dam under construction


**Big Bear Lake-1885
The original Rock Dam finished


**Big Bear Lake-1911
The Eastwood Dam under construction.


**Big Bear Lake-1914
The Eastwood Dam finished, looking east.


**Big Bear Lake-1925
The Eastwood Dam with newly added bridge.


**Big Bear Lake-1940's
The Eastwood Dam with bridge from the n/w side.


**Bear Valley Wagon Road to Big Bear Lake-1891
This toll road to Big Bear ran from Running Springs to Fawnskin.


**Big Bear Village-1920's
Looking east down Village Drive.


**Big Bear Village-1920's
Looking west from Bartlett, circa 1920's.


**Big Bear Lake-1920's
Big Bear Blvd near Main St looking east towards Moonridge.


**Big Bear Village-1920's
A Parade up Pineknot Blvd.


**Big Bear Village-1930's
Looking east down Village Drive.


**Big Bear Village-1940
Looking west from Cottage Lane.


Pine Knot Lodge at Big Bear-circa 1900
This resort was the center of the Big Bear Community in the early 1900's. It was demolished in the late 1930's.


The Bear Valley Hotel at Big Bear Lake-circa 1888
Built by John Metcalf and Gus Knight this was the first resort in Big Bear.


The Bear Valley Hotel at Big Bear Lake-circa 1888
The Bear Valley Hotel was mysteriously destroyed by fire on Christmas Eve, 1900.


Stillwell's at Big Bear Lake-circa 1920's
Stillwells was the most expensive and luxurious resort in Big Bear. It burned to the ground in 1928. It was rebuilt only to burn again in 1945.


Big Bear Golf & Country Club-circa 1920's
This golf course was built in the Rathbun Creek area, now known as Moonridge.


Peter Pan Woodland Club in Big Bear City-circa 1930's
This was the most exclusive resort in Big Bear. It had a golf course, tennis courts, swimming pool and even its own movie theatre.


**Fawnskin at Big Bear Lake-1940's
Fawnskin, looking east down Big Bear Blvd.


**Fawnskin at Big Bear Lake-1920's
Fawnskin and the North Shore Tavern.


**Fawnskin at Big Bear Lake-1920's
Fawnskin and the North Shore Tavern.


**Snow Skiing at Big Bear-1940
The first ski lift in Big Bear was built by Clifford Lynn in 1938, on the hill just south of Big Bear Village.


**Big Bear City Airport- 1940's
This photo was taken about the time that the Peter Pan Woodland Club's golf course occupied what is now the east end of the runway.


Big Bear Lake-1938
The snow play area on Lynn Hill behind the "Village" before the chair was installed.


**Big Bear Lake-1950's
Rope tows and early Snowmaking at Snow Summit.