Big Bear Valley, CA, November 29, 2014 - In 1925, Walter Kruckman ran a bus line which serviced the San Bernardino Mountains. The Motor Transit Company had a franchise to the mountains which required them to operate a year-round bus service, even though they traveled empty in the winter months. Kruckman came up with the idea of developing public interest in snow sports to fill … [Read more...] about Winter Sports in the San Bernardino Mountains
Big Bear History
Fox Farming in Big Bear
Big Bear Valley, CA, November 8, 2014 - In the long history of the Big Bear Valley starting with the gold rush days of the 1860s, fox farming was certainly one of the more unique enterprises. Raising foxes for their beautiful furs dates from the 1890s when a consistent strain of valuable silver foxes was developed from the common red fox. Demand for fur was high at that time … [Read more...] about Fox Farming in Big Bear
Logging in the Mountains
San Bernardino Mountains, CA, July 26, 2014 - Although Big Bear and the surrounding San Bernardino mountain communities are best known for recreation, outdoor locations for Hollywood productions, and the gold rush of the late 1800s, it was logging that was the big industry in the early 1900s. Logging in the San Bernardino Mountains was once done on a very large scale. The … [Read more...] about Logging in the Mountains
Old Miners Days has Rich History
Big Bear, CA, June 14, 2014 - In the summer of 1927, Big Bear had a parade celebrating its history that went right down Pine Knot Blvd. Local Big Bear historians think this may have been the true beginning of Old Miners Days. This year marks 65 years of Old Miners Days, Big Bear's longest running community event. Back in the early days through the late 1980s, Old Miners Days … [Read more...] about Old Miners Days has Rich History
Resort Life… in Turn of the Century Big Bear
Big Bear, CA, May 31, 2014 - As soon as Big Bear Lake was created by building the original 'Rock Dam' in 1885, tourists started visiting Bear Valley. In 1888, Gus Knight Jr. and John Metcalf purchased 80 acres on the south shore of the lake to build the valley's first resort, The Bear Valley Hotel. Despite the fact that it took two days by stage and burro train to reach the … [Read more...] about Resort Life… in Turn of the Century Big Bear