Big Bear History Site

Welcome To The Big Bear History Site

khoffman — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 21:25:32 +0000

If you are new to this website, a good place to start is with the menu at the top of this page which contains the following information:

BIG BEAR HISTORICAL ARTICLES – This collection of articles provides basic information about specific topics in Big Bear’s rich history.

BIG BEAR HISTORICAL TIMELINE – This is a chronological timetable of noteworthy events that shaped Big Bear’s history. It’s a continuing work in progress that is constantly being updated on an irregular basis.

If you have visited us before, use the search box at the top right of this page to find specific information and old Big Bear photos.

Most of the content appearing on this website comes from the information and material acquired during the production of our weekly TV series the Big Bear History Show on Channel-6, and in the publishing of the book “Vanishing Big Bear”.

This website is constantly being updating on a daily/weekly basis. The latest updates are in the Posts below. Enjoy, and visit us often.

The Story of Cedar Lake

rkeppler — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 20:28:36 +0000

The old Cedar Lake mill movie set was built for “Trail Of The Lonesome Pine” in 1936. – Rick Keppler collection

A couple miles west of the Big Bear village, up in the hills off of USFS road 2N10, nestled in the woods, is a small manmade lake, which is the home of the Cedar Lake Christian Camp. Today it provides lodging and camping accommodations to private groups, and is also a popular location for the film industry.

Cedar Lake was constructed in 1928, as part of an ambitious resort and real estate development that never materialized . Since then, hundreds of movies have been filmed in this picturesque location. Click here for more photos, and the story of historic Cedar Lake.

Cecil B. DeMille

rkeppler — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 19:24:43 +0000

Hollywood producer/director Cecil B. DeMille used Big Bear Lake as a film set for many years. He had a home on the lake, and was a familiar face in the Big Bear community. – Rick Keppler collection.

Famous film director/producer Cecil B. DeMille was one of the first Hollywood producers to use Big Bear as a location for a filming. He not only filmed in Big Bear Lake, he built a home up here, and became involved in real estate development on the south side of the lake. CLICK HERE to check out his story.

NEW VIDEO SECTION

rkeppler — Sun, 25 Nov 2012 23:04:47 +0000

We plan to add a lot more historical videos to this Big Bear History site. So we’ve created a new “Historical Video” section on the menu bar above. To get things started we posted a new video about the historic Mel Blanc home in Sawmill Cove. Check it out in the above menu bar, or click here! Visit us often for more new videos!

Sawmill Cove today, with the historic Blanc home. - © Rick Keppler Collection.

Sawmill Cove as it was in the late 1800's. - Rick Keppler Collection.

BigBearHistorySite.com Home

Classic Boat Returns To Big Bear Lake!

rkeppler — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 20:43:30 +0000

The August 25, 2012, Big Bear Classic Boat Show had a beautifully restored 26‘ Chris Craft named “Step In Again 1”. Sixty years ago, this boat was a familiar site on Big Bear Lake. It was part of a fleet of four “Step In Again” high performance tour boats that operated on the lake from the late 1930’s through the early 1950’s. “Step In Again One” was the most powerful, and fastest boat in this small fleet. What made it so unique, was that it was powered by a huge 500 hp Allison aircraft engine. It was removed from Big Bear in the late 1940′s, when it’s engine blew up on a high speed run down the lake.

Now after more than sixty years later, “Step In Again 1″ is back on Big Bear Lake. Click Here for more photos and the full story.

Big Bear Lake

Big Bear Village & the Marina

rkeppler — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 20:02:13 +0000

Kim Sweet and Rick Keppler present some history of the marina and village at Big Bear Lake, California. This presentation is illustrated with a collection of old historical photos showing the evolution of both the marina and the village area on the lake near the intersection of Big Bear Boulevard and Big Bear Boulevard. This interview was conducted by John Wells on the Friday “Good Day Big Bear” show on Channel-6.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIrj149nvoQ

Extreme Lake Levels at Big Bear Lake

rkeppler — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 19:00:41 +0000

There was once a time, before the dam was built, about 20,000 plus years ago when our Big Bear Lake was larger and up to sixty feet higher higher than it is today. How was this possible? Noel Blanc, the host of the “Good Day Big Bear” on Channel-6 discusses this with Kim Sweet and Rick Keppler in the following video. Check it out.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=kE9mp4-dSio

Note: This post contains material from the Channel-6′s The Big Bear History Show. The copyrighted information in this article have been presented here with permission from Rick Keppler and Bear Valley Broadcasting.

Big Bear Bridge Demolition Update 3

rkeppler — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 05:21:42 +0000

The last sections of the old historic bridge across the Big Bear Lake dam are being removed. The bridge was built back in 1924.

The last couple sections of railing, and what is left of the road that was built in 1924, look out across the Big Bear Lake dam towards the South Shore road where it once connected. © Rick Keppler.

Big Bear Bridge Demolition Update 2

rkeppler — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 23:08:14 +0000

As of September 24, 2011, the removal of the old bridge across the top of the Big Bear Lake dam is about two thirds complete.

Jeanne Richards and Kaela Fengler of Big Bear Lake, check out the progress of the removal of the old bridge from the top of the Big Bear Lake dam. - © Rick Keppler.

Big Bear Bridge Demolition Update

rkeppler — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 23:19:55 +0000

Demolition continues on the old bridge across the top of the dam at Big Bear Lake. The removal project is about one third complete.

September 10, 2011, the old bridge across the dam is now about on third gone. - Rick Keppler collection

Here is another image of the bridge at Big Bear Lake when it first opened in 1924.

In 1924, the traffic was so light that it was possible to park on the bridge and enjoy the view of Big Bear Lake before continuing on to the village. - Rick Keppler collection