Welcome to Bear Valley Dam, a place that tells an incredible story of human ingenuity and the shaping of Californias history. We are in Fawnskin, a small town surrounded by the beautiful San Bernardino Mountains. As we stand here, you can feel the cool breeze coming off Big Bear Lake – a 90% man-made lake that owes its existence to this dam right before us.

In the late 1800s, when California was just beginning to be tamed, Frank Brown built this dam with a simple purpose: to supply irrigation water for the Redlands area. But this wasnt enough. The demand grew, and so did the dam. In June 1903, the Bear Valley Mutual Water Company took over the dam and surrounding lands in Big Bear Lake.

The area around us is rich with history - from lumber to gold, and cattle too. But it was this dam that truly changed everything for the City of Big Bear Lake. In 1911, a new dam was built, tripling the capacity of the original one. It stood tall as the largest man-made lake in the world at that time.

As we walk around, youll notice some remarkable structures – like the Dam Keeper’s House and the Belleville Cabin. These are just a few examples of the historical buildings here, each with its own story to tell.

In this audio tour, let your imagination wander as we explore the Bear Valley Dam and Big Bear Lake. Youll feel the past come alive in every corner of this beautiful location.