Big Bear Valley was first occupied by the Serrano Indians approximately 3,000 years ago. In 1845, while in pursuit of Indians, Benjamin D. Wilson discovered and named Bear Valley because "the place was alive with bears!" and some of them were BIG. In 1860 William Holcomb was hunting one of those bears and discovered gold instead! What followed was Southern California 's largest gold rush. There are several abandoned mines in the area, a famous one is the Lucky Baldwin mine. Be wary of finding scruffy characters who might challenge your presence in some areas. There are some who are still searching for the “mother lode.”

Big Bear's first dam was completed in 1884 and was followed by the Valley's first hotel in 1888. In 1949 the first ski resort opened and Big Bear Lake soon became Southern California 's favorite mountain getaway. Hollywood also has a history in Big Bear. Since the filming of "The Call of the North" in 1914, so many motion pictures have been shot in Big Bear Valley that it has been called " Hollywood 's back lot." The only movie where Clint Eastwood sings, “Paint Your Wagon,” was shot here. It was a duet with Lee Marvin and proves why they never had a career in singing. There have been countless others made here as well.