updated 10/5/23
Green Valley Lake is located between Arrowbear Lake and Big Bear Lake, 4 miles off of Highway 18. At 7000´, a higher resort community than either Lake Arrowhead or Big Bear. This “best kept secret on the mountain” is secluded and surrounded by National Forest. For all these reasons it has remained small, picturesque, and uncrowded. Very high days of sunshine compared with national average; 18 inches avg. rainfall & 21% snowfall; Mediterranean climate with moderate temperatures and regular rainfall except for warm dry summers. For all these reasons it has remained small, picturesque, and uncrowded; has something going on all the time with the lake that is stocked often with plentiful fish, and a small beach for swimming.
Demographics: 42% Bachelors or Associates; 19% Masters; 34% High school; 5% less than High school; average age 41; average household income $60K; 15% poverty; Overall crime grade is F [see below for more details]; est. population [2021] 339.
1880’s Timber claims made on Green Valley area by Highland Lumber Co. 1892-4 Horse trail from Fredalba lumber camp to Big Bear widened into toll wagon road by Bear Valley Wagon Rd. Co. Eleven-room Toll House was near entrance to campground. They gave the name of Green Valley to the area. 1893 San Bernardino National Forest “Reserve” created.
1894 Ben Pitts operates tollhouse each summer. Grows huge potatoes to serve guests. Leaves in 1902 to open hotel in Redlands. 1899 Highland Lumber Co. bought out by Brookings Lumber Co. 1900 Brookings begins laying narrow gauge railroad tracks in Running Springs. 1903 Tillitt family settles in Green Valley to run the tollhouse for Bear Valley Wagon Road Co & run it for 17 years. The general store, garage, and maintain the road.
1915 Trading Post and gas station built next to tollhouse. 1923 Deep Creek Cutoff completed (Hwy 18) to Big Bear. Nicknamed “Arctic Circle”. Cuts off Green Valley.
1924 Harry McMullen (Green Valley Mac) buys up property with idea of the dam; 1925 Dam construction begins along with roads. 1926 Dam finished. Lake is 8.5 acres. First lots to sell were the Tillits homestead lots that were saved from the logging in 1912.
1928 Lake stocked with trout for members of “Top of the World Club.” Clubhouse burned down in 1959 and site is now Community Center.
1934 So. Cal Edison ran power lines into the valley. By late 30’s land sales were good.
1938 Flood almost destroys dam. Jim Reid clears debris from spillway averting disaster. 1942-45 Mountains closed to all but local residents because of WWII. Wubbens build a small private ski run in back of their property; closed in 1962. 1973 Don and Ann Howe and Lyle Ferguson run the ski area. It was called the Snow Bowl. They continued to own it for the next 25 years. Around 1998, the Peake family take over the Ski Hill – It is renamed “Big Air Green Valley”. A chair lift system is brought in from Colorado.
On Oct. 22 2007, the Slide Fire, pushed by severe Santa Ana winds, burns 12,759 acres and surrounds Green Valley Lake, destroying over 100 homes and three businesses, including Fox Lumber and the ski hill out buildings and ski lift. The cause was embers from the Sept. 14-21 Butler II Fire, which began from embers of the Butler I Fire, which was caused by a lightning strike on Sept. 1.
2012 in the Spring a community garden is created on the same lot where the Fox Lumber store used to stand. It becomes a community gathering place and the staging area for the Summer Concert Series. Along with the beautification project on the corner and the “Eddie the Eagle” statue, it marks a sign of hope that the town has recovered from the fire that nearly destroyed it.
“The Best kept secret in the San Bernardino Mountains"
Location of Green Valley Lake in SBC
Specific Prayer Points
Spiritual
Intercessors arise, encouraged as they pray against the crime issues & for souls to be transformed by the power of the Gospel
For God to move in the Christian camps
the one church to be used to bring reform, revival and deliverance
City Council under Big Bear City
Crime issues: A crime occurs every 7 days 23 hours (on average) in Green Valley Lake; overall crime grade is F; violent crime F; property crime F and other crime D-; highest types: theft is 159%; drug crimes 39%; assault and burglary 13%.
Environmental issues: fires, lightning
Points of Interest: Community Garden, Lilleberg Museum, Arts & Music with local artisans, musicians and craftsmen
Churches [not exhaustive]
Green Valley Lake church - Calvary Chapel Steve Harrison
Camp Cedar Crest - retreat center used for any type of group
Camp Pondo - Christian camp
nearby churches in Running Springs & Big Bear Lake & City
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