• Angeles NF • San Bernardino NF • Other • Lost Ski Areas •

Skiing was slow to catch on in Southern California, the land of sun, sand and palm trees. But by the 1930s, skiing took off largely because of the ski jumping craze that had taken over the country. The first jump in the Southland was installed at Big Pines in 1929. It was at the Third Annual Winter Sports Carnival at Big Pines in 1929 that the Los Angeles Junior Chamber of Commerce made a bid for the 1932 Olympics.

The 30s and 40s saw an explosion of skiing with small ski areas, using rope tows, springing up all over. In Big Bear Valley, these areas were spread out from Moonridge on the east to the Upper Mill Creek on Skyline Drive near Bluff Lake on the west.

1952 was the beginning of many dry winters that would last well into the 60s and forced the closure of most all of the small ski areas and threatened the existence of the larger ones. In 1958, Chuck Smith, Rebel Ridge Ski Area, began experimenting with making snow and proved that snowmaking was an economically viable solution for the area. Tommi Tyndall, Snow Summit, was the first to install it extensively.

One of the unique aspects about the Southern California ski areas is that (on a clear day) you can see the ocean from the slopes of Mt. Baldy, Snow Summit, Snow Valley, and Big Bear Mountain.

The ski resorts of the Angeles National Forest largely rely on natural snow since they do not have the supply of water that can be found at Big Bear in the San Bernardino National Forest.

Angeles Crest Resorts consist of two ski resorts (Mt. Waterman & Kratka Ridge), a snow play area and a Nordic area. Rick Metcalf and his crew bought the resorts in June 2006. Mt. Waterman claims to have had the first chairlift in Southern California in 1942, built by then owner Lynn Newcomb, Sr. The ski business began here with a rope tow in 1938. Joe Diener, one of the12 members of the San Gorgornio Ski club, scratched Kratka Ridge out of the mountains in 1950. For many years, it was known as Snow Crest but has gone back to being called Kratka Ridge. These resorts have not operated since 2001 or 2002.

Buckhorn Ski Area was built in the 50s. Consisting of an overnight lodge and 2 tows, it is still owned and operated by the Buckhorn Ski & Snowboard Club.

Blue Ridge was first operated with a rope tow. In the early 40s, championship teams practiced at Blue Ridge, one of the oldest ski area in the country. In 1937, the Blue Ridge Ski Area was taken over by Frank Springer and Tom Triol and received its first chairlift (Southern California's second) in 1947. In 1975, Dick Woodworth bought the resort and named it Mountain High Ski Area.

Holiday Hill was established in 1948 by Joseph "Sepp" Benedikter and John Steinmann and received its first chair in 1950. In 1951 Steinmann bought out Benedikter and Holiday Hill became a family operation with Steinmann's sons Heinz, Hans and Kurt assisting with management and expansion responsibilities. The Steinmann brother bought Holiday Hill from their father in 1959. In 1962 Heinz bought out his brothers and with his wife, Lora, made many improvements and expanded the facilities. Around 1979, the Steinmanns sold Holiday Hill to a group of investors who then resold it a couple of years later.

An ample supply of water in Big Bear Lake allows for Snow Summit and Big Bear Mountain to operate all winter in the case of a lack of natural snow.

Big Bear Mountain started with a rope tow at Moonridge. In 1938, a sling lift was installed. In 1969, a group of ski instructors (headed by Bill Strickland and Fred Goldsmith) bought Moonridge. In 1970 they renamed it Goldmine and installed its first chairlift. In 1988, S-K-I Ltd bought it and renamed it Bear Mountain. Booth Creek Holdings purchased it in 1997 and renamed it Big Bear Mountain. In 2002, Snow Summit bought Big Bear Mountain. Big Bear Mountain is being marketed under Big Bear Mountain Resorts as a snowboarders' paradise.

Snow Summit was opened by Czechosolvakian Tommi Tyndall in 1952 with a double chair, two major runs and several rope tows. Canadian-born Doug Pfeiffer was the area's first ski school director. In 1961, construction began on the largest snowmaking operation in Southern California. When Tommi died in 1964, his wife Jo Tyndall and stepson Dick Kun took over operations.

Late in 2002, Snow Summit purchased Big Bear Mountain and established the marketing entity known as Big Bear Mountain Resorts. Big Bear Mountain will appeal to snowboarders while Snow Summit will cater to families.

Fish Creek was changed to Snow Valley in 1937. Johnny Elvrum purchased Snow Valley in 1942 and operated it until he sold it in 1972 to Jack Bozung, a Santa Monica toy saleman who made his fortune selling the Duncan yo-yo. Today Snow Valley is one of the largest resorts in the area.

Green Valley Lake Snow Bowl was opened in 1945. A chair was installed in 1985. At some point, the resort was renamed Big Air Snowboard Park. Today the resort is owned by the Calgary Chapel in Costa Mesa and is opened to both snowboarders and skiers.

Lost Ski Areas

Big Bear Lake Area

• Magic Mountain, also know as Lower Siberia, had four tows and located 1/2 miles east of Big Bear Lake Village.
• Happy Hill Ski Tow was located near the then Lake Drive-In Theater.
• Upper & Lower Mill Creek built by John Webster and John Sipe.
• Swiss Tow, built by Ralph Stewart and Virgil Foust, near the present Elk's Lodge around 1950.
• Snow White operated by Bill Goold was near Coldbrook Camp.
• March Field Army Air Base Recreational Facility.
• Lone Star Tow built by Max Files next to the present day City Hall.
• Two rope tows were operated at Stillwell's in 1954, just east of the present day post office. Ski instruction was provided by Johnny Sipe.
• The first chairlift in the Big Bear Area was built in 1949 by Judge Clifford Lynn at the south end of Pine Knot blvd in Big Bear Village. In 1963, brothers Dan & Dave Platus bought the Clifford Lynn Lift Area and renamed it Snow Forest. In 1980, Bob Boothe became a partner and consequently bought the area from the brothers. In 1981, the Lynn Lift was dismantled and replaced by a 3,000' long triple chair with a 600' vertical rise.
• Snow Forest, closed 1973 through 1978, reopened in 1979 and then closed permanently in the spring of 1992. Dan & Dave Platus, two brothers who worked in the California aerospace industry owned Snow Forest for sixteen years. Contributed by Paul Herrick, Assistant Ski School Director at Mt. Baldy: I was working at Snow Forest Ski Area through the 80s and last taught there in the Spring of 1992. That year they closed, the Forest Service pulled the permit so no one else could take over the ski area. Also that year Jim McDill, Ski School Director at Snow Forest, died. He was also the director of the Big Bear Valley Park Ski Teaching Program for several decades. I moved my teaching to Mt Baldy and started there on December 24, 1992.
• The Sling Lift (Little Siberia) operated by the San Bernardino County at the Park Board Area became a part of Snow Forest.
• Crystal Ridge Hill, located on Hwy 18, 1/2 mile west of Big Bear Village at Red Ant Hill, was bought by Bob Boothe in 1980 and added to Snow Forest.
• Rebel Ridge, founded by Chuck Smith at Big Bear, closed permanently in 1974.
• Swiss Ski Bowl.
• Keller Peak was discovered by skiers in 1938. It is now a part of Snow Valley.
• Lagomita Lodge at Big Bear Lake had a 1,200 foot tow in 1947.

Fawnskin

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photos courtesy California Ski Library, Ingrid Wicken collection.

Moonridge Tow

Swing Lift at Big Bear

Snow Forest 1964

Snow Summit Jumping

Snow Valley Single Chairlift 1950

Arch at Big Pines

Keller Peak 1939

Kratka Ridge

Mt. Baldy Ski School

McGee Creek

Mt. Waterman

Hans Georg Ski School