Guidebook
NO. 725 OLD BEAR VALLEY DAM - In 1884 Frank Brown built an unusual dam here to supply irrigation water for the Redlands area. The single-arch granite dam formed Big Bear Lake, then the world's largest man-made lake. Engineers claimed the dam would not hold, and declared it "The Eighth Wonder of the World" when it did. The old dam is usually underwater because of the 20-foot higher dam built 200 feet west in 1912.
Location
W edge of Big Bear Lake, intersection of State Hwys 18 and 38, 4.8 mi W of Big Bear Lake Village
Open Map
NO. 725 OLD BEAR VALLEY DAM - Marker
NO. 725 OLD BEAR VALLEY DAM - Marker
NO. 725 OLD BEAR VALLEY DAM - State Plaque
NO. 725 OLD BEAR VALLEY DAM