History

Winter Sports in Big Bear

Both Fawnskin and Big Bear Village are located on the lake, and the lake is the reason people came to Big Bear in the early 1920's. However, located just a few miles east of the lake, in Big Bear City, is a little known and unique geological feature, a natural hot spring! For centuries this hot spring was a favorite spa of the local Serrano Indians. In the early 1900's, Big Bear City did not exist. The meadows where the airport and Big Bear City are today were grazing land for the Shay Ranch cattle.

In 1921, Emile C. Jesserun purchased the hot spring along with 40 additional acres from the owner of Shay Ranch. On this site, located just east of Paradise Road, he built the first major resort in Big Bear City, called the Pan Hot Springs Hotel. It was a large hotel. The interior had a medieval décor with suits of armor, hanging tapestries, swords and lances on the walls. The hotel also had two swimming pools, one indoor and one outdoor, that were filled with the naturally flowing hot mineral water. The hotel was an immediate success.

In 1925, the Pan Hot Springs Hotel caught the attention of Harry Kiener. Kiener was a developer looking for mountain property to build a real estate development and a major new resort. He decided that the land near the Pan Hot Springs Hotel would be the ideal spot for his project. He named his resort the Peter Pan Woodland Club. Kiener knew it would not be easy competing with other resorts located on or near the lake. If he was going to succeed, he would have to build the most exclusive and expensive resort in Big Bear, and he proceeded to do just that!

The clubhouse was a huge four-story structure located at the intersection of Greenway and Country Club. It had a private golf course where Bear City Park and the east end of the airport runway are now located. Lodging at the Woodland Club was restricted to members only and their guests. The lodge's guest register read like a "who's/who" of Hollywood. Members and guests had exclusive access to the club's hunting preserves, bridal paths, gymnasium, and boats. The Woodland Club also had a swimming pool, tennis courts, and its own movie theater.

For twenty years, Peter Pan Woodland Club ruled as Big Bear's premier resort. It provided the foundation for the Big Bear City community that sprang up around it. Unfortunately tragedy struck on June 18, 1948, when the club was reduced to ashes by an early morning fire.

Pan Hot Springs Hotel was also destroyed by fire in 1933, just nine years after it was built. The Pan Hot Springs Hotel and the fabulous Peter Pan Woodland Club will always be remembered as providing the spark for the community of Big Bear City.

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