Big Bear Dam Keepers House temporarily closed to visitors

The Big Bear Dam Keepers House, one of the valley's most storied historic sites, is temporarily closed to visitors, according to the U.S. Forest Service[1]. The reason for the closure and a timeline for reopening could not be confirmed — Big Bear News has reached out to the USFS for comment.

The stone structure has deep roots in Big Bear Valley's history. Built in October 1890 using hand-cut granite blocks from the same quarry that supplied stone for the first Big Bear dam, the house served as a working residence for more than a dozen dam keepers and their families over nearly a century[1]. Among its notable early residents were Bill Knickerbocker and his family, who lived there between 1909 and 1918[1].

The house's residential era came to an end after the Municipal Water District purchased the lake in 1977. With water no longer being released for irrigation, a resident dam keeper was no longer needed, and the water company transferred the property back to the U.S. Forest Service[1]. Today, the site — which retains its original walls — offers views of the Big Bear Dam and a window into the early irrigation history of the San Bernardino Valley[1].

Visitors hoping to tour the site should check with the U.S. Forest Service for updates on when access may resume. Big Bear News will update this story when the USFS provides additional information.