Ebbetts Pass Historical Association

In 1952, the Orvis family of Farmington purchased 480 acres of property in Bear Valley from the Bishop Company. William and Grace Orvis built a large log cabin and lived in Bear Valley during summer months while their cattle grazed on the lush meadow, an activity that occurs still today. The holdings were logged out in the late 1950s not only to produce revenue but also to protect the area from fire danger and open the tree stands for increased grass production.

The first development occurred in 1955 when the Orvis family subdivided 20 acres on the north side of Highway 4 into 60 lots with roads and water supply. Residential progress largely happened due to the demand by friends and family of the Orvis’.

Bruce Orvis Sr., son of William and Grace, always envisioned a winter sports complex for the area. In 1963 he acquired 400 acres of Forest Service land to the north of the Orvis property through a land exchange. He then put together a ski area package for Mt. Reba under Forest Service permit and promoted a new highway from Camp Connell to the ski area. After years of convincing, road construction began on Highway 4 to access Bear Valley the same year. After he acquired title to the land north of the Highway he developed the 400+ lot subdivision, the Bear Valley Lodge and other installations as we now know them.

At the time, Lodges, condominiums, parking areas, tennis courts and air strip, sewer system and water system, etc. were also developed along with the Mt. Reba Ski Bowl complex. The area opened its lifts to winter visitors in the winter of 1967-1968. By January 1968, there were 125 winter-summer homes in the subdivision and several thousand skiers visited on weekends.

The old original Bear Paw sign has been restored and is residing on the front of BaseCamp Lodge/Red Dog/employee housing building. EPHA thanks the efforts of Aaron Johnson, Rob Christie, Phil Davis, Susi Lewis, and Eric Jung.

This sign used to be at the entrance to BV Village, and was designed and created by Bob Shedd, one of the first Ski Patrol managers. An accomplished artist and sign painter, his legacy of drawings and a few signs live in our museum. The Bear Paw sign was dismantled and about to be tossed, when Phil Davis found out, and stored the pieces in a shed for years. He re-assembled the one side of the sign in the best condition, and Susi Lewis repainted the paws in the original 1960’s orange

Tags: Bear Paw

We currently have two programs a year:

Our summer program, held in July or August, on the first Sunday of the music series, utilizes the tent during the Bear Valley Music Festival. It consists of local historical features by: speakers, picture displays, and/or PowerPoint presentations. This program is well attended by members, as well as folks ‘up’ for the music festival.

We host an annual Wintersports History Night the second Saturday of December. This program chronicles the history of snow sports and people involved from as early as Snowshoe Thompson, the 1930’s, and up to present day. We honor and pay tribute to folks who had much to do with promoting snow sports, snow business, historical timelines, and worked in the industry. This concentrates on the snow sport history of Highway 4 east. A recipient is chosen to be honored with the “Peter Brinkman” Award each year at this program.

The July 2008 Summer Program featured Art Schimke who gave a talk on legendary mountain man, Monte Wolf, whom he knew personally. Eric Jung spoke about Jedediah Smith, another legendary mountain man.

Monte Wolf roamed the high country of Tuolumne, Alpine, and Calaveras counties in the early 20th century. He was a renowned trapper and guide, known for his superhuman strength as well as liberal attitudes toward property. He disappeared mysteriously 1940.

Jedediah Smith was also a trapper, and prodigious pathfinder. He was the first white man to cross the Sierra, passing through Bear Valley in 1827. He too disappeared mysteriously.

December 13th, 2008 marks the 5th annual Winter Sports History Night. The EPHA will honor Dave MacTaggart, one of the key individuals in the development of Mt. Reba Ski Resort and Bear Valley Village in the early to mid-60’s. His contribution and memory will be posthumously awarded the Peter Brinkman Award.