Origins in the 1920s: Vision and Creation of an All-Year Playground
Big Pines Recreation Area was conceived around 1920 when Los Angeles County Supervisor R. F. McClellan promoted the idea of creating a grand alpine park at the county’s northeast edge. The County began acquiring land in the Swarthout Valley, including Big Pines Ranch, eventually securing nearly 4,000–5,600 acres by 1924. Construction started in 1923 with help from county jail work crews. Access was initially limited to routes through Palmdale or Lone Pine Canyon; a direct road from the Los Angeles basin would not arrive until the Angeles Crest Highway reached Big Pines in 1956.
The park officially opened in August 1924. Its centerpiece was the Community House (Recreation Hall), a rustic lodge with high wood beams, large stone fireplaces, and amenities like a reading room and store. The Swarthout Valley Lodge, completed in 1925–26, added dining, a soda fountain, and a post office, and later served as Forest Service offices. A 35-acre lake provided swimming in summer and ice-skating in winter, while over 100 stone stoves and picnic tables dotted the grounds. By the late 1920s, numerous clubs and youth groups had built permanent camps at Big Pines.
The most iconic structure was the Davidson Arch, a massive stone gateway dedicated in 1926, featuring a footbridge on top and castellated towers on each side of the road. Big Pines quickly became a destination for both summer and winter recreation. It hosted activities such as fishing, camping, and hiking in the warm months, and skiing, tobogganing, and ski jumping in the winter. In 1929, the world’s most significant ski jump was built there, briefly making Big Pines a contender for the 1932 Winter Olympics.
A political scandal erupted in 1926 when the county district attorney accused supervisors of misusing Big Pines for personal benefit, but charges were dismissed. Despite the controversy, the park thrived as Los Angeles County’s showcase alpine playground.
The 1930s: Winter Sports Boom and Depression-Era Challenges
The 1930s saw the addition of the first rope tows on Table Mountain and the Blue Ridge ski area, making Big Pines a hub of winter sports. State championships and ski jump competitions drew national attention. Yet the Great Depression strained county finances, making the park expensive to maintain. Some facilities closed or were scaled back, though skiing remained popular because it was relatively affordable.
By the late 1930s, the County began negotiations to transfer Big Pines to the U.S. Forest Service, viewing federal management as more sustainable. Plans for a land swap with the federal government were under discussion by 1940.
The 1940s: World War II and Transition to the Forest Service
During World War II, gasoline rationing and reduced travel led to fewer visitors. Services were scaled back, but the park remained open. In July 1941, the Forest Service began operating Big Pines, though legal complications delayed the formal transfer until 1946. At that point, the recreation area became part of Angeles National Forest. The Swarthout Lodge became the Big Pines Ranger Station, while the Recreation Hall served as a visitor and community center.
Mid-20th Century (1950s–1970s): New Roads, Resorts, and Scientific Outposts
The completion of the Angeles Crest Highway in 1956 made Big Pines easily accessible from Los Angeles. The Forest Service improved campgrounds, picnic areas, and trails, including segments of the Pacific Crest Trail. Skiing expanded into three areas: Blue Ridge, Holiday Hill (opened 1949), and the Table Mountain site (later Ski Sunrise). These evolved into Mountain High Resort, one of Southern California’s most popular ski destinations.
In 1924 the Smithsonian had established a research station on Table Mountain, which NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory took over in 1962. The Table Mountain Observatory became an important site for astronomical and atmospheric research.
Some historic structures changed during this period. The Davidson Arch was partially dismantled in 1950, leaving only the north tower. The tower was once used to hold unruly guests in a makeshift jail cell. The Swarthout Lodge continued in use until the 1980s.
Late 20th Century: Preservation, Fire, and Modern Recreation
In 1987, arson destroyed the Swarthout Lodge, which at the time housed ranger offices and historic archives. This loss highlighted the need for preservation. The Recreation Hall and the surviving Davidson Arch tower remain as historic landmarks. Efforts since then have sought to preserve and interpret Big Pines’ history. In 2006, the area was nominated as a Historic District, and in 2014, it became part of the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument.
Today, Big Pines offers camping, hiking, fishing, skiing, and snowboarding. The Mountain High Resort dominates winter activity, while summer visitors enjoy campgrounds and trails. The Recreation Hall now serves as an information station, and interpretive signs explain the area’s rich past. Big Pines continues to embody its original vision: an all-year playground where city dwellers can find alpine recreation just a short drive from Los Angeles.
References
Homestead Museum Blog – Big Pines history (2018)
https://homesteadmuseum.blog/2018/01/15/at-our-leisure-big-pines-recreation-camp-angeles-national-forest-late-1920s/
Homestead Museum Blog – Remnants of Big Pines (2018)
https://homesteadmuseum.blog/2018/08/23/discovering-remnants-of-big-pines-recreation-camp/
Swarthout Family History – Big Pines history and lodge details
https://www.swarthoutfamily.org/History/CABigPines.htm
Angeles Crest Scenic Highway – Big Pines recreation info
https://angelescrestscenichighway.com/big-pines.html
U.S. Forest Service – Big Pines Visitor Center
https://www.fs.usda.gov/r05/angeles/recreation/big-pines-visitor-center
Wikipedia – Mountain High Resort history
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain_High
Wikipedia – Table Mountain Observatory (Wrightwood, CA)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Table_Mountain_Observatory
Within the Panorama (Creley) – Davidson Arch and history
http://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/panorama/panorama_arch.html
San Gabriel Mountains National Monument Plan – Cultural resources
https://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/r5/landmanagement/planning/?cid=stelprdb5410677