Lake Gregory (California)
Encyclopedia
Lake Gregory is an artificial lake in the San Bernardino National Forest
of the San Bernardino Mountains
in San Bernardino County, California
. The lake and the surrounding area make up the Lake Gregory Regional Park adjacent to Crestline, California
.
The area, originally known as Houston Flat, was developed by and named for its developer, Redlands
citrus grower Arthur Gregory, Sr. Gregory bought and developed land in an area known today as Valley of the Moon. He erected a sawmill
at Valley of the Moon to cut wood for crating his "Orange Blossom" brand of citrus
fruit. Gregory was also instrumental in creating the Crest Forest County Water District
, which in turn was necessary to acquire federal aid in order to develop the area. Although the lake is in Crestline proper, Crestline is not a part of the Crest Forest District but rather the Crestline Water District which in turn purchases water from CFCWD.
Work began in 1937 under a Works Progress Administration - WPA
grant to dam the east and west forks of Houston Creek, whose floodwaters drained into tributaries
of the Mojave River
, thereby "going to waste". The project was nearly completed by March 1938, but federal funds had run out. Gregory himself financed the completion of the project, loaning money to the district for the completion. The eventual cost was US$225,000, US$160,000 of which came from the federal government with the balance funded by the water district.
Heavy rains that March put the dam to its first real test. It had been estimated that it would take three years to fill the lake. So heavy were the rains that the lake filled in only three days. An unconfirmed but plausible urban legend
claims that the construction equipment from 1938 which had been left on the lake bed during the rains remains at the bottom of the lake today.
A road built over the dam (present-day Lake Drive) completed the project in January 1939.
Today, the Lake Gregory Recreational Park with swimming and water slides is at the west end of the lake and a walking trail now circles the entire lake. The south shore of the lake is a popular fishing destination; the regional park is the site of Crestline's Independence Day
celebration.
The southeast shore is the site of the private beach and Tyrolean
-styled clubhouse of the San Moritz Lodge, once known as Club San Moritz. The original club was built in the Valley of the Moon in 1926 along the shore of now-drained Moon Lake, today the site of the Arrowhead Community Church. A fire of suspicious origin destroyed the building in 1950 and the lake was drained in the early 1960s over increasing problems with mosquito
es. The new club, built along Lake Gregory in 1950, was intended to be a members-only resort and club for property owners in the area. Today, the only buildings which remain are the restaurant building used as the site of special events such as weddings and a bathhouse
now used as a senior center.
Private vessels and power boats are not allowed on Lake Gregory, although rowboats, paddle boards, pedal-powered "water trikes" and pedalo
s are available for rental. The rowboats may be affixed with the renter's own electric trolling motor
.
San Bernardino National Forest
San Bernardino National Forest is a federally-managed forest covering more than 800,000 acres . There are two main divisions which are the San Bernardino Mountains on the easternmost of the Transverse Range, and the San Jacinto and Santa Rosa Mountains on the northernmost of the Peninsular...
of the San Bernardino Mountains
San Bernardino Mountains
The San Bernardino Mountains are a short transverse mountain range north and east of San Bernardino in Southern California in the United States. The mountains run for approximately 60 miles east-west on the southern edge of the Mojave Desert in southwestern San Bernardino County, north of the...
in San Bernardino County, California
San Bernardino County, California
San Bernardino County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, the population was 2,035,210, up from 1,709,434 as of the 2000 census...
. The lake and the surrounding area make up the Lake Gregory Regional Park adjacent to Crestline, California
Crestline, California
Crestline is a census-designated place in the San Bernardino Mountains of San Bernardino County, California, USA. The population was 10,770 at the 2010 census, up from 10,218 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Crestline is located at ....
.
The area, originally known as Houston Flat, was developed by and named for its developer, Redlands
Redlands, California
Redlands is a city in San Bernardino County, California, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 68,747, up from 63,591 at the 2000 census. The city is located east of downtown San Bernardino.- History :...
citrus grower Arthur Gregory, Sr. Gregory bought and developed land in an area known today as Valley of the Moon. He erected a sawmill
Sawmill
A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
at Valley of the Moon to cut wood for crating his "Orange Blossom" brand of citrus
Citrus
Citrus is a common term and genus of flowering plants in the rue family, Rutaceae. Citrus is believed to have originated in the part of Southeast Asia bordered by Northeastern India, Myanmar and the Yunnan province of China...
fruit. Gregory was also instrumental in creating the Crest Forest County Water District
Water district
A water district is a special district given the task of supplying water and sewer needs to a community....
, which in turn was necessary to acquire federal aid in order to develop the area. Although the lake is in Crestline proper, Crestline is not a part of the Crest Forest District but rather the Crestline Water District which in turn purchases water from CFCWD.
Work began in 1937 under a Works Progress Administration - WPA
Works Progress Administration
The Works Progress Administration was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unskilled workers to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads, and operated large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects...
grant to dam the east and west forks of Houston Creek, whose floodwaters drained into tributaries
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of the Mojave River
Mojave River
The Mojave River is an intermittent river in the eastern San Bernardino Mountains and Mojave Desert in San Bernardino County, California. The river is notable as most of its flow is underground, while its surface channels remain dry most of the time, with the exception of the headwaters and several...
, thereby "going to waste". The project was nearly completed by March 1938, but federal funds had run out. Gregory himself financed the completion of the project, loaning money to the district for the completion. The eventual cost was US$225,000, US$160,000 of which came from the federal government with the balance funded by the water district.
Heavy rains that March put the dam to its first real test. It had been estimated that it would take three years to fill the lake. So heavy were the rains that the lake filled in only three days. An unconfirmed but plausible urban legend
Urban legend
An urban legend, urban myth, urban tale, or contemporary legend, is a form of modern folklore consisting of stories that may or may not have been believed by their tellers to be true...
claims that the construction equipment from 1938 which had been left on the lake bed during the rains remains at the bottom of the lake today.
A road built over the dam (present-day Lake Drive) completed the project in January 1939.
Today, the Lake Gregory Recreational Park with swimming and water slides is at the west end of the lake and a walking trail now circles the entire lake. The south shore of the lake is a popular fishing destination; the regional park is the site of Crestline's Independence Day
Independence Day (United States)
Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain...
celebration.
The southeast shore is the site of the private beach and Tyrolean
Tyrolean
Tyrolean may refer to:* Anything from Tyrol* Tyrolean Aerial Tramway* Tyrolean Airways* Tyrolean hat* Tyrolean traverse, mountaineering manoeuvre* Tyrolean Hound* A type of cement render, applied by a hand-operated machine...
-styled clubhouse of the San Moritz Lodge, once known as Club San Moritz. The original club was built in the Valley of the Moon in 1926 along the shore of now-drained Moon Lake, today the site of the Arrowhead Community Church. A fire of suspicious origin destroyed the building in 1950 and the lake was drained in the early 1960s over increasing problems with mosquito
Mosquito
Mosquitoes are members of a family of nematocerid flies: the Culicidae . The word Mosquito is from the Spanish and Portuguese for little fly...
es. The new club, built along Lake Gregory in 1950, was intended to be a members-only resort and club for property owners in the area. Today, the only buildings which remain are the restaurant building used as the site of special events such as weddings and a bathhouse
Public bathing
Public baths originated from a communal need for cleanliness. The term public may confuse some people, as some types of public baths are restricted depending on membership, gender, religious affiliation, or other reasons. As societies have changed, public baths have been replaced as private bathing...
now used as a senior center.
Private vessels and power boats are not allowed on Lake Gregory, although rowboats, paddle boards, pedal-powered "water trikes" and pedalo
Pedalo
A paddle boat or "pedalo" is a form of waterborne transport, primarily for recreational use, powered through the use of pedals....
s are available for rental. The rowboats may be affixed with the renter's own electric trolling motor
Trolling motor
thumb|250px|A 12 volt electric trolling motor mounted on a 8 foot [[inflatable boat]]A trolling motor is a marine propulsion system consisting of a self-contained unit that includes an electric motor, propeller and controls, and is affixed to an angler's boat, either at the bow or stern...
.