Blue Jay, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Blue Jay
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| Motto(s):
"The Gateway to Lake Arrowhead"
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 Blue Jay
Location in California
Blue Jay
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | San Bernardino |
| Elevation | 5,203 ft (1,586 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP codes |
92317
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| Area code(s) | 909 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1660347 |
| Website | Blue Jay, California |
Blue Jay is a small community in San Bernardino County, California. It is not an official city. You can find it high up in the San Bernardino Mountains. This area is part of the San Bernardino National Forest. Blue Jay Village is very close to Lake Arrowhead. It is often called "The Gateway to Lake Arrowhead."
Blue Jay is part of a group of towns around Lake Arrowhead. These include Lake Arrowhead, Running Springs, Twin Peaks, Sky Forest, Agua Fria, and Cedar Glen.
Contents
The Story of Blue Jay Village
Blue Jay started as a small homestead. Art and Norma Wixom began it in 1914. They rented out vacation cabins. They also opened a small store.
Later, in 1934, a man named Stoney DeMent leased the land. He built a market there. He called it "The Blue Jay Market." The market was named after the pretty blue birds in the area. These birds are actually called Steller's jays. They are a type of jay bird. The name "Blue Jay" stuck for the town.
People started moving to Blue Jay about 10 years later. In 1978, H.R. "Rick" Kaufman bought Blue Jay. He bought it through his company, Pioneer Take Out Corporation. This company is also known as Pioneer Chicken.
Blue Jay Today: A Fun Mountain Town
Today, Blue Jay Village is home to 2,314 residents. It is known as the main entertainment area for the Lake Arrowhead community.
Shopping and Dining
The village has a shopping center. You can find many restaurants there. There is also a bank. The Lake Arrowhead Library is located in Blue Jay. Many small, privately owned stores are also part of the village.
Entertainment and Events
A movie theater, Blue Jay Cinema, was open from 1988 until June 2023. The village also hosts many fun events. These include the Lake Arrowhead celebration of film. There is also The Blue Jay Christmas parade. Another popular event is the Blue Jay Jazz Festival.
