Cedar Lake (California) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cedar Lake |
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 Cedar Lake
Location in California
Cedar Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | San Bernardino Mountains, San Bernardino County, California |
| Coordinates | 34°13′53″N 116°56′24″W / 34.23139°N 116.94000°W |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Primary outflows | Talmadge Creek |
| Catchment area | 0.5 sq mi (1.3 km2) |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 700 ft (210 m) |
| Max. width | 300 ft (91 m) |
| Surface area | 3 acres (1.2 ha) |
| Water volume | 30 acre-feet (37 dam3) |
| Surface elevation | 7,077 feet (2,157 m) |
Cedar Lake is a special man-made lake in the San Bernardino Mountains of California. It's famous because it has been featured in many Western movies and TV shows! This beautiful lake is the main part of Cedar Lake Camp. This camp is a private place for groups to gather and enjoy nature. It is run by a non-profit organization.
The lake is located in San Bernardino County. It is south of the city of Big Bear Lake. You can find it within the San Bernardino National Forest. It's about a two-hour drive east from Los Angeles. It's also about two hours north of San Diego.
Cedar Lake was created by building a dam. This dam holds back the water from a small stream called Talmadge Creek. This creek eventually flows into Metcalf Bay. Metcalf Bay is part of Big Bear Lake. From Big Bear Lake, the water travels through Bear Creek. Finally, it reaches the Santa Ana River and then the Pacific Ocean.
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History of Cedar Lake
Cedar Lake has an interesting past. It started as land used for animals. Then it became a popular spot for movies.
Early Land Owners
In 1913, two brothers named Talmadge bought the land. This is where the lake, dam, and camp are today. They used the land to let their cattle graze. Later, in 1922, they sold the property to the Bartlett brothers. These brothers built the dam in 1928.
Becoming a Camp and Filming Spot
In 1937, the Bartlett brothers sold the land to Guy Bartlett, a family member. He started charging visitors a small fee to enter. In 1955, a church from Los Angeles bought 110 acres of the land. The church later bought even more land, increasing their property to 270 acres.
The lake's beautiful scenery made it perfect for filming. Its location close to Hollywood also helped. Cedar Lake appeared in over forty movies! It was also seen in six different TV shows.
Famous Movies and TV Shows Filmed Here
Some well-known movies filmed at Cedar Lake include:
- Brigham Young (1940)
- High Sierra (1941)
- The Parent Trap (1961)
TV shows that used Cedar Lake as a backdrop include:
- At least eight episodes of Bonanza
- A 1959 episode of Have Gun–Will Travel
- The Roy Rogers Show
Cedar Lake Dam Details
The Cedar Lake Dam was built in 1928. It was constructed across Talmadge Creek. This dam is a special type called a variable-radius arch dam. It is 28 ft (8.5 m) high. It is also 220 ft (67 m) long. The dam contains 650 cubic yards (500 m3) of material. The very top of the dam is 7,101 ft (2,164 m) above sea level.
You can even see an old mill house and water wheel from the lake. They appeared in a Bonanza episode called "Thornton's Account."
Images for kids
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Old log cabins moved to the lake for filming.
