History of the Ebbetts Pass
Historical Association

Local trapper & mountain man, Monty Wolfe

Organized in 2004, EPHA seeks to increase awareness of the history and myriad peoples that have shaped the area. The association has produced three summer and two winter programs serving to both educate the public and honor groups and individuals who have impacted the region. An original effort was made to become a Bear Valley subsidiary of the Alpine County Historical Association, which has an active nucleus on the eastern slope and excellent museum staff. That plan did not materialize, so the founding members decided to create their own association.

The Ebbetts Pass Historical Association is the result, an organization which includes not only Bear Valley, but the entire Highway 4 corridor from Arnold to the summit. Concentrating on Ebbetts Pass history and its developments, EPHA includes efforts to preserve historic "stops" with names both recognizable and less known including Hermit Valley, Tamarack, Sky High Ranch, Sherman Acres, Gann's Meadows, Dorrington, Camp Connell, Bear Valley, and many more areas no longer on the map.

The beginning of BV -as we now know it- was started by developer/rancher Bruce Orvis back in the '60s. He has spoken at our programs and in the summer of 2006, was honored by EPHA along with the late Harry Schimke for making their ski area dreams come true for generations to enjoy. A hand-carved redwood bench in their honor, between the Library and Perry Walther building, was dedicated this summer. A small museum has been established in the Bear Valley Commercial Center.

The museum has pictures and artifacts on display as well as housing archives ready to catalogue. The museum computer has a museum database to track memberships, donations, and has cataloguing and archiving capabilities.

© Ebbetts Pass Historical Association Museum * P.O. Box 5203, Bear Valley, CA 95223 * (209) 753-2554
info@ebbettspasshistory.org * Website design & development by Merri Donovan