The Lake Arrowhead area began developing in the 1890s. A group of investors decided to build a private lake in order to provide irrigation water to the San Bernardino area. After many years and many setbacks and court battles they completed a dam which was 75' thick, spent several million dollars and started to fill the lake. Just at this time, a Supreme Court decision was made saying that it is not legal to convert water from one water shed to another for the purposes of irrigation. Therefore, the idea of providing water to San Bernardino was no longer legal and the use of the lake became private. It was purchased by J. B. Van Nuys in the 1920s and was developed as a resort area.

In 1946 the Los Angeles Turf Club bought the lake and the surrounding area. Early guests to the Conference Center, which was then the Old North Shore Tavern, arrived by ferry or by riding horses around the lake. In 1957 the Los Angeles Turf Club made a decision to donate some properties around the area to promote a sense of community and encourage more residents, thereby making the property values higher. The University of California received a gift of what was then Old North Shore Tavern and is now the Conference Center.

In 1957 the Conference Center was run by the University Extension. Students and teacher came here to take classes -- staying on site, departing at the end of the class. For many years it ran under the Extension Program then transferred to Systemwide, to Berkeley, UCR and then in 1981, appeared on a list of properties to be divested by the Regents. The UCLA Alumni Association recognized this. Donald Findley was hired as a management consultant to study the feasibility of having a conference center that would operate in a profitable manner, find out if a vacation center would be feasible on this property, and ascertain if the two enterprises could work together and serve both publics. At the end of the management study, the answer to all three questions was yes. The project could work, and Don Findley was hired as the director to oversee a $7 million construction project adding 10 new buildings and remodeling and refurbishing all existing buildings.

The $7 million building project was completed in 1985, which brought the number of buildings on the property up to 20 including a pool house, arts and crafts center, amphitheater, softball field, new guest units, and a remodeled main lodge. In 1985 BRUIN WOODS opened for its pioneer year. Some buildings were not completed and construction was still going on in some areas of the facility. But we had 385 families that first year during eight weeks of family camp. BRUIN WOODS has grown to 10 weeks and 600 families, and we are now planning a new construction project to add 12 new guest units serving even more families.