Inspired by my recent adventure that involved swimming in Big Bear Lake, right next to this interesting island, I collected some old photos from the internet and put them together.
It is called China Island, Treasure Island and Garstin Island.
China because the Chinese people who helped build the dam built these huts on the granite rocks originally.
Treasure because nobody knows why but that’s what some of the old photos say.
Garstin because it was the family name of the caretakers for a long time.
A very crisp image! Click to see the hi-res photo. [1909]
1925–1928. The original trees that existed before the lake was created remain in this picture.
Note that all that remain from the trees are the stumps. Date Unknown.
1924
Date Unknown.
1942. Click for higher resolution.
Recent 2008 photo! Fully restored.
