Discover Blue Jay through its local history and recurring cultural events: its sawmill history dates back to the 1860s, alongside the annual parade and jazz festival. Birdwatching is another nature-focused activity, with seasonal considerations. These highlights differ for travel planning: history can be explored independently of event dates, while the right time to visit for the parade or festival depends on the specific date.
Sawmills, the Town’s Name, and the Early Community
Blue Jay was settled in the 1860s because of its sawmills. The Caley sawmill operated in the 1860s and 1870s in the center of what is now Blue Jay. The town’s name comes from the Steller’s jays that live there. This places the history of early settlement and industry alongside a name rooted in the local birdlife.
In 1914, the Wixom family settled on 22 acres in Blue Jay and founded the general store “Wixom’s Corner.” Blue Jay was already an established community before the Arrowhead Lake Company purchased Little Bear Lake in 1921 and developed the resort. This timeline distinguishes the history of the existing community from the later development of the resort.
The history of transportation also has a historic connection to the lake: the Blue Jay Ferry operated on Lake Arrowhead in the 1920s.
Parade, Jazz, and Ice Skating History
The Blue Jay Parade began in 1979 and takes place annually in the center of Blue Jay. The Blue Jay Jazz Foundation organizes the annual Blue Jay Jazz Festival. If one of these events is the reason for your trip, check the dates against your travel plans; details and venues for the jazz festival may change.
For more than a decade, the jazz festival was held in the parking lot above the Rite Aid store in Blue Jay. This historic venue is part of the festival’s earlier history. The Blue Jay Ice Castle is also part of local cultural history: it was a public ice rink where Michelle Kwan trained.
Birdlife and Blue Jay Bay
Blue Jay is well suited to birdwatching, although this activity is seasonal. The Steller’s jays, from which the town takes its name, link its naming history to this nature-focused activity. If birdwatching is your priority, take its seasonal nature into account when choosing when to travel.
Lone Pine Island is at the entrance to Blue Jay Bay and can be reached by boat, kayak, or canoe. This offers another focus alongside local history and events: one centered on the water.
Plan Your Trip and Stay
Blue Jay is located in Daley Canyon, off Highway 18. Check your route and road conditions before traveling. The Lake Arrowhead Branch Library is at 27235 Highway 189 in Blue Jay. If you plan to visit the library, check its opening hours in advance.
If you’re looking for a hotel in Blue Jay, you can plan your stay around your preferred focus: the specific date matters for the parade or jazz festival, while birdwatching depends on the season; local history offers an option independent of both.
Explore more destinations: Crestline, Big Bear City, Highland, Fawnskin, Fort Irwin, Phelan, Twentynine Palms, Helendale
For the main travel guide: San Bernardino.
