This photograph shows the central commercial plaza in Running Springs Village during the winter of 1972, when the community was growing into one of the most recognizable gateway towns of the San Bernardino Mountains. With its steep red shingle roofs, chalet-style architecture, and turreted façades, the shopping complex was designed to evoke a European alpine village—an architectural style that became popular in Southern California ski and resort communities during the postwar era.
Running Springs was (and remains) a crossroads town: travelers heading toward Lake Arrowhead, Big Bear Lake, Snow Valley Ski Area, or into the high-country forests would often stop here for supplies, fuel, meals, or simply a break from the winding mountain highway. Winter weekends in particular brought traffic from San Bernardino, Riverside, Orange County, and Los Angeles as families and day-skiers headed uphill in station wagons, Jeeps, and trucks—many of the same vehicle types seen in this parking lot.
Visible on the right side of the center is the Snack Bar, offering quick food to locals and snowbound visitors alike—exactly the kind of no-frills eatery that defined many small mountain hubs before chain restaurants appeared. Other storefronts along the building likely included gift shops, local craft sellers, ski rental counters, souvenir stores, and real estate offices selling vacation cabins to Angelenos dreaming of weekend retreats.
The winter season is hinted at subtly: bare trees line the walkways, patches of slush cling to the pavement edges, and many of the cars appear fitted for slick roads. The air feels clear, the light sharp—hallmarks of high-elevation winter weather.
Though Running Springs has evolved over the decades—expanding services, rebuilding after fires, and modernizing much of its commercial district—the broad plaza layout and mountain-village identity remain recognizable. Many visitors still pass through this same spot on their way to the ski slopes or summer hiking trails.
This image captures Running Springs during one of its most visually cohesive periods—a moment when architectural whimsy, local business culture, and the spirit of California’s mountain tourism converged into a setting that remains nostalgic for generations who made the climb into the mountains year after year.
