Blue Jay: History, Jazz and Nature

Get to know Blue Jay through its local history, annual cultural events and nature topics. If you’re looking for hotels in Blue Jay, you can plan your trip around your interests in the town’s history, an annual event, birdwatching or Lone Pine Island. Each topic has a different focus: for events, dates and venues matter; for birdwatching, the season; and for the island, how to get there.

Getting There and Finding Your Way

Blue Jay is located in Daley Canyon, off Highway 18. Check road and route conditions before setting out. The Lake Arrowhead Branch Library is located at 27235 Highway 189 in Blue Jay. As opening hours may change, it’s a good idea to check the latest hours before visiting.

Local History, from Sawmills to Resort Development

Blue Jay was settled in the 1860s as a result of sawmill operations; the Caley sawmill operated in the 1860s and 1870s in the center of what is now Blue Jay. Blue Jay was named after the Steller’s jays that live there. The Wixom family settled on 22 acres in Blue Jay in 1914. The Wixom family also founded the general store “Wixom’s Corner” in Blue Jay.

Blue Jay was already an established community before the Arrowhead Lake Company bought Little Bear Lake in 1921 and developed the resort. The Blue Jay Ferry is also part of Lake Arrowhead’s history: it operated on the lake in the 1920s.

Parade, Jazz and Skating History

The Blue Jay Parade began in 1979 and takes place annually in the center of Blue Jay. Check the event dates in advance if you want to plan your trip around the parade. The Blue Jay Jazz Foundation hosts the annual Blue Jay Jazz Festival. For more than a decade, the festival was held in the parking lot above the Rite-Aid store in Blue Jay. That parking lot is part of the festival’s history; current details and venues may change. The parade takes place in the town center; for the festival, check the current location and details in advance.

The ice rink is also part of local history: a 1998 report described Blue Jay Ice Castle as a public ice rink where Michelle Kwan trained.

Birdwatching and Access by Water

Blue Jay is a good place for birdwatching, although opportunities vary by season. Lone Pine Island is located at the entrance to Blue Jay Bay and can be reached by boat, kayak or canoe. The considerations differ when planning a trip: the season matters for birdwatching, while access to Lone Pine Island is by boat, kayak or canoe.

As a broader regional context, the Lake Arrowhead communities are close to the San Bernardino National Forest, which forms part of the natural mountain landscape.

Discover more destinations: Fort Irwin, Redlands, Barstow, Upland, Wrightwood, Apple Valley, Yermo, Big Bear Lake

View the broader travel overview: San Bernardino.