HISTORY
OF THE COMSTOCK
The history of Bear Mountain in Big Bear is a story of vision and perseverance. From the early days of Snow Summit and Goldmine to the development of Comstock Condominiums, this legacy reflects the determination of Bob Pratte, a Pasadena attorney whose leadership forever changed Big Bear.
Snow Summit Origins
In 1960, while Tommi Tyndall taught ski lessons at the Los Angeles Athletic Club, he worried about financing a snowmaking system for Snow Summit. Bob Pratte overheard and suggested incorporating and selling stock. With his legal help, Snow Summit Ski Corporation was formed in 1961.
This bold move funded the first lift-served snowmaking system in the West, ensuring Snow Summit’s success and establishing Big Bear as a premier ski destination.
Guiding Snow Summit’s Growth
Pratte’s influence extended for decades. He guided expansions, supported acquisitions like Sierra Summit and Bear Mountain, and attended board meetings that shaped resort history.
Snow Summit became part of his family life, with locals remembering the call:
“Would the Pratte children please come to the parking lot, your mother is waiting to go to church.”
Goldmine Struggles
Bear Mountain Transformation
Meanwhile, the nearby Goldmine Ski Area—later Bear Mountain—struggled with poor infrastructure. Roads, sewer, and water systems made operations difficult and unprofitable.
In the 1980s, Pratte once again provided the solution. He financed a million-gallon municipal water tank, created Assessment District No. 20 with city planners, and helped stabilize operations.
By 1988, Goldmine had been sold to S-K-I Limited and reborn as Bear Mountain Resort, marking a turning point in the history of Bear Mountain Big Bear.
Comstock Condominiums and Ski-In Living
After Bear Mountain’s revival, Pratte turned to development. His most ambitious project was the Comstock Condominiums, built on the site of Goldmine’s Rope Tow #1. Nearby, he developed ski-in, ski-out homes on the Poma #1 slope—Big Bear’s only true slopeside communities.
Although the Comstock project stalled after his passing in 2004, it was revitalized in 2021 with $15 million in upgrades, fulfilling his vision for mountain living.
Legacy of Bob Pratte
The history of Bear Mountain in Big Bear cannot be told without honoring Bob Pratte’s contributions. From pioneering snowmaking to shaping resorts and neighborhoods, his influence remains in every ski run, home, and memory created on the mountain.
Today, Big Bear’s slopes and communities stand as living proof of one man’s belief in the mountain’s potential.
