In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors had a plan to create a 1.5-acre swimming lake, and a 10-acre fishing and boating lake at the Sunfair Dry lake near Copper Mountain College.
According to the Morongo Basin Historical Society, the plan called for two lakes, a campground, picnic area, activities center, snack bar, restrooms, and landscaping.
Twentynine Palms raised money for the plan through government funds and selling a “stake in the lakes.” Investors received a wooden stake, painted according to the amount of their “investment.” A white stake was for an investment of a dollar; copper, silver, or gold stakes were for donations of $25, $50, or $100.
Marines from the Twentynine Palms Marine Base, working on the project, trained heavy equipment operators, and fostered positive community relations. Wells had brought the water level in the main lake up to the 10-foot mark. On July 29, a small earthquake was registered. During the night of July 29, several cracks up to 30 feet wide opened in the earth, and about 16 million gallons of water disappeared in a loud swoosh, turning the lakes to mud pits.
Click the link below to view the entire article from Hi-Desert Magazine:
https://www.z1077fm.com/LakeWentDownDrain.pdf
