BASS LAKE HISTORY

Bass Lake was completed in 1910 to protect property downstream. Now it generates 27 megawatts of power through 5 downstream power houses and is owned by Pacific Gas & Electric. It has developed into major resort and recreation facility. This lake features year round full contact with boating, personal water craft, fishing & water sports.

Prior to 1991, The Pines Tract consisted of 255 undivided acres of land leased by Bud Williams (Williams Resort) from PG&E on a long term master lease which expired in 2013. The Land had been informally subdivided into 550 residential lots, some commercial property and the road network.

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Williams subleased these informally divided lots to persons who built cabins on the leased land. The Cabins were owned, but were built on leased land. The subleases were set to expire in 2012. Because of this arrangement, the cabins were, for the most part, modest. As 2012 was getting closer, maintenance was deferred and very few cabins were remodeled improved. It was very unclear that PG&E would grant Williams another master lease. It was equally unclear if Williams would be reasonable in renegotiating renewal of subleases.

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In 1984 Henry "Barney" Bernard formed the Bass Lake Homeowners Association. With a lot of hard work and help from the County of Madera, sublease owners were able to buy out the Williams Resort. A Bond assessment program was implemented in 1989, money was raised, and over it's objections, Williams Resort was bought out for $5.1 Million Dollars.

Wishon was a vibrant town founded in the 1920's as the mountain terminus of the Minarets and Western Railroad! This remarkable railroad, owned by the Sugar Pine Lumber Company, was vital in transporting logs to a bustling mill in Pinedale while also serving as a common. Named after the innovative A. Emory Wishon, a pioneer in hydroelectric energy, this town thrived even after the company’s closure in 1931, with its post office staying open until 1986! Explore the exciting legacy of this dynamic community that flourished in the roaring 1920s!

Negotiations commenced with PG&E and again, after lengthy negotiations and bargaining, PG&E sold 125 Acres to the Bass Lake Homeowners Association for 16.3 Million Dollars. This took another bond issue to raise the money. Liens on every piece of property which went to the bond for financing were put in place. Property owners started getting their deeds to their land in 1992. Again in this process, Madera County assisted in many ways, supporting the bond issue, serving as a facilitator, holding the land until it could be surveyed, officially subdivided and the deeds issued, etc.Since sublease holders became real property owners without the fear of loosing their investment, the community was reborn with a boom of new building. Old cabins were torn down and others remolded. Property values have soared with Lake Front homes selling for over $2 Million Dollars.(article written by Jim Ackroyd, edited by BassLakeCA.com)