updated 3/29/24
Angelus Oaks is an unincorporated community; surrounded by San Bernardino National Forest; northeast of Redlands on Route 38; consists of a general store, a restaurant, a post office (and a real estate office. A San Bernardino County Fire Station (Station 98) is also downtown, and a San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department Resident Deputy (one of only three in the entire County) lives nearby. The State of California's Department of Transportation (CalTrans) and the United States Forest Service also have a presence in downtown Angelus Oaks. Two private water companies service the residents of Angelus Oaks. Within the town lies the historical Angelus Oaks Lodge, which originally served as a stagecoach stop for passengers traveling up the mountain to Big Bear and is now available for overnight visitors.
Demographics: population 439 [2023]; 46% M; 54% F; 97% US citizen born; 149 households; 51% with children; average household income $91K; 25% below poverty level; 71% own; 29% rent; 52% Bachelors or Graduate; 21% some high school; 32% some college; 40% single; 32% married; 1% widowed & divorced. Zip code 92305.
Small Community Feel. Angelus Oaks residents value a community where residents know each other and are friendly with their neighbors. Peaceful Natural Setting. Angelus Oaks residents value the natural setting of their community. Nestled in the San Bernardino Mountains, residents are close to nature and wildlife, which provides a peaceful and quiet backdrop to their secluded community. Resilience. Angelus Oaks residents value the communities’ focus on resiliency and independence. With the Greyback Disaster Preparedness group, and the communities focus on self-reliance, Angelus Oaks residents know that being resilient is part of their everyday lives.
Angelus Oaks a favorite to bicyclists due to the Santa Ana River Trail (S.A.R.T.); offers the San Bernardino Peak Hiking Trail and Vivian Creek Trail; few miles past Angelus Oaks, in the Barton Flats area, there are multiple public Forest Service campsites and group camps run by various churches and non-profit organizations, including YMCA and Jewish Community Center of Orange County. The two largest and most active camps are the Boy Scout Camp Tahquitz owned by the Long Beach Boy Scouts serving thousands of Scouts year-round and Camp Cedar Falls, run by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Jenks Lake hosts fishing and some swimming activities. Also is Mile High Pines since 1945 a Christian camp for all ages.
History
Angelus Oaks initially Camp Angelus. In 1849 there was a big gold strike in Holcomb Valley, north of Bear Valley and near the town that was later to become Big Bear. The only way to get supplies in and the gold out was by mule trains. The mule train traveled up the Santa Ana River Canyon, stopping overnight in Seven Oaks and then took a switch back trail (Clark's Grade...still visible on the mountain across from the Angelus Oaks Lodge) up to the gold fields.
Beginning in the late 1800s and early 1900s, the stagecoach, using the old wagon road, would bring passengers and mail; the Angelus Oaks Lodge was first built as a stagecoach stop and as a small grocery store. In 1919, with automobiles now traveling up the road to Big Bear, the Angelus Oaks Lodge became a perfect spot to replenish the water in their radiators. A few cabins were built by two brothers that owned the Lodge at that time. These crude cabins were nothing more than four walls and contained only cots for sleeping and a wood-burning stove for heat and cooking.
In 1953 the first teacher lived with his family in Camp Angelus and taught the community children from five to 13 years of age at Camp Angelus Elementary. In 1956 the natural wood clads (later painted red) one-room schoolhouse serving grades one through seven was built and closed permanently in 2004.
In the 1970s, when the postal service decided to combine the two small post offices of Camp Angelus and Seven Oaks, closing the Seven Oaks location, they renamed the remaining office "Angelus Oaks". That name stuck with the town. In 1987, the lodge was purchased and restored which became a livable resort. Currently the cabins are available to rent under a special use permit provided by the USDA Forest Service.
HEADLINE NEWS: On February 12, 2013, in a rural area east of Angelus Oaks, the search for Christopher Dorner ended after a standoff with the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department. He was the primary suspect in a series of shootings.
“a biker and hiker's rest stop and home of the infamous Dorner standoff.”"
Location of Angelus Oaks in SBC
Specific Prayer Points
Government: Countywide plan : State – San Bernardino County Elections – Registrar of Voters – County of San Bernardino (sbcountyelections.com); County – San Bernardino County Elections – Registrar of Voters – County of San Bernardino (sbcountyelections.com) Under District 3
Intercessors who live here to actively pray for the town
Residents find churches in the nearby cities to attend
Safety for hikers on trails (no crime)
Camps: [recoup financial losses from Covid restrictions, break ins stop, people inhabiting their outbuildings would be turned away and caught; people will experience rest & spiritual renewal]
Boy Scout Camp Tahquitz [can be used by anyone during the year]
Camp Cedar Falls [7th Day Adventist]
Mile High Pines Camp [evangelical]
Crime: [2023] Overall crime grade D+; violent D-; property D+; other D+. Frequency every 24 days 1 hr. a crime committed; top crime issues - vandalism 19%; theft 12%; drug crimes 10%; robbery 5%
Churches [not exhaustive]
All churches are located in nearby cities.
None in Angelus Oaks proper