| Pre-European History | Native Americans travel through leaving many petroglyphs on Donner Summit. |
| 1849 | Benjamin Bernard Redding heads for California from Newfoundland. He become land agent for the CPRR and explored the Sierra. |
| September, 1866 | Fitz William Redding Jr., BB's brother settles in Ice Lakes building a 12 X 12 plank cabin and clearing an acre of land. Serene Lakes 1866 map link |
| 1867 | The transcontinental railroad is built over Donner Summit. |
| Winter, 1867 | Fitz William Jr. falls ill, goes to his parents in Sacramento and dies. |
| 1868 | Summit Ice Co. is incorporated and begins ice harvesting on Ice Lakes |
| 1872 | The winters were too much - Summit Ice moves down to Prosser Cr. |
| 1882 | B.B. dies - he had been CA secretary of state, state representative, first state printer, mayor of Sacramento, U.S. Gov't. land agent, fisheries commissioner, prison commissioner, Regent of the Univ. of California, president of the Academy of Sciences, newspaper publisher, and other things that had interested him. All that and he'd arrived in California with no money - but he did have a load of sea turtles. For the whole story, refer to the Serene Lakes Property Assoc. archive of newsletters specifically fall '97 and Winter and Spring '98. (Serene Lakes Prop Assoc.) |
| 1882 | Summit Ice joins with other ice companies to form Union Ice - a monopoly. |
| WWII | Ice Lakes Chalet built - it will become Serene Lakes Lodge |
| The Chalet serves as a rest and recreation spot for Army Air Corps officers. | |
| 1941 | The dam is built and three Ice Lakes become two. |
| 1958 | Sierra Lakes Club opens for business - for "wholesome family activity ...at nominal cost to the average American family.... [so people can enjoy the] magic splendor of or Sierras without the tinsel and artificiality...so now prevalent." People could rent tent cabins and chalets and enjoy lots of activities. Chalets rented for $3/day/adult. |
| 1959 | New road into Serene Lakes is built. |
| 1966 | Water rights are signed over to the new Sierra Lakes County Water District but the lake property is still owned by Sierra Laks Club. |
| Since then | Various developers succeeded the Sierra Lakes Club and developed eight different subdivisions all of single family type housing. Royal Gorge beomes North America's largest cross country ski area. A new lodge, Ice Lake Lodge, was built in 1998-9. |
| 2005 | Royal Gorge changes hands and along with it 3000 acres surrounding Serene Lakes. A new large development is in the works. |
