History


On this site in 1902 The Bee Rock Social and Improvement Club was built. This one acre parcel was deeded for $10.00 by the pioneer Lynch Family, for the sole purpose of a public hall. Many meetings, weddings and dances were held here until 1953. There were no lakes at that time, as Lake Nacimiento was not finished until 1957, and Lake San Antonio was finished in the 1960’s. Bee Rock became a General Store in 1963.
	Before this time picnics and meetings were held under the shade of Bee Rock (just up the road on Interlake Road on the right hand side). With its grove of trees for shade and a natural spring at its base, it was the perfect picnic spot. This entire Canyon is named Bee Rock Canyon, due to that rock mountain with the many bees living in it! So many that when a young man named Henry Kahl returned from the Confederate army after the civil war he decided he wanted some honey! He had an idea to blow up part of the rock with dynamite. Unfortunately the honey had so much grit in it from the blast it was inedible! The homesteaders laughed about that for years. You can still see where the rocks were blasted.
The hall was used for many years for dances. People came in their wagons and buggies and stayed all night long. We have log books full of descriptions of all the good times held here. Many of the dances in the 1940’s were attended by the military men from Camp Roberts and Hunter Liggett. The last dance was held here in 1952. The Bee Rock stood empty until 1962. That’s when an industrious couple named Al and Gertie Moore bought the abandoned building. They worked hard to make it a grocery store. Back then there was a campground down the road named Bee Rock Campground. Unfortunately Al passed away in the first year and Gertie, tough and sweet as she was carried on bravely without Al. The Bee Rock campground closed and Gertie cried afraid to lose business but the locals and Lake goers continued to come to The Bee Rock Store. It was known all around for its hospitality, news and gossip of the day. Locals would pick up mail, get their groceries and hang around the pot belly stove, no hurry to be on their way. Everyone loved Gertie and the store. It’s her legacy that we are striving to continue today. Come on in for a cup of hospitality…and maybe a little gossip thrown in for fun too!	The Bee Rock in the 1970's

History