Originally the hills were unnamed, but a resort known as the Holiday Hills Ski Resort opened on Carlson Hill in the 1970's, and people began erroneously calling the hill Holiday Hill. Eventually this name fell out of use, and the name Holiday Hills spread to refer to the surrounding hills as a whole. The name soon also spread to local businesses. Despite the resort and many other businesses eventually closing down, the hills retained their name. Holiday Road in Spokane Valley and Holiday Hills Drive in Liberty Lake are named after the hills.