CUYAMACA RANCHO AND PALOMAR MOUNTAIN STATE PARKS
CELEBRATE THEIR 75TH ANNIVERSARY OCTOBER 11
75 Years of Mountain Adventure
1933-2008
California State Parks and the Cuyamaca Rancho State Park Interpretive Association invite you to join us on October 11 for the 75th anniversary celebration of the establishment of these state parks.
Distinguished guests will include Michael Harris, California State Parks Deputy Director of Policy and Strategic Planning; Anthony Perez, California State Parks Southern Division Chief, Michael Wells, California State Parks Colorado Desert District Superintendent, and Joan Embery, San Diego Zoo Good Will Ambassador and founder of the Embery Institute for Wildlife Conservation.
Our celebration will be held at the Cuyamaca School Camp (Camp Cuyamaca) located at 12561 Hwy 79 Descanso, CA inside the Cuyamaca Rancho State Park. The events will start at 10 a.m. and end at 4 p.m.
Both parks were part of a grand scheme to expand the then, very small State Park System. In 1928 the first State Park Bond Act was passed, paving the way for the purchase of these two parks. Palomar’s first 1600 acres were purchased in 1931 and Ralph M. Dyar sold 20,000 acres of what is now Cuyamaca Rancho State Park in 1933. The 1930s also saw the creation of the Emergency Conservation Work camps, but President Roosevelt used the term Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) in a speech to Congress and the name stuck. For more information on these parks, please visit www.parks.ca.gov.
This celebration will highlight both Cuyamaca Rancho and Palomar Mountain State Park’s history and place in San Diego County. Event highlights will include history of the parks in photos and lecture, a discussion panel focusing on the fire in the parks and exhibitions by The Embery Institute for Wildlife Conservation. The local Cal Fire, US Forest Service and San
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Diego County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team will also be on hand. Learn about the history of the Civilian Conservation Corps as told in their own 75th anniversary display. Explore our local flora and fauna from the California Native Plant Society and discover what we uncovered in the basement of the historic Ralph M. Dyar house, destroyed in the 2003 Cedar Fire. There’ll be food and refreshments available from Country Inn BBQ Chuck Wagon.
There is so much more to enjoy that day, so come and help us celebrate San Diego County’s premier mountain parks and 75 years of mountain adventure!
To find out more information on this event, please contact Cuyamaca Rancho State Park at 760-765-3020 or email at nmart@parks.ca.gov
