Southern California Day trips
  
Facebook
THINGS TO DO IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
menu
Kids Stuff Theme Parks Train Rides Adventure Tours museums Beaches Whale Watching Wineries
Seasonal Events U-Pick Farms Outlet Malls Kids Birthday Party Places

Heritage Hill Historical Park
Divider

Heritage Hill Park is tucked in between a shopping center and riding stable in Lake Forest, California. The park contains several historic structures including the original El Toro one room school house and St. George's Episcopal Church.

Free docent led tours of these early California buildings are available on weekends and and include the Serrano Adobe and Bennett Ranch House.

El Toro Grammar School was originally located at First and Olive in El Toro. Grades 1 -8 were taught in the one room school house until it was move to El Toro Road in 1915 and converted to a church. Abandoned in the early seventies the building fell into disrepair.

Finally in 1976 the building was donated to the County of Orange and move to Heritage Hill Park.

George's Episcopal Church was built in 1891 and located on Whisler Drive in El Toro. The church has most of its original furnishing including a reed organ. St. George's Episcopal Church is all that remains of the English colony that called El Toro home back in the 1890s.

The Serrano Adobe was built by Don Jose Serrano as part of his ranch Rancho Cañada de Los Alisos around 1860. The rancho ran a thriving cattle business up until 1883 when severe droughts forced the family to divide the ranch and sell off portions.

The Serrano Adobe was made a state historical landmark No. 199 in 1932. Today the Serrano Adobe is Heritage Hill Park office

Bennett Ranch house was originally built on the corner of Second and Cherry street in El Toro. Charles F. Bennett purchased land in El Toro to grow navel oranges and built the ranch house for a live-in caretaker.

When Bennett became ill, his son Harvey moved into the ranch house to oversee his father's El Toro holdings. Harvey took up citrus farming and became interested in improving various strains of oranges and lemons.

Although Heritage Hill Historic Park is only a little over four acres its well wroth a visit. The park gives you a glimpse into California's past from the rancho period to the early English immigrants.

Along with its historical building the park has a small visitor center and research library. The visitor center has pictures and information about the early days of El Toro and also displays a buggy made by the Lutz Company.

There is a short nature trail that runs along the back of the property where you can view a recreation of native indian hut and view the Serrano Creek Ranch Equestrian Center. What the park lacks in size it makes up in charm and anybody interested in the history of early California will defiantly enjoy walking around the grounds.

Heritage Hill preserves some of the rich cultural heritage of Orange County through its four historical buildings, which represent distinct eras in the early development of the Saddleback Valley and El Toro areas. Heritage Hill Park is open Wednesday through Sunday.

 
 
Heritage Hill Historical Park hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tours: Wednesdays, Thursdays & Fridays at 2:00 p.m. Saturdays, Sundays & Holidays at 1:00 a.m. & 2:00 p.m. Closed: Mondays and Tuesdays.

Heritage Hill Historical Park is also available for weddings. The most popular areas, the Arbor and Bennett Ranch House lawn, can accommodate up to 150 people for a wedding or reception. St. George’s Mission church is also another popular wedding location at the park. All receptions are held outside.

Special events each year, the most popular of which is the annual Victorian Christmas held on the first Saturday of December.

Heritage Hill Historical Park 25151 Serrano Road Lake Forest, CA 92630-2534
You Might Like:
Mission San Juan Capistrano
Lee Carrillo Ranch
La Purisima Mission
Missiom San Luis Rey
Crystal Cove beach
Mission San Juan Capistrano one of the most famous missions in California.
Leo Carrillo Ranch a hidden gem well worth a visit in Carlsbad California.
La Purisima Mission Completely restored La Purisima is a must see Lompoc, CA
Mission San Luis Rey Located just a few miles inland from Oceanside. Free admission.
Crystal Cove- 3.5 miles of beach. The cove is home to historic Crystal Cove Cottages.
 
 
 
divider
 
Published from Southern California Content © Daytrippen.com. All rights reserved.