Heritage Hill Park is tucked between a shopping center and a Lake Forest, California riding stable. The park contains several historic structures, including the original El Toro one-room schoolhouse and St. George’s Episcopal Church. Free docent-led tours of these early California buildings are available on weekends, including the Serrano Adobe and Bennett Ranch House.
El Toro One-room Schoolhouse
El Toro Grammar School was initially located at First and Olive in El Toro. Grades 1-8 were taught in the one-room schoolhouse until it was moved 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 Orange County and moved to Heritage Hill Park.
George’s Episcopal Church
George’s Episcopal Church was built in 1891 on Whisler Drive in El Toro. The church has most of its original furnishings, including a reed organ. St. George’s Episcopal Church is all that remains of the English colony that called El Toro home in the 1890s.
Serrano Adobe
Don Jose Serrano built the Serrano Adobe as part of his ranch, Rancho Cañada de Los Alisos, around 1860. The rancho ran a thriving cattle business 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 the Heritage Hill Park office.
Bennett Ranch House
The Bennett Ranch house was initially 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 Historical Park is only a little over four acres, it’s well worth visiting. The park offers a glimpse into California’s past, spanning from the Rancho period to the early English immigrants. The park has a small visitor center, research library, and historical building. The visitor center has pictures and information about the early days of El Toro and also displays a buggy made by the Lutz Company.
A short nature trail runs along the back of the property, where you can view a recreation of a native Indian hut and the Serrano Creek Ranch Equestrian Center. What the park lacks in size, it makes up for in charm, and anybody interested in the history of early California will enjoy walking around the grounds.
Heritage Hill preserves some of the rich cultural heritage of Orange County through its four historical buildings, representing distinct eras in the early development of the Saddleback Valley and El Toro areas. Heritage Hill Park is open Wednesday through Sunday. Park hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tours: Wednesdays, Thursdays & Fridays at 2:00 p.m. Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays at 1:00 a.m. & 2:00 p.m. Closed: Mondays and Tuesdays.
Heritage Hill Historical Park is also available for weddings. The Arbor and Bennett Ranch House lawns are the most popular areas, accommodating up to 150 people for a wedding or reception. St. George’s Mission church is another popular wedding location at the park. All receptions are held outside.
Special events are held each year, with the most popular being the annual Victorian Christmas on the first Saturday of December. Heritage Hill Historical Park 25151 Serrano Road Lake Forest, California
Nearby Points of Interest Within a 10-mile Radius:
Cook’s Corner, located at 19152 Santiago Canyon Rd, Trabuco Canyon, is about 7 miles from Heritage Hill Historical Park, and is a historic biker bar and restaurant established in 1884. Known for its vibrant atmosphere, live music, and community events like the annual Blessing of the Bikes, it’s a popular destination for motorcyclists, cyclists, and locals. The bar offers classic American fare, cold beers, and outdoor seating, though it’s noted for a rustic vibe with limited amenities.
Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park (7.5 miles) Managed by OC Parks, the area boasts over 30 miles of multi-use trails suitable for hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian activities. These trails range from easy creek-side paths, like Wood Canyon Trail, to more challenging routes with elevation gains of up to 1,700 feet, such as the Top of the World loop. The park is open daily from 7 a.m. to sunset. There is a $3 daily parking fee for entry, and annual passes are also available. Please note that dogs are not permitted to preserve the ecosystem.
Mission San Juan Capistrano (9.8 miles) The Mission is a National Historic Landmark and museum that preserves a rich collection of multicultural artifacts, gardens, and exhibits highlighting California’s Native American, Spanish, Mexican, and European heritage. It attracts over 300,000 visitors each year. The Mission is famously associated with the annual “Return of the Swallows” on March 19, which is St. Joseph’s Day. On this day, cliff swallows migrate from South America to nest in their arches.