Vallecito Days Celebration 150 Years in the Making

In 1861, in the early days of the Civil War, nearly 17,000 men enlisted as California Volunteers in what became known as the California Column. Colonel James Henry Carleton was charged with keeping the Southern Overland Trail open and holding Arizona and New Mexico for the Union. In that same year he began planning the California Column’s march on the Southern Overland Trail from San Pedro to Camp Wright near Warner Springs, to Yuma Arizona. In a brilliant display of logistical planning he broke his long column of infantry, cavalry and artillery into smaller units to ensure that the limited supply of water and grass on the desert crossing were not over taxed.

Vallecito Stage Station was built around 1857 to support the new mail service to San Diego.  The stage station was also used as a resting spot and watering hole for horses on the Butterfield Stage Line which carried US Mail and weary travelers from the East through the desert area.

San Diego County Parks, California State Parks, Ramona Trails Association and Back Country Horsemen-San Diego will sponsor the fifth annual Vallecito Days on March 25 to 27, celebrating the role of the Southern Overland Trail 150 years ago at the outbreak of the Civil War.

In 2007, Terry Jorgensen was contacted by Sue Wade of California State Parks with an idea. Jorgenson, a member and past president of , got together with Wade and Lynne Christensen of San Diego County Parks and several other notable historians to discuss the possibility of holding a grand celebration for the 150thanniversary of the first successful San Antonio to San Diego Overland Mail route and  the Vallecito Stage Station. Vallecito Stage station is one of very few remaining desert sod structures and it played such a huge role in our history.  Jorgenson recruited other trails association and the backcountry horsemen to assist in planning and pulling off a great celebration. 

The first annual celebration held five years ago was a test of sorts. A smaller event was planned in order to work out some of the bugs and to see what might be improved for future celebrations. The trails association and backcountry horsemen put a camp out together under Jorgenson's leadership.

“This has been one of the hardest and most awesome projects I have ever worked on," Jorgenson said recently. "This means so much to me.”

Every campsite was filled that first year and every year since. Members brought their horses down for the historical re-enactment ride along portions of the Southern Overland Trail. Riders dressed up in 1860s clothing and State Parks and County Parks decked out the Stage Station and opened it for tours that weekend.  Rangers and staff at both agencies worked hard to have it come together and continue to do so every year.

Every year, Vallecito Days has improved with Jorgenson’s dedication. People ride horseback and wear the garb of long ago. They have dinner together and hear historical talks. 

The event has been so successful that other groups have joined each year. They include The Mountain Men and Civil War Infantry.

Vallecito County Park was not an equestrian campground prior to that first celebration. However, due to the dedication of Jorgensen, Wade, rangers, volunteers and staff, a portion of the campground has been developed into a state-of-the-art equestrian camp complete with corrals, large level sites for horse trailers and 38,000 acres of trails. This has connected areas owned by San Diego County Parks, California State Parks and the Bureau of Land Management area referred to as Sawtooth Wilderness.

The public is welcome to check out this year's celebration March 25-27. There are camping sites for non-equestrians too, or people can come just for Saturday.

Be at the stage station to welcome in the travelers at about 1 pm and enjoy the magic of the stage station.