Old Town San Diego State Historic Park
One of California’s most-visted state parks is right here in San Diego:
Old Town San Diego actually was the most-visited State Park in 2005 and 2006. Regretfully that wasn’t good enough for the State, so they fired Diane Powers, the woman who had run the commercial side of the park for thirty years, making it a great place to visit, stroll, eat, enjoy….
Control of the commercial enterprises was handed over to Delaware North, located in — you guessed it — Delaware. How a company in Delaware was going to manage a southwestern park 2,800 miles away was beyond the comprehension of most of us. Indeed, Delaware North failed. The number of visitors and revenue both plunged, eventually causing Delaware North to quit. Sadly, the damage was done, and Old Town San Diego is a mere shell of its former self. I used to go monthly. Now I go maybe once a year simply to see if it’s still there.
Located in the Park are many historic structures saved from the wrecking ball, two of the most significant of which are:
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Casa de Estudillo — An adobe house built in 1827 and one of the oldest surviving examples of Spanish architecture. It is listed as a California Historic Landmark (#53) and a National Historic Landmark. -
Whaley House — Over the years the Whaley House served not only as the home of Thomas Whaley but also as San Diego’s second county courthouse and the first commercial theater. It was built in 1857 in the Greek Revival style. It also is haunted, designated as an official Haunted House by the United States Commerce Department in the 1960s. The Travel Channel show, America’s Most Haunted, named it the number one most haunted. The site was a gallows before Thomas Whaley purchased it, and the first ghost to be reported was the ghost of James “Yankee Jim” Robinson who was hanged in 1852.
Additional structures include the first San Diego courthouse; the first public school house; and a general store, newspaper office and print shop, and stables, all from the mid-19th century. There are several other historic buildings, gift shorts, restaurants, and local events. Give Old Town San Diego a try if you’ve never been there.
Casa de Estudillo
First San Diego Courthouse
Ye Olde Soap Shoppe
McCoy House
Fiesta de Reyes
Old Town San Diego
First San Diego public schoolhouse
Cosmopolitan Hotel
Whaley House
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Posted on August 25, 2012, in Halls of History, History, Manmade, Out & About, Photos and tagged casa de estudillo san diego, cosmopolitan hotel san diego, fiesta de reyes san diego, first san diego courthouse, first san diego schoolhouse, mccoy house san diego, old town san diego pictures, whaley house san diego, ye olde soap shoppe. Bookmark the permalink. 27 Comments.
Great post Russel! I wish I was more familiar with Old Town before the out-of-towners took over, but I’ve been there about 3 times since 2009 and still find it an enjoyable way to pass the day. I did take a tour of the Whaley House right before Halloween in 2010, but didn’t have any out of the ordinary experiences. I can usually browse around Capt. Fitch’s for awhile just looking at all the different history books and other miscellaneous stuff.
The preserved structures are definitely a must see.
I like walking over to Casa Guadalajara for lunch at the Bazaar Del Mundo shops. There is a small bath & body type of shop just outside of Bazaar Del Mundo – it’s in one of the buildings before you get to the designated Bazaar Del Mundo area. Anyhow, I like browsing around and picking up a few splurges in that shop. The woman who ran the shop last time I went was actually living part of the year in Phoenix as her husband is a ballplayer for the Diamondbacks.
Great photos as always.
Bazaar del Mundo and Casa Guadalajara are owned by Diane Powers. They once were in the Park but are not anymore. They are on the outskirts of the Park, still in the Old Town San Diego neighborhood.
Reblogged this on California Dreaming Association.
Thank you!
What is the name of that fantastic Mexican restaurant in old town? I had THE BEST carnitas there! THE BEST!
Probably Casa de Pico but it was owned by Diane Powers and when they kicked her out, she took all her great restaurants with her. Now they are spread throughout San Diego County, from Oceanside to Old Town to La Mesa. And guess where Casa de Pico is? Right here in La Mesa at Grossmont Center.
They kicked her out?!? Why? Did I mention I ate THE BEST carnitas there? THE BEST!
She had been there for 30 years and the whole park was the best thing in San Diego. Then California thought they could do better. They totally destroyed the park and all it was. The new corporation they brought in to take over the things lasted about 18 months before they gave up. Now it’s just a mess, but Diane Powers is doing great. All her fans followed her restaurants elsewhere.
Awesome pictures, Russell. Looks like a place I would enjoy visiting but doubt at my age I will ever make it to California again so I am glad you share your wonderful pictures. Hugs
We’ve been, it’s fun. Great photo’s!
Check me in to the Cosmopolitan. I’ll give it a whirl.
Very interesting; you find the most out of the way places to tell us about; love that!
I felt such an archetypal nostalgia while admiring these photographs! Oh, and, of course <3 Zoey <3 Btw, you have one more nomination for Adventurous Blogger Award, see my latest entry ( I know Managua of http://managuagunntoday.wordpress.com/ has already nominated you, but i couldn't resist
)
Thank you so much dear lady!
Interesting blog! Thank you so much for choosing to follow mine. I will be back!
Last time I was there was in Jan 2010, and it did seem different from the previous times I was there. Was wondering what was going on….
Your pictures are like postcards! Great work!
Thank you for saying so!
Thank you, Russel. Your photos remind me a lot of Mission San Juan Batista and the buildings surrounding it. Some look almost identical. I live perhaps 75 minutes away from MSJB and my wife and I go there perhaps 2-3 times per year.
Russ
fabulous photographs russel, the snoozing cat is best of the collection
Love that old pub
Emu
Thanks for the great history lesson.
Lovely photos and I’m sure it’s still a great place to visit. I love historic sites like that. As it’s unlikely that I will come to the US any time soon, it’s wonderful to be able to look at those photographs and read a little about the history of the place.
Fascinating – I haven’t been to Old Town San Diego in about 20 years – I want to go back! Thanks for the history and the photos.
This is great! I only saw this in movies.
We were there a number of years agao, it was fun. Too bad the State didn’t make good decisions, isn’t that frequently the way? Hopefully they’ll get their act together, so residents and visitors can still come and enjoy a slice of history.
Awww I love old town areas! Really pretty