Many baby boomers grew up watching Western’s on television. The Lone Ranger, Bonanza, Gunsmoke and so many more. Western movies created many famous iconic Hollywood stars, people like John Wayne and Gary Cooper. The stories of rugged men and women who blazed trails, fought Indians, wild animals and Mother Nature have captivated audiences for years.
Children today aren’t so ‘experienced’ with old west stories, old west culture or old west legends. True, Hollywood continues to make Western themed movies like Appaloosa, Hidalgo, True Grit and Open Range. Cowboys and the Wild West are part of our American Heritage and, here in the Southwest, part of our culture. How lucky for San Diegan’s that for the last seven years, a dedicated group of people have organized an event that brings the Old West back to life at Vallecito Stage Station, where Union soldiers camped out and early California pioneers found oasis.
“This is one of our most interesting events all year, and it’s worth the trip to the desert,” County Parks and Recreation Director Brian Albright said. “Most San Diego County residents don’t realize that Vallecito once hosted thousands of travelers who sought their fortunes out west and a 1,500 man California unit on its way to fight in the Civil War.”
Historic Re- enactors demonstrate life as it was 150 years ago when the Vallecito Stage Station was an important stop on the Butterfield Overland Stage Route. Todd Underwood writes on the Frontier Trails of the Old West website “In March of 1857, realizing the need for an overland mail route from the east that serviced the west, congress passed a Post Office Appropriations Bill. While nine bids were being considered for this new contract, James E. Birch began carrying mail and passengers from San Antonio, Texas to San Diego. The first trip was in August 1857.”
Visitors to the Vallecito Stage Station County Park this weekend, March 16 and 17, 2013 will get to experience life as it was back then. Re-enactors will demonstrate tomahawk-throwing and frontier cooking along with soap making and weaving. Antique firearms will also be on display. A camp will be set up re-creating the adventures of trappers and hunters who traversed the Southern Overland Trail.
The event will take place on Saturday, March 16 from 10 am – 4 pm, and on Sunday, March 17 from 10 am – 2 pm. The event is free and open to all ages. For more information call, (760) 765-1188.
Saturday, March 16 Schedule of Events:
• 10 am - Throughout the Day
o Mountain Men will be at their encampment and will demonstrate tomahawk throwing, archery, flint and steel fire making and open hearth cooking.
o The Horsemen dressed in period attire will be leaving, and will return at 1 PM.
o The Stage Station will open for tours explaining the history of the area with story boards and artifacts.
o A surveying and mapping booth will offer an historical encampment of the men who mapped the west.
o Spinners and weavers will be at the Stage Station with demonstrations.
o Other activities and demonstrations depicting life on the frontier will be occurring at the Station.
• 12 pm
o The Civil War re-enactors of the California Column will be ending their long march at the Stage Station.
• 1 pm
o The Horsemen return to the Stage Station delivering the Overland Mail and will interact with the mountain men, soldiers and pioneers at the station.
• 4 pm
o The event for this day ends.
Sunday, March 17 Schedule of Events:
• 10am - 2 pm
o Pack saddle demonstration on the east side of the Stage Station showing how the pioneers were able to haul their belongings on the back of a horse.
o The Stage Station will open for tours explaining the history of the area with story boards and artifacts.
o Other activities and demonstrations depicting life on the frontier will be occurring at the Station
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Vallecito Days was started by several dozen horseback riders and history buffs. It has grown and is now run by San Diego County Parks and Recreation (www.www.sdcounty.ca.go), California State Parks (www.parks.ca.gov), the Ramona Trails Association (www.ramonatrails.org), Save Our Heritage Organization (www.sohosandiego.org) and San Diego Unit Backcountry Horsemen of California (www.bchcsd.com). Organizers will be there in period attire; they invite and encourage the general public wear old west costumes as well. Leave the modern world behind, step back in time to 150 years ago, and bring your camera!
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