Vallecito Stage Station

The Vallecito Stage Station is located at the Vallecito Stage Station County Park on County Road S2 approximately 3.7 miles northwest of Agua Caliente Springs. This mesquite shaded 71 acre public campground offers piped water, flushable toilets, recovered picnic area, group sites, 44 primitive campsites with tables, firings, and body stoves. The park is administered by the San Diego County Department of Parks and recreation. Vallecito has been a campsite for literally hundreds of years, beginning first with the native Kumeyaay Indians.

Through the years, the Vallecito station was occupied by one tenant after another but it was not until the younger James E. Mason occupied it that the valley had a legal owner. In 1884 Mason received patent to 160 acres that included the old station that stands today. Previous owner Christian F. Holland deeded six acres in 1934 to San Diego County to begin the restoration process of the crumbling stage station. Today, one room and its roof are parts of the original structure that once stood so many years ago. A regional park tour is available and open to visitors of the station. The tour is seasonal and only operates during the morning and afternoon hours.