Cuyamaca Park Announces Fire Redevelopment Plan

by Bobbi Zane

Cuyamaca State Park officials are taking the initial steps necessary to rebuild the scenic park that was almost completely destroyed by the Cedar Fire last fall.

Officials outlined rebuilding plans for park facilities at a public meeting held on Aug. 12. “Our goals are to make the park better for the public, better for the resources and operations, and better for the Julian community,” explains park superintendent Laura Itagawa, who grew up in San Diego and has spent the last 16 years working in Cuyamaca.

The plan presented at the meeting addressed seven areas of the park that were severely damaged. Using a simplified review process because the issue is rebuilding facilities that were already in the park, the plan has been studied by archaeologists and natural scientists in Sacramento; it will be available for public comment this fall.

Most exciting are the plans to develop the former Boy Scout camp known as Hual Cu Cuish at the north end of the park, Itagawa says. “The will provide us with the opportunity to increase visitor services, “ by building a collection of small cabins with power and heat for overnight accommodations for the general public and conference use. The Dining Hall will be reconstructed to serve as a meeting/dining hall room. Restrooms will be replaced and ADA access will be added to some buildings.

The all-important horse camps will be rebuilt with some alterations, Itagawa says. Equestrians, who frequently comprise up to 50 percent of Cuyamaca’s visitors, will be happy to learn that the equestrian trails are being restored, that campsites will be added to Los Caballos Equestrian Camp, and that Los Vaqueros Group Equestrian Camp will be rebuilt with the addition of a restroom, being provided by an anonymous donor. Most work is currently being done by volunteers.

At Paso Pacheco Campground, planned rebuilding will result in improved maintenance facilities, replacement of two group campground combination buildings, one comfort station, and replacement of two public use cabins and a volunteer cabin.

Recovery at Stonewall Mine Historic District will be limited for the time being to removal of hazardous waste and debris. Some of the relics of the mining period were not damaged and will remain.

Not on the list of projects outlined to the public in August was replacement of the museum at Dyar House, which was scheduled to begin prior to the fire. A grant of $170,000 had been approved for updating the museum before the fire destroyed Dyar House. Any day now a temporary museum and gift will be up and running in a 48 x 60-foot trailer at the site. Plans call for the museum, expected to be full of modern interactive exhibits, to move back to the Dyar House in 2007. The old stone structure, built in 1923 by rancher Ralph Dyar, needs significant work that the experts are still deciding how to do.

Currently about 30 percent of the trails are open for hikers, bikers and equestrians...including the popular trail to Stonewall Peak. The Green Valley campground is also open on a first-come basis. Itagawa hopes to have tree and other hazards removed so all the campgrounds can be opened by next summer.

Officials estimate it will cost between $11 and $12 million to rebuild the park. Funds are coming from FEMA and through matching donations; FEMA requires 25 percent matching funds. Itagawa invites friends of Cuyamaca to make a donation to the Cuyamaca Rancho State Park Interpretive Association to support the rebuilding project. Details can be found at www.cuyamaca.us.