Vasquez Rocks Becomes a Park

Vasquez Rocks Becomes a Park. . , After a century as privately-held land, Vasquez Rocks entered the mid-1960s as a public park for the first time. While many years of interest were delayed with budget shortfalls, support from the local, state, and federal levels finally led to Vasquez Rocks becoming a Los Angeles County Park on August 1, 1964. Functioning today as a protected ecological and cultural preservation site, the lands of the village of Mapipinga once again serve as a place of gathering, enjoyment, and protection. , , Timeline of Vasquez Rocks' Life as a Park , . Pre-1950: LA County Parks (LA Co.) showed interest in acquiring the Rocks. , . Early 1960s: LA Co. entered negotiations with landowners (including primary holders, the Toney family). , . Aug. 1963: The new 14 Freeway opens next to the park. , . Aug. 1. 1964: Vasquez Rocks becomes a park when LA Co. began a lease-to-purchase agreement with the Toneys. , . 1965: Park improvements were funded by visitor admission, filming permits, and camping reservations. , . 1970-71: Most of the Asher family's scenic "Triple-A" Ranch was purchased and added to the park. , . 1960s-70s: Interest in developing a nature center stirred; historic and archaeological studies were conducted. , . 1992: The Vasquez Rocks Nature Center Associates volunteer group organized support for an Interpretive Center. , . Early 1990s: The park grew nature-based educational opportunities and began the animal ambassador program. , . 2000-2010s: The park grew to 945 acres. , . 2009: The Interpretive Center project moves forward to collaboration and physical work. , . May 30, 2013: Grand Opening and Dedication of the Interpretive Center. , . 2021-2023: The Vasquez Rocks Interpretive Signage and Wayfinding Project (park-wide mapping and signage improvements). , , photo captions: , · The Vasquez Rocks-adjacent construction of the 14 Freeway in 1963. , , · Correspondence between the LA County Park Director and Real Estate section in July 1964, marking the Board of Supervisors' approval for the lease-to-purchase agreement of the Toney property. , , · This 1996 "Riders in the Sky" concert image shows many of the early volunteers with the Vasquez Rocks Nature Center Associates who were pivotal in the efforts of building an Interpretive Center. , , · Jeff Asher, Jr. (whose family owned a ranch at the Rocks from 1934-1971) was overjoyed at the dedication of the Center in May, 2013. , , · Singers representing the Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians at the "Day at the Rocks" community event in 2022. Left to Right: Tribal Vice President Mark Villaseñor, Noli Ortega, Tomiear Ortega, Tribal President Rudy Ortega Jr, and Council of Elders Chair Dennis Garcia. , , · The park continued to be popular with 14,000 tickets sold from March to May of 1965. Left: an original ticket. , , · This 1963 aerial survey photograph, saken roughly to the East, shows newly forming Vasquez Rocks Park. Escondido Canyon Road is visible winding along the left side of the photograph. , , · Exterior of the newly completed Vasquez Rocks Interpretive Center in 2013. , , · The striking interior of the new Center. , , · The first history lecture held in the Interpretive Center in 2014. , , Images courtesy LA County Parks and Recreation, Leon Worden, Patricia Brewer, Atelier Ten, Hunt Design, and Los Angeles Public Library's Valley Times Collection.