Special Events

ANZA-BORREGO DESERT STATE PARK:
Highlights of its 75-year History

1922 - The idea for a desert preserve is first proposed by Guy L. Fleming, a member of the San Diego Society of Natural History.

1927 - A California State Park Bond is passed, a State Park Commission is formed, and a State Park Survey commences, establishing the first state park system in the nation.

1928 - The completed State Park Survey recommends establishment of “Borego” Palms Desert State Park.

1932 - The first parcel of land is deeded to the state but not recorded until the following year.

1933 - The first seasonal rangers are hired, and federal land is made available for transfer to the state for park use.

1936 - The first selection of federal land is deeded to the state, and the first full-time park ranger is hired. The CCC constructs ranger’s quarters and ramadas in Borrego Palm Canyon (BPC).

1938 - The entire park is renamed Anza Desert State Park. The San Diego County Board of Supervisors opposes expanded park plans calling it a “land grab.”
The State Park Commission dismisses the complaints but agrees to a compromise resulting in a smaller park and the loss of Borrego Valley. Previous plans for a million-acre park and a possible national park never survive the protests.

1942 - The US Navy takes 27,000 acres of the park in Imperial County to use as a bombing range, calling it the Carrizo Impact Area.

1953 - The entire park is divided into two units: Borrego State Park to the north of Hwy 78 and Anza Desert State Park south of the highway.

1957 - The two parks are re-combined into Anza-Borrego Desert State Park for better management. Primitive camping areas are established, the park gets its first naturalist, and a self-guided nature trail is installed at BPC.

1967 - The Anza-Borrego Committee, forerunner of the Anza-Borrego Foundation (ABF), becomes the park’s first volunteer support group.

1971 - Anza-Borrego Desert Natural History Association (ABDNHA) is formed to raise funds to build a park visitor center which opens eight years later.

1982 - The Stout Paleontology Laboratory is opened.

1997 - ABDNHA terminates its relationship with the park. ABF becomes the park’s only official volunteer support group.

1998 - Sentenac Canyon and Cienega is acquired through the efforts of ABF—the first of several major land acquisitions to follow—Lucky 5, Mason Valley, Vallecito Ranch.

2003 - ABDSP partners with ABF and UC Davis to form the Anza-Borrego Institute.

2006 - The Begole Archaeology Research Center opens.

2007-8 - The park celebrates the 150th anniversary of the San Antonio and San Diego Mail and the Butterfield Overland Mail, the 40th anniversary of  ABF, and the 75th anniversary of the Park.