History Day in Lake Elsinore...

This little town has always been one we skirted around, heading to other places. In the decades we've lived nearby, we've never explored the downtown. Wow.

Established as a city in 1888, Lake Elsinore has grown from a small resort town in the late 19th century and early 20th century to a population of over 51,000. From the beginning, the mineral springs near the lake attracted visitors seeking therapeutic treatments.

The Santa Fe Depot (1896) was the heartbeat of this area because farmers brought produce there and ranchers brought cattle and received feed that was shipped by railroad. It also was a hub for passengers, vacationing lakeside.

In 1887, the Crescent Bath House, was built; it still stands and is a registered national historic site. President Grover Cleveland was a guest. Lake Elsinore was a popular destination in the first half of the 1900s for celebrities to escape the urban Hollywood scene (more about that later).

This is the first grand structure you see when you enter the historic district from the east. What a surprise find. The Cultural Center was originally constructed in 1923 as a Methodist church. It now houses the historical society museum, a must when times are different.

The murals throughout the city do an exceptional job of sharing Elsinore's history.

This one, capturing the Lake Elsinore Grand Prix intrigued Steve. The Wreck has resided on West Graham Avenue, in the heart of the city’s historical downtown, for at least six decades. Local lore dictates that Hollywood idol Steve McQueen liked to sip a few at the bar while in town to participate in the offroad racing spectacle. The famous actor, and motorcyclist, raced here in 1971 and was the seminal figure in the documentary On Any Sunday.

McQueen competed in the 3rd Lake Elsinore Grand Prix riding on a 405-cc Motocross Husky in a field of 1500 bikes over the 100 mile course.

This building has been intriguing us for decades. Today we paused to learn all about it. Not surprisingly, it is on atlas obscura. This abandoned structure, the Elsinore Naval & Military School, was originally built as Southern California Athletic and Country Club in 1924. The Club was meant to cater to the wealthy and famous personalities of the 1920s. Although the facilities were completed, the Country Club never opened due to financial problems and the coming Depression. The property originally was composed of over 200 acres and included a golf course, tennis courts, cottages by the lake and a marina.

Enter Col. Glenn Conklin, an employee of the Pacific Military Academy in Culver City, who wanted an academy of his own. He bought the property in 1933 with the express intent of establishing a military school. Elsinore Naval Academy was incorporated as a school the same year and operations continued until finally closing its doors in 1977. In the early 1940s, enrollment was on the upswing after the attack on Pearl Harbor. At that time the school even had its own dairy farm.

It was designed by the pretty famous architecture firm of Meyer & Holler. This LA based company was noted for its opulent commercial buildings and movie theatres, including Grauman’s Chinese and Egyptian theatres, built during the 1920s

One of Elsinore's homeowners was actor Bela Lugosi, known for his lead role in Universal Pictures' film, Dracula. He built a home that still exists in the city's Country Club Heights district. His son, Bela Lugosi, Jr. boarded at the Academy for kindergarten through sixth grade, "Because my parents were on the road doing theater and making personal appearances, I cannot say that at the time I liked either military school or celebrity very much. Like most boys, I wanted to blend in, but with a name like Bela Lugosi, Jr., that was not likely." Cool right?

The lake also hosted teams for Olympic training and high-speed boat racing in the 1920s. The lake went dry in the mid-1930s, but refilled by 1938 (that happened a few times). During World War II, the lake was used to test seaplanes, and a Douglas Aircraft plant making wing assemblies for B-17 bombers was located in the city.

Such interesting history! By 1963, the lake was lined with campgrounds. We read about the old City campground getting a revamp, so this was our last stop of the day.

"Almost two years since the City began its transformation of its outdated, underused campground, the City has officially opened its new highly anticipated, state-of-the-art resort - Launch Pointe Recreation Destination & RV Park."

"Launch Pointe is a world-class recreational destination that offers a variety of options for camping and activities that appeal to anyone seeking to get away and enjoy lakeside fun. It is the only Southern California destination that provides the ultimate experience on the largest natural freshwater lake, Lake Elsinore, for families and outdoor enthusiasts who want to create amazing stories and lasting memories."

The resort offers 204 RV spaces with full hook ups and other ways to stay and play, including customized vintage trailers (my favorite) and yurts.

Only 20.6 miles from our house, it took a lifetime to finally learn about Lake Elsinore. It just goes to show, you're never too old to learn. Fun stuff.

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