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Boulder Park builder allegedly paid a buck a day

Imagine climbing the 30% grade to reach this outpost along an old emigrant trail

Kids will be fascinated by the sculptures in Boulder Park.
Kids will be fascinated by the sculptures in Boulder Park.

The sculptures of Boulder Park have amused and surprised people for more than 80 years. W.T. Ratcliffe, an unemployed engineer during the Depression years, carved the stone sculptures in the 1930s where the natural shapes of the granitic boulders inspired him. Allegedly, Ratcliffe was paid a dollar a day for his work during the two-year period over which he created his many sculptures. The carved stone animals and figures that are scattered among the boulders are now recognized as one of California’s unusual and exceptional examples of folk-art environments. Both Boulder Park and the Desert Tower are listed on the National Register of Historic Places (No. 80000801), and as a California Historical Landmark (No. 194). Mountain Springs Station is located just 100 yards from Desert Tower landmark plaque.

Boulder Park monster

The 70-foot tall, three-story cut-stone circular Desert View Tower was built by Bert Vaughn of Jacumba from 1922–1928 to commemorate the pioneers and the road and railroad builders who had opened the area. The view east into Imperial County from Desert Tower is expansive from this 3000-foot elevation perch. A walk up to the observation deck of the tower gives an even more broad view of the area.

Desert View Tower has had several owners over the years. The current owner, Ben Schultz, opened an attractive gift shop with a good selection of books. He has also increased the folk art on the property, adding many murals and art pieces. There is a small fee to visit the observation deck of the tower and to explore Boulder Park.

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Boulder Park sculpture

Among the stone sculptures are lizards, serpents, a buffalo, an Indian head, a hawk, and several fanciful creatures. There is a path among the boulders, but to see them all, a little exploration among the rocks is required. It is a great place for children who are fascinated by all of the sculptures and enjoy discovering them hidden along the trail.

Also of note, sections of Historic U.S. Route 80, the first coast-to-coast route commissioned in 1926, can be seen here and along I-8. U.S. Route 80 incorporated original auto trails that included the Imperial (Algodones) Sand Dunes Old Plank Road that consisted of wood planks originally 2 feet wide for each wheel. In 1916, it was widened to 8 feet across with a turnout every 1000 feet. This section was in support of direct traffic to Arizona. The Old Plank Road was replaced in 1926 by a paved road that terminated at U.S. 101, initially at Broadway, then Market Street intersections. A drive on the remnants of Historic U.S. Route 80 is an interesting trip to see the towns that were by-passed by I-8.

Map to Desert View Tower and Boulder Park

Boulder Park and Desert View Tower

Distance from downtown San Diego: 78 miles. Allow 1.5 hours (vicinity of Jacumba). From SR-163N, take I-8E; after 75.2 miles, take exit 77/Old Hwy 80 and drive under the highway and turn right on In-Ko-Pah Park Road. Follow this road 2.8 miles to Desert View Tower and park.

Hiking length: 0.25 mile.

Difficulty: Easy to moderate due to scrambling over and around boulders and up and down stone steps. Elevation gain/loss of 40 feet. Small fee to visit Boulder Park and the view from the tower. Gift shop and facilities.

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Kids will be fascinated by the sculptures in Boulder Park.
Kids will be fascinated by the sculptures in Boulder Park.

The sculptures of Boulder Park have amused and surprised people for more than 80 years. W.T. Ratcliffe, an unemployed engineer during the Depression years, carved the stone sculptures in the 1930s where the natural shapes of the granitic boulders inspired him. Allegedly, Ratcliffe was paid a dollar a day for his work during the two-year period over which he created his many sculptures. The carved stone animals and figures that are scattered among the boulders are now recognized as one of California’s unusual and exceptional examples of folk-art environments. Both Boulder Park and the Desert Tower are listed on the National Register of Historic Places (No. 80000801), and as a California Historical Landmark (No. 194). Mountain Springs Station is located just 100 yards from Desert Tower landmark plaque.

Boulder Park monster

The 70-foot tall, three-story cut-stone circular Desert View Tower was built by Bert Vaughn of Jacumba from 1922–1928 to commemorate the pioneers and the road and railroad builders who had opened the area. The view east into Imperial County from Desert Tower is expansive from this 3000-foot elevation perch. A walk up to the observation deck of the tower gives an even more broad view of the area.

Desert View Tower has had several owners over the years. The current owner, Ben Schultz, opened an attractive gift shop with a good selection of books. He has also increased the folk art on the property, adding many murals and art pieces. There is a small fee to visit the observation deck of the tower and to explore Boulder Park.

Sponsored
Sponsored
Boulder Park sculpture

Among the stone sculptures are lizards, serpents, a buffalo, an Indian head, a hawk, and several fanciful creatures. There is a path among the boulders, but to see them all, a little exploration among the rocks is required. It is a great place for children who are fascinated by all of the sculptures and enjoy discovering them hidden along the trail.

Also of note, sections of Historic U.S. Route 80, the first coast-to-coast route commissioned in 1926, can be seen here and along I-8. U.S. Route 80 incorporated original auto trails that included the Imperial (Algodones) Sand Dunes Old Plank Road that consisted of wood planks originally 2 feet wide for each wheel. In 1916, it was widened to 8 feet across with a turnout every 1000 feet. This section was in support of direct traffic to Arizona. The Old Plank Road was replaced in 1926 by a paved road that terminated at U.S. 101, initially at Broadway, then Market Street intersections. A drive on the remnants of Historic U.S. Route 80 is an interesting trip to see the towns that were by-passed by I-8.

Map to Desert View Tower and Boulder Park

Boulder Park and Desert View Tower

Distance from downtown San Diego: 78 miles. Allow 1.5 hours (vicinity of Jacumba). From SR-163N, take I-8E; after 75.2 miles, take exit 77/Old Hwy 80 and drive under the highway and turn right on In-Ko-Pah Park Road. Follow this road 2.8 miles to Desert View Tower and park.

Hiking length: 0.25 mile.

Difficulty: Easy to moderate due to scrambling over and around boulders and up and down stone steps. Elevation gain/loss of 40 feet. Small fee to visit Boulder Park and the view from the tower. Gift shop and facilities.

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4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
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