ESCONDIDO, Calif. — Tucked in the heart of North County, Escondido blends modern attractions with a deep sense of history, offering residents and visitors a glimpse into the region’s past at Grape Day Park and the adjacent Escondido History Center.
While the city is known for destinations like the California Center for the Arts and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, its historical footprint is on full display at Grape Day Park — a site that showcases restored buildings and vintage artifacts dating back over a century.
Among the park’s highlights is the Santa Fe Depot and a 1929 Pullman railcar, a former mail-and-passenger train now converted into a small museum. The railcar features the Grapevine Flyer, a model train exhibit assembled in 1991 after more than 500 hours of meticulous craftsmanship. However, due to electrical issues, the display was not operational during a recent visit.
Cynthia Castaneda, executive director of the Escondido History Center, expressed concern over the railcar’s structural condition. “We have concerns about structural damage,” Castaneda said, noting that while the exhibit remains open, any safety hazard could prompt its closure. She added that future reopening would depend heavily on available funding.
A similar issue faces the nearby Hoffman House, an eight-room Queen Anne-style Victorian farmhouse originally built on what is now North Escondido Boulevard. Relocated to Grape Day Park’s Heritage Walk in 1980 and opened to the public in 1986, the historic home suffers from wood rot and possible structural decay.
“It just needs a lot of work, unfortunately,” Castaneda said. Although the house is still deemed safe for visitors, its long-term future remains uncertain without significant repairs.
Despite these challenges, Grape Day Park continues to draw visitors with its unique combination of play areas, open green space, and historic architecture. “I can literally walk right outside and see buildings that were built in the late 1800s and early 1900s,” Castaneda said, noting that a functioning blacksmith shop operates twice weekly.
Jessica Johnson, founder of the Hidden San Diego website, is a longtime advocate for preserving such spaces. Her interest in Escondido’s heritage began during her early 20s, when limited transportation options led her to seek out local, walkable attractions.
“At first it looks like a normal park, but then when you go to the outskirts, you see all these historic buildings,” Johnson said. “There’s a train here, and they open up on the weekends.”
Johnson emphasized the value of tangible history. “I think history needs to be something you can touch, that you can smell, that you can see,” she said. “When I look around San Diego County, I see everything historical being demolished… I think it adds character to a city, and I think that we need to help save these places.”
As Grape Day Park continues to balance public engagement with the realities of preservation, advocates hope renewed attention and funding will ensure Escondido’s past remains accessible to future generations.
