Santa Ysabel Travel Guide

1 more image

Lake Henshaw is actually located in Santa Ysabel and it a beautiful area with boating, fishing, hiking as well as the mission and casino to visit.

Lake use permits, $5.00 per day Boat Rental, $30.00 per day (With motor) $10.00 per day (Without motor)

WARNING:

Many of the buildings surrounding Lake Henshaw have burned to the ground on 29 October 2003, but it seems that the Tackle Shop, where the boats and fishing gear can be purchased, has survived.

UPDATE:

SYGIRL wrote to me Sat Dec 1, 2007:

I live in Santa Ysabel, the Lake Henshaw store and resort are still there! The fire was not near the resort, restaurant nor the Santa Ysabel Mission.

Thanks SYGIRL!

In 2007 another devastating fire, the Witch Creek Fire raged in the area. Since SYGIRLwrote in December, 2007 that means that this second huge fire also did not damage the resort store or restaurant.

Lake Henshaw is actually a reservoir at the base of the Palomar Mountains and is owned by the Vista Irrigation District which supplies water to over 126,000 people. Much of the area is undeveloped, except for the Lake Henshaw Restort. There is a store selling, amongst other things, fishing supplies and permits, which are needed to legally fish in Lake Henshaw and The Roundup BBQ Grill a restaurant that I've gone to many times and it has a "wild west" feel to it that fits perfectly in this mountainous landscape.

The Mission is closed at night,sorry.

However at Lake Henshaw you can take a walk around the lake or sit outside the cabin with your drink of choice and listen to the noises of nature, insects and wind blowing through the trees. See a million stars in the clear skies. Far from the maddening crowd, a place to commune with nature.

If that isn't what you want, why not take a trip to the Santa Ysabel Resort and Casino! It's open 7 days a week 6:30 am to 2:00 am, except Friday and Saturday it's open 24 hours.

Dress Code: Casual and comfortable clothes is best, especially if you plan to stay for a while.

Mission Santa Ysabel cemetery! OOPS!

There really are no Tourist Traps here but you should know that Tourists are asked not to enter the Cemetary.

There are no fee for admission to the Church or the museum, but a donation is always welcomed.

There is a small historical museum next to the Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church,(AKA: Santa Ysabel, an assistencia of Mission San Diego de Alcala.) that shows what lilfe was like in the area before the Gold Rush Days.

Though it was small and simple, it was very charming and interesting. The photo is a view of the Priest's dining area at the Mission, there were several rooms depicting life for the Missionaries.

Between the Church and the museum, where the original Mission Bells were hung, now has a statue, "The Angel of the Lost Bells" dedicated to finding the Mission Bells that were stolen sometime in 1926. Only the clappers have been found and are displayed in the museum.