Glen Helen Regional Park
Glen Helen Regional Park, located in San Bernardino, California, was the site of both US Festivals of the early 1980s. It is also home to the San Manuel Amphitheater, the largest outdoor amphitheater in the United States.[1] The park also hosts several off-road races since 1985.
Sycamore Grove
Glen Helen Regional Park is the site of California Historical Landmark NO. 573 SYCAMORE GROVE. Its location is at Glen Helen Regional Park, 2555 Devore Rd, 0.7 mi W of Devore. Sycamore Grove was the first rest stop after the old Native American Mohave Trail left the West Fork Mohave River, following Mojave Trail, to cross the mountains at Monument Peak, descending into Cajon Canyon on the ridge between Cable Canyon and Devil Canyon. This route was used by Father Francisco Garcés in March 1776 and Jedediah Smith in 1826.[2]
Sycamore Grove, later called Martin's Ranch, Sycamore Valley Ranch, and Glen Helen Ranch, was a rest and water spot at the bottom of Cajon Pass on the Old Spanish Trail. It was also located at the mouth of a pass that lead westward to the Mission San Gabriel.[3] Sycamore Grove also lay within the boundaries of the 1843 Rancho Muscupiabe land grant.
From 1848, Sycamore Grove served as a stop on the Mormon Road, a wagon road between Salt Lake City and Los Angeles. For several months in 1851 the grove was the camp for the Mormon colonists who were negotiating the purchase of the Rancho San Bernardino, that became the site of their colony later the city of San Bernardino.
History
In 1847, the wagon road known as the Mormon Road, between Salt Lake City and Los Angeles, was pioneered by a party of Mormons under Captain Jefferson Hunt. This wagon road closely followed the western part of the Old Spanish Trail from Parowan, diverting where necessary to allow wagons to pass. Sycamore Grove was the stop on that road at the foot of the Cajon Pass. This wagon road was used during the California Gold Rush by Forty-niners and later immigrants to California seeking to avoid the fate of the Donner Party, crossing the snow-bound Sierra Nevada in winter.
Between June and September 1851, Sycamore Grove was the first camp of the parties of Mormon colonists, who founded the city of San Bernardino. They included groups led by Captain Jefferson Hunt, Amasa Lyman, Charles C. Rich, David Seely, and Andrew Lytle.[3]
Motorsport
Glen Helen has hosted off-road races since 1985. Its motocross track is known for its steep hills, jumps and banking. It hosted a round of the AMA Motocross Championship in 1993, later from 1996 to 2009, and currently since 2014. It is typically held in May, originally on Mother's Day and currently on Memorial Day, except from 2004 to 2007, when it held in mid September as the final round.
Glen Helen has hosted a round of the Motocross World Championship from 1990 to 1992, later from 2010 to 2011, and currently since 2015. Also it has hosted Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series races since 2010.
- AMA Motocross Championship winners
| Rider | Motorcycle | |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Mike LaRocco | Kawasaki |
| 1996 | Jeremy McGrath | Honda |
| 1997 | Jeff Emig | Kawasaki |
| 1998 | Mickael Pichon | Suzuki |
| 1999 | Sebastien Tortelli | Honda |
| 2000 | Ricky Carmichael | Kawasaki |
| 2001 | Tim Ferry | Yamaha |
| 2002 | Ricky Carmichael | Honda |
| 2003 | Ricky Carmichael | Honda |
| 2004 | Ricky Carmichael | Honda |
| 2005 | Ricky Carmichael | Suzuki |
| 2006 | James Stewart Jr. | Kawasaki |
| 2007 | Grant Langston | Yamaha |
| 2008 | James Stewart Jr. | Kawasaki |
| 2009 | Ryan Villopoto | Kawasaki |
| 2014 | Ryan Dungey | KTM |
| 2015 | Eli Tomac | Honda |
| 2016 | Ken Roczen | Suzuki |
References
- ↑ "Glen Helen Regional Park". Cms.sbcounty.gov. Retrieved 2014-06-01.
- ↑ California Historical Landmark NO. 618 GARCÉS-SMITH MONUMENT - This monument marks an old Indian trail, the Mojave Trail, used by Father Garcés in March 1776 on his trip from Needles to San Gabriel. The same trail was used by Jedediah Smith in 1826 on his first trip through San Bernardino Valley. Located on Monument Peak.
- 1 2 California Historical Landmark NO. 573 SYCAMORE GROVE - Sycamore Valley ranch, formerly called Sycamore Grove, was first camp of the Mormon pioneers. Captain Jefferson Hunt, Amasa Lyman, Charles C. Rich, David Seely, and Andrew Lytle stopped here in June 1851. Location: Glen Helen Regional Park, 2555 Devore Rd, 0.7 mi W of Devore. Office of Historic Preservation, website ohp.parks.ca.gov accessed September 11, 2015
Coordinates: 34°12′19″N 117°24′24″W / 34.20528°N 117.40667°W