Crestwood Summit facts for kids

Crestwood Summit is a high point on a highway that goes through the Cuyamaca Mountains in southern San Diego County, California. This special spot is found on Interstate 8. It's the highest point along Interstate 8, reaching about 4,190 feet (1,277 meters) when you're driving west, and 4,181 feet (1,274 meters) when you're driving east.

What is Crestwood Summit?

Crestwood Summit is like the top of a big hill or mountain that a highway crosses over. It's one of four high points on highways east of San Diego that are over 4,000 feet (1,219 meters) high. The other high points include Laguna Summit and Tecate Divide. Another one, called "Carpenter Summit", might get its official name soon.

How Did It Get Its Name?

This highway summit got its name from a nearby road called "Crestwood Road." This road goes north from Old Highway 80 and even passes under Interstate 8. On some maps, this road is called "BIA Rd.", but on Google Street View, it's clearly marked as Crestwood Road.

Native American Land Near the Summit

The land around Crestwood Summit is part of the reservation for the La Posta Band of Diegueño Mission Indians. This is a group of Native American people. Years ago, the La Posta Band had a casino called the La Posta casino right at the summit. It was located at 777 Crestwood Road, Boulevard, CA 91905, but it closed in 2012.

Today, a different casino called "Golden Acorn Casino" is nearby. It is run by the Campo Band of Diegueño Mission Indians, also known as the Campo Kumeyaay Nation. This is another federally recognized tribe of Kumeyaay people. In the late 1970s, the Campo people decided to use the area near the Crestwood freeway exit for business growth. Their tribal company is called Muht Hei, Inc.