Vasona Lake County Park facts for kids
Vasona Lake County Park is a beautiful park in Los Gatos, California. It's part of the Santa Clara County Parks system. This park is a popular spot for families and friends to enjoy nature and fun activities.
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Park History and Its Name
The land where Vasona Park sits has a long and interesting past. Long ago, two people named Jose Hernandez and Sebastian Peralta built the very first house in the area. It was an adobe house, made from sun-dried earth bricks. This house stood on what is now one of the park's green lawns.
The Railroad and "Vasona"
A long time ago, a special 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge train track ran through the park. This was the South Pacific Coast Railroad. It traveled through downtown Los Gatos and over the Santa Cruz Mountains to places like Felton and Monterey Bay.
Later, the Southern Pacific Railroad took over these tracks. They made them wider, changing them to a standard gauge. A local farmer, Albert August Vollmer, asked the railroad for a new train stop near his farm. The railroad agreed and even let him name it! He chose "Vasona," the name of his favorite childhood pony.
This stop became "Vasona Junction." It was a key point where tracks split off. One line went to San Jose and Campbell. The other, the Vasona Branch, went through the Cupertino Hills to Palo Alto. This made it easier to travel directly to San Francisco. The name "Vasona" stuck around and was later used for the park itself.
The dam that created Vasona Lake was finished in 1934. Trains continued to run along the lake's western side until 1959. Today, the old railroad path over the reservoir is now University Avenue.
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Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad
After a train engineer named Billy Jones passed away in 1968, people worked together to honor him. They helped rebuild his special 18 in (457 mm) miniature railway inside the park. Billy Jones used to run this tiny train around his prune orchard.
The Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad is now a fun attraction at the park. You can find its station, engine house, and a souvenir stand nearby. The W.E. "Bill" Mason Carousel is also in the adjacent Oak Meadow Park. The train runs on weekends all year and every day during summer school breaks.
One of their steam locomotives, No. 2, is very old and special. It was made operable again in 2005 after years of work. The carousel building also has a custom-built band organ. This organ plays music from special rolls and was updated in 2012.
In 2013, the park's picnic areas were updated, making them even nicer for visitors.
Park Location and Surroundings
Vasona Park is built around Vasona Reservoir. This reservoir, along with Lexington Reservoir, is located on the southern edge of Los Gatos. Both reservoirs were created by building dams on Los Gatos Creek.
Right next to Vasona Park is Oak Meadow Park. This park is owned by the Town of Los Gatos and offers even more space for fun.
Animal Life in the Park
Vasona Lake County Park is home to various animals. In early 2017, a bald eagle was even seen flying over the park! This shows the park's natural beauty and how it supports local wildlife.
Fun Activities at Vasona Park
Vasona Reservoir is a great place for water activities. You can rent pedal boats at the marina. Many people also enjoy kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding on the lake.
The park also has the Youth Science Institute, which we'll talk about more below. There are several picnic areas where families can gather. You'll also find many trails for hiking and biking. The popular Los Gatos Creek Trail runs right through the park. This trail stretches from Lexington Dam almost to downtown San Jose. Vasona Park is one of the most popular parks in the South Bay area.
Special Events at the Park
Since 1998, the park hosts a magical event called Vasona Fantasy of Lights every December. The park lights up with amazing holiday scenes, images, and animations. It's a wonderful sight to see!
The park also helps host the annual Pianos in the Park event. This event is organized by the Santa Clara County Parks.
Vasona Science and Nature Center
The Youth Science Institute - Vasona Science and Nature Center opened in 1980. It's a special place for kids to learn about science and nature. The center has exhibits about natural history. You can also see live animals that live in the Guadalupe Watershed area. There's even a trail with native plants.
The center offers many programs for schools and groups. They also have after-school science programs and summer camps. The Vasona center is the main office for the Youth Science Institute.
