Dismissal of CEA lawsuit and projected opening of Green Valley Equestrian Camp.

July 2010

Starting next month, individuals and families will once again be able to camp with their horses, mules and ponies in the Cuyamaca mountains east of San Diego. For over 50 years, horse enthusiasts enjoyed shady campsites and quiet trails at the Los Caballos Family Horse Camp in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park. But after the Cedar Fire in 2003 cultural resource protection issues shut down the camp. Now, with the anticipated opening of converted facilities at the Green Valley campground, equestrians will have a place to camp in the park.

In 2003 the Cedar Fire devastated much of San Diego County in southern California. Many public facilities were closed due to damage or for resource protection. In the 7 years since the fire, the Cuyamaca Equestrian Association (CEA) has attempted to work with California State Parks to reopen the Los Caballos Family Horse Camp in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park. Failing that, the hope was to establish a new family camping experience comparable to Los Caballos.

In 2008, State Parks announced it was going to "clean up" Los Caballos Horse Camp, which had been left relatively undamaged by the fire. CEA discovered that the result of this "clean up" project would have been the complete dismantling of the equestrian camp.

CEA, after requesting and receiving input from the membership, along with donations, filed a lawsuit on October 30, 2008 in order to stop the State Park's proposed "cleanup" project. Prevailing in the lawsuit would have left Los Caballos in its current condition, but would not have allowed for the reopening of the camp for equestrian use.

CEA has kept the lawsuit open while negotiating in good faith with State Parks and then monitoring the process for the conversion of Green Valley Falls Sweetwater Loop into a family equestrian camping area.

In July, 2010, CEA's attorney, Cory Briggs, received the following from State Parks attorney, Carol A. Squire, "The conversion project for the new horse camp in Green Valley will be completed by the end of next month, August 2010." Accordingly CEA has filed for dismissal of the litigation.

CEA member groups and fellow equestrians are looking forward to the anticipated August 31st opening of the Green Valley equestrian loop.  Individuals, families and friends will once again enjoy camping and riding in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park. Development of a replacement camp for Los Caballos in the north end of the park remains to be accomplished.

Groups and individuals have donated generously to support the legal efforts by CEA. After paying all attorney fees and court costs, $1,500 remains in the CEA treasury. In accordance with CEA's commitment to refund the balance of funds donated specifically for legal costs, CEA's treasurer will be sending to those donors who gave $500 or more, proportional amounts of the remaining funds.