COMMISSION

Extravaganza, Halloween Spooktacular, Kid’s Adventure Connection Campout, Critter
Olympics, Geology Daze, as well as Hot Stars and Heavenly Bodies Astronomy Festival.
Interpretive Publications: The visitor’s experience is also enhanced by several
informational and interpretive publications that are produced by the park. They include a
park map, the annual visitor guide, five different natural history guides, as well as resource
trading cards. All are available at the Discovery Center or online at the park’s website.
Park Visitor Guide: The park’s 24-page Your Adventure Starts Here visitor guide is the
go-to publication for visitors and includes a variety of short, fun-to-read articles about the
park. The guide is also available online at the park’s website.
Desert Sky Programs: The skies come alive each weekend at Ocotillo Wells SVRA. Using
giant telescopes, the park’s team of astronomers guide visitors on a trip through the galaxy
and beyond during the astronomy programs. In the afternoon, solar telescopes allow visitors
to get a great view of solar flares and sunspots. When the skies darken, the astronomy
team sets up its powerful telescope for an evening of night sky viewing. Hot chocolate and
NASA-produced movies round out this true desert experience.
School Outreach Programs: Each year, the Ocotillo Wells interpretive team takes the
desert to 32 regional elementary schools. Through these programs, more than 1,000 third
and fourth grade students have the opportunity to explore desert wildlife in an interactive
and educational manner. From live animals to taxidermy mounts, from skulls and skins to
animal scat, this desert biome program is a hit with students and teachers alike.
Park History
Ocotillo Wells SVRA has a rich and varied history. Native peoples lived and traveled
throughout the region for centuries. Early Spanish explorers trekked across the land leading
scouting parties in search of an overland route to Alta California. For several decades in
the early 20th century, wildcatting oil speculators unsuccessfully drilled for “black gold”
in Ocotillo Wells. In the 1930s, movie moguls sent Hollywood production companies to
Ocotillo Wells where they filmed a number of well-known movies. During World War II, the
United States Government commandeered portions of the land for military training and a
firing range. Surplus Jeeps ® were among the first recreational vehicles used to explore the
park just after the war.
Ocotillo Wells SVRA was established in 1976. Prior to this, the area was part of the Anza-
Borrego Desert State Park. Many different people owned these lands before the area
became a State Park. Today, there are still over 600 private in-holdings in the park.
2017 Program Report 221