A place where time stands still
Welcome to Jacumba, Ca.
Afectionately known as J-Town it is one of the best kept secrets in Southern California. J-Town is a high desert town located in the far Eastern portion of San Diego County with breathtaking beauty in every direction you look.
Once a boom town in the 1930's that was made famous by many movie stars. Desired by many for it's mineral water spas and mineral water bathhouses it was and is the "in" place to be.
Jacumba (pronounced "ha-cum-ba") is located along the original Highway 80, that was first a horse and wagon trail and also along the San Diego-Arizona Railroad tracks. It wasn't until 1927 that the California highway department graded and laid a twenty-foot pavement from the top of Mountain Springs Grade to the bottom of the desert floor, a nearly 3000 feet descent. Today, as people cruise up and down the mountains on Interstate 8 they can still see some portions of the 1927 pavement. The original route was part of the Lee Highway and was the only national cross-country route designated as ending in San Diego. It drew traffic from New York into Washington D.C., and along a southern, all weather route.
Today some 400 people live in Jacumba. What now appears a quiet high desert retreat was once a thriving spa. In the 1920s and ‘30s the community thrived, its therapeutic hot springs a Mecca for Hollywood celebrities and wealthy Imperial Valley growers. Clark Gable is said to have made Jacumba famous by frequenting its spa.
On weekends at the local airport you’ll find sail planes being towed aloft to catch the thermals, with pilots who savor the solitude and challenge of powerless flight. During the week the airport is quiet, inhabited by hawks and their prey.
Old U.S. Highway 80 bisects the beautiful town which is located at a elevation of 2800' amongst the mountain peaks.
The landmark Jacumba Hotel was destroyed by a fire and was torn down in 1991. But walking through town on a sunny day you get the sense of history. The old buildings, tumbleweeds and dry air give the imagination room to wander, to sense what was.
Jacumba Community Calendar
This calendar was created to list all events planed for Jacumba in the future. To submit an event please use the Contact Us tab and I will post it for you. Please include the time, date, location and a description of the event.
Jacumba Fall Festival October 1, 2011
Twice a year the community gets together for a Spring and Fall Festival. Many vendors, information, food booths, music, a hayride, kids jump and many childrens games are here for the whole community to enjoy. The pictures below and on the left are of the Fall Festival.
The Jacumba Arts Council is a non-profit organization formed by caring individuals from our community. We are located in the high desert community of Jacumba, located 70 miles East of San Diego and 50 Miles West of El Centro.
The Jacumba Arts Council goals:
Make a positive difference in the community through education and presentation of the arts in all forms reflecting the common good.
Promote education, beautification, and the preservation of the cultural history of the wonderful community of Jacumba by presenting the artistic process and the creation of art as a heritage for future generations.
Promote artistic opportunities through interaction with other arts agencies and organizations, and offering venues for cultural interaction in the display, performance, practice, and application of the arts.
Provide music, art and other community events through out the year.
To attract skilled, positive and caring individuals who want to make a difference through volunteerism.
Please visite www.jacumbaartscouncil.org for more information and to contact us.
Sunday Breakfast
Every Sunday morning from 8a.m. to 11a.m. you can enjoy a delicious breakfast with others from your community and surrounding areas. Your participation keeps the center open. Great food at a great price. We welcome new volunteers. Any time you can donate is appreciated.
Highland Center Lunch
Every Wednesday at noon you can have a delicous lunch with other members of your community.
Everyone is welcome, no age limit
60 and Older $3 and Under 60 - $5
Donations are appreciated
Call 766-4279 for more information. RSVP recommended but we do take walkin's if we can.
Welcome
Welcome to the Highland Center. The Center is run by the Board of Directors of the Highland Senior Citizen’s Group, a non profit organization.
The Board applied for a grant to build the present building at 44681 Old Hwy 80 in Jacumba, in 1988. The Sunday Breakfast is the fundraiser that pays for the running of the building; the utilities, insurance, taxes and maintenance upkeep.
This building is the closest thing to a community center the town of Jacumba and the outlying areas have. There are several community groups that use the building. The Jacumba Women’s Club hold their monthly meeting and activities, the Jacumba AA group holds their weekly meetings. The Jacumba Sponsor Group uses the building on occasions for their meetings. The Community members hold their weddings, baby showers, memorial services, anniversary parties, school board meetings, and potlucks. The Friend’s of the Library have their bake sales and there are classes open to the community for craft making, defensive driving classes, disaster preparedness, and community planning.
One of the most important uses of the Center is the San Diego A well balanced, nutritious meal is served every Wednesday . Everyone is welcome. Seniors 60 and over pay $3.00. Those under 60 are asked to pay $5.00. This is done on the honor system and is intended to only cover the cost of the meal. If you would like to join us for lunch reservations are requested but not required. Please call 619-766-4279 or 619-766-4183.
We hope in reading this letter you understand the importance of your continued support of the Sunday Breakfast. The community stands to loose so much should we not be able to continue to cover the expenses. Please join us, not only will you enjoy a wonderful, home cooked meal, but you will be enabling the community to continue with the present services offered to the citizens of Jacumba.
With our sincere thanks,
The Board of Directors of the Highland Senior Citizen’s Group
And all of the hard working volunteers that work so diligently to keep the doors of the Highland Center open so that all of the activities that happen within the walls of this fine building may continue.
For information on renting the Highland Center for special occasions call
766-4279
Boulevard Revitalization Alliance
Jacumba-Boulvard Revitalization Alliance: It was set up as a 501 C3 so we could fund and implement the ideas brought forth by the Revitalization Committee (which is under the umbrella of the Planning/Sponsor groups). Our mission is to develop, prioritize and implement projects to revitalize the communities making them safer, more economically viable and a more attractive places to live, visit or relocate to. These includ: filling the lake and re-stocking with fish; community beautification with murals; community gardens; farmer's market; fstivals; ham radio training and certification (so we won't be cut off from threst of the world during times ofcrisis) and community activisim on issues such as eye gnats that negatively impact our commuity
www.gosandigobackcountry.org
At this time the Womans Club meets on the 2nd Wednesday of the month at 6:30pm in the Highland Center. Coming next Janurary it will be on the 2nd Wed 6:30pm.
More to come
J-Town - A place to reflect. A place that defies gravity and the imagnation. Long live the Hot Springs
Restoring Lake Jacumba - By Howard Cook
February 3, 2012 (Jacumba)--Jacumba is located in San Diego County on Old Highway 80 next to the Mexican border, Imperial County and south of Interstate 8. Native American Kumeyaay called it Ahkum, which translates to bubbling water. Indeed, Jacumba is blessed with a bubbling spring and wells producing both hot (101 degree) and cold waters. The spring was always important for plant, bird and other animal wildlife. The Kumeyaay also utilized the spring for its water and heat. They would dam the spring outflow and create ponds. Later in the 1800s, early settlers were attracted for the same reasons.
Chris Wray, in his latest book “The Historic Back Country”, has a 1910 photo showing people fishing in the pond adjacent to the spring. Henry Lazare in 1954 acquired the town, hotel, spring and pond. He sank a new well adjacent to the spring which produced larger quantities of hot water. He enlarged the pond to a 7-acre lake filled from the well overflow. Wildlife, bird and fish habitat were improved and expanded. It became a shaded oasis offering fishing, birding, swimming and recreation.
But in 2004, the recent former owners chose to divert water flow from the lake. The lakebed currently contains only a very shallow remnant. Late last year, after learning about a probable change of ownership, a town support group called the Revitalization Alliance set about to rehabilitate and fill the lake, surrounding trails and park. The effort has now accelerated, as the ownership change is almost complete.
In addition, the National, State and San Diego Audubon Society, State Fish and Game and The US Wildlife Service have heard about and are now promoting lake rehabilitation. These entities are promoting lake rehabilitation because it is important habitat for the endangered Tricolored Blackbird, which is a designated ”Species of Special Concern” as well as other wildlife.
They have submitted a proposal to the new owner of the Jacumba Hot Springs Spa and to the Revitalization Group. Audubon plans to seek funding for much, but not all of the lake rehabilitation. This effort is currently in the planning phase, looking forward to implementation in 2012.
People in Jacumba, as well as surrounding towns and area, are all eagerly looking forward to a revived and enhanced Lake Jacumba.
Howard Cook is a member of the Jacumba Sponsor Group and a resident of Jacumba.
This page is under construction and will contain information and photos from Lake Jacumba and Birding in and around the town of Jacumba
To go to an excellent birding site by my friend Eldon Caldwell Click Here
To see the latest entry in the Yahoo Group SDBIRDS (San Diego Birding) click here
Our sleepy little town has a few things going one I'd like to mention
Coffee Anyone?
Soon to be open Jacumba Lounge coffee house with its outdoor bistro tables and big screen TV.
Spa Opening Soon!
The Spa being under new ownership and soon to be rennovated. Be sure to check on it's progress at www.hotspringsjacumba.com
Mt. Sage Sandwitches.
Sandwitches at Mountaion Sage Market
You can now get good deli sandwhiches at the Sage Market and Deli.
Sailing in the Air
The Glider Club has built a hanger at the airport.
Here Kitty Kitty
That a black panther (couger) has been recently sighted on the outskirts of town.
Birds Birds Birds
We have seen an upswing of Birders coming to our Lake since last year's earthquakes facilitated increased water levels.
Let's Do Some Gardening!
A Community garden planned for Spring. If you are interested in gardening but don't have a place to garden this is your chance.
