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Councilmember Marni von Wilpert (District 5)

Rancho Peñasquitos

Photo of Rancho Penasquitos

In 1823, San Diego County's first Mexican land grant was awarded to the Commandante of the San Diego Presidio Captain Francisco Maria Ruiz. Ruiz built a small adobe house on the land known as Rancho de Los Peñasquitos. A few years later, Rancho de Los Peñasquitos was the first place of respite for General Stephan Watts Kearny and his Army of the West after the Battle of San Pasqual. Over the decades, the land transferred ownership several times until Peñasquitos, Inc. purchased it in 1962 with plans to develop the canyon adjacent to the original adobe house.

The County of San Diego ultimately acquired the adobe house and surrounding land to preserve Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve. The adobe house is the oldest known residence in San Diego. The community of Peñasquito, however, was developed to the north of the Canyon Preserve and continues to flourish in the rolling landscape of the area. The Rancho Peñasquitos community now encompasses approximately 6,500 acres including Black Mountain Regional Park. The community has a diverse topography that is characterized by numerous canyons, hillsides and ridges. The most prominent feature of the community is Black Mountain which rises to an elevation of 1,500 feet.

Community Representative

Police & Fire

San Diego Police Department: Northeastern Division
13396 Salmon River Road San Diego, CA 92129
(858) 538-8000

Fire Station 40
13393 Salmon River Road San Diego, CA 92129

Parks & Recreation

Adobe Bluffs Neighborhood Park

8805 Gainsborough Ave. San Diego 92129

858-538-8105

Black Mountain Regional Open Space Park

14700 Carmel Valley Rd San Diego 92128

858-538-8105

Canyon Hills Open Space

9900 Mercy Road San Diego 92129

858-538-8066

Hilltop Community Park and Recreation Center

9711 Oviedo Way San Diego 92129

858-538-8197

Los Peñasquitos Canyon Reserve

12115 Black Mountain Road
San Diego 92129

619-685-1311

Peñasquitos Linear Park

13339 Salmon River Rd
San Diego 92129

858-538-8105

Rancho Peñasquitos Leash-Free Dog Park

Salmon River Road at Fairground Land
San Diego 92129

858-538-8105

Rancho Peñasquitos Skate Park

10029 Carmel Mountain Road
San Diego 92129

858-538-8105

Ridgewood Neighborhood Park

12604 La Tortola
San Diego 92129

858-538-8105

Rolling Hills Neighborhood Park

11165 Almazon St.
San Diego 92129

858-538-8105

Sunridge Vista Mini Park

10305 Azuaga
San Diego 92129

619-685-1321

Twin Trails Neighborhood Park

8900 Twin Trails Dr.
San Diego, 92129

858-538-8105

Views West Neighborhood Park

12958 La Tortola
San Diego 92129

858-538-8105

Library

Rancho Peñasquitos Branch Library
1330 Salmon River Road
San Diego, CA 92129
(858) 538-8159

Schools

Deer Canyon Elementary
Los Peñasquitos Elementary
Rolling Hills Elementary
Sundance Elementary
Sunset Hills Elementary
Black Mountain Middle
Mesa Verde Middle
Mt. Carmel High

Community Groups

Rancho Peñasquitos Planning Board
Due to COVID-19 all community meetings are being held via Zoom until further notice. Please contact the community group chair listed for meeting information.
Chair: Jon Becker
rppb.chair@gmail.com
(619) 881-3264

Rancho Peñasquitos Town Council
Due to COVID-19 all community meetings are being held via Zoom until further notice. Please contact the community group chair listed for meeting information.
Chair: Kate Glenn
President.rptc@gmail.com
(858) 603-9925

Community Profile