Lakeside has long been a destination. People have traveled to San Diego County’s only natural lake, Lindo Lake, for thousands of years. The first recorded visitors were the Kumeyaay Indians, who made the Lakeside area their home during the winter months when they moved inland from the coast to find warmer weather. In the late 1700’s, padres from the San Diego Mission followed the San Diego River upstream in search of grazing lands for their livestock. They found a valley of tall grasses surrounded by mountains, which they named El Cajon (the box). Lakeside lay on the east side of that valley.

Jose Maria Estudillo is believed to have built the first permanent residence in Lakeside in the 1820’s, followed in the 1830’s and 40’s by a number of ranchos and major land acquisitions secured through the land granting process under the Mexican government. In 1870, Benjamin P. Hill purchased 10,000 acres from the 50,000 acre Maria Antonio Estudillo de Pedrorena land grant and established his thoroughbred ranch and racetrack at what is now Wildcat Canyon and Willow Roads.

With the creation of the El Cajon Valley Company in the late 1880’s, the current footprint of Lakeside began to take shape. Purchasing land from local ranchers, El Cajon Valley Company began subdividing the property and, with the intent of promoting Lakeside as a tourist destination, established a 45 acre park around Lindo Lake. The Company also built a Victorian inn on the edge of the lake’s park to facilitate tourism.

The popularity of Lindo Lake, Lindo Park and the Lakeside Inn grew exponentially with the completion of the San Diego, Cuyamaca & Eastern Railroad in 1889. The result of the Southern California land boom of the 1880’s, this railroad traversed sharp curves and steep grades from what is now Commercial Street in San Diego, through Mount Hope Cemetery, Encanto, Lemon Grove, La Mesa, El Cajon, Santee, then on to Lakeside and,ultimately, Foster.

The Lakeside Inn was a grand affair done in a style similar to the Hotel Del Coronado, boasting 80 rooms with “…complete gas, sewage and plumbing systems.” In addition, the Inn offered a full range of services and activities that included boating, fishing, duck hunting, horseback riding, golf and what was heralded to be some of San Diego’s best cuisine. To further enhance the facilities, Lindo Park was landscaped and a boathouse accessed by two foot bridges was installed.

John Gay bought the Lakeside Inn in 1905 and, in an effort to expand its tourist appeal, added an auto speedway in 1907 that circled the lake. His scheme worked initially and drew significant crowds to watch the likes of Barney Oldfield.

Believing the lake and park were a part of his purchase, Gay claimed them as part of the Inn and, ultimately, fenced them off from public use. A protracted lawsuit spearheaded by John Beadle and Bill Kuhner finally settled the matter in 1920 and reinstated Lindo Park and Lindo Lake as public property. That same year, John Gay’s widow sold the Lakeside Inn and its remaining property with the stipulation that the Inn be demolished.

While demolition was, sadly, the fate of one of Lakeside’s most important landmarks, two other Lakeside landmarks have enjoyed a better fate. The Lakeside Rodeo, organized in 1920, continues to be a highlight of Lakeside’s community events. Initially held on property south of Lindo Lake, the rodeo was moved by the Lakeside Rodeo Association (formed in 1933) to an area east of Channel Road. Today, organized by the Lakeside Stadium Association, the much-anticipated annual rodeo is held at the rodeo grounds on Mapleview Avenue.

Another historic landmark, Lindo Lake’s boathouse, has also survived to be an important part of today’s Lakeside. Subjected to floods, droughts and neglect, the boathouse was at serious risk. However, through the efforts of people like Flossie Beadle and a dedicated group of volunteers, as well as the efforts of the Lakeside Historical Society, Lindo Lake’s boathouse has been saved. Physically renovated, the boathouse, which had been removed from the lake in 1966, was returned to the center of the lake in 1977. A centerpiece with historical significance, Lindo Lake’s boathouse is a gracious reminder of times past while being an active part of what makes Lindo Park a favorite destination of Lakeside residents. We are pleased to feature Lindo Lake’s boathouse on our inaugural cover.