Snakes, spiders and aliens - The Vasquez Rocks Interpretive Center!

[robertpaulsen]

When you pull into the driveway where the sign for the entrance to Vasquez Rocks is off of Escondido Canyon Road, there is a building towards the right that was new to Neek and I. This is the Vasquez Rocks Interpretive Center. It’s been open for a few years now and it is a fascinating and welcome addition to Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park.

[dhill926]

1. love this area....

been the wallpaper on my phone for years...

[robertpaulsen]

2. There is wonderful scenic beauty there.

We always try to visit it at least once a year!

[Laffy Kat]

3. Cool. I want to visit. nt

[robertpaulsen]

4. It's worth it.

Whether you're just spending the day or camping overnight (which I've never done but I've heard other people do) it's an amazing place!

[Hortensis]

5. Appraisal assignments would rarely take me out there.

TheVasquez Rocks are nice, yes. But my primary memory is of valuable residential lots that became valuable initially because of minimal distant views of the rocks (from higher up the slope) that would disappear within a decade as normal residential landscaping grew up. Nevertheless, big homes on large lots on those particular roads would have sustained values. Funny.

Nice to hear about this, btw. I love the desert, and miss it. By far most of my work was in the city, but a couple of assignments out that way required me to drive up dry washes, stopping for quail, to remote locations where people chose to make their homes. Without trees, even 50 feet of elevation in the foothills of various mountain chains can provide wonderful distant views.

[robertpaulsen]

8. I think I've seen some of those homes.

There doesn't seem to have been as much residential landscaping compared with nearby Santa Clarita, which is really socked in with suburban tract homes, but it definitely is noticeable. Generally it seems like real estate in Agua Dulce is more spread out. But we have seen the homes on the slopes that might have a good view.

[shenmue]

6. Cool

[OxQQme]

7. Rattle snake meets squirrel

[robertpaulsen]

9. Now that's a fairly even match-up.

Tarantula vs. cricket, not so much!

[spiderpig]

10. Isn't that the home of Gorn Rock?

[robertpaulsen]

11. The one and only!

I bought a refrigerator magnet at the Interpretive Center with a picture of him!

[spiderpig]

12. We have a mini-model of the Gorn which used to adorn the top of our TV

before we got a flatscreen. He's now on our mantle, along with our replica of the Cyclops from The 7th Voyage of Sinbad.

[robertpaulsen]

13. That's cool!

Here's an image of our refrigerator magnet:

[spiderpig]

14. Want! Want!

Back in the 70s I worked with a very sweet lady whose hobby was quilting. This was a very hip ad agency - think Mad Men. Anyway, she overheard a couple of us talking about the Star Trek ep with the Lizard Guy and she immediately piped up with "You mean the Gorn!"

Maryann, I love you wherever you are.