During the Julian Gold Rush, a quartz gold mine; the Stonewall Mine, was found on the south side of what is now
Lake Cuyamaca. First a mining camp called
Stonewall (1873–1876), then the mining company town of
Stratton (1887–1888), renamed Cuyamaca City (1888–1906), at its peak had a population of 500 and served the Stonewall Mine. In 1906, the post office was closed and service moved to Descanso. The town was abandoned after mining operations ceased, and few traces of it exist. The site of the town now lies within
Cuyamaca Rancho State Park at . The modern community of Cuyamaca later developed on the north side of the lake. Before the
Cedar Fire of 2003, the community of Cuyamaca consisted of approximately 145 homes on a mountain (North Peak) north of the reservoir.
Cedar Fire In October 2003, most of the Cuyamaca region was consumed by the
Cedar Fire. Nearly in the state park and 120 homes in the community of Cuyamaca were incinerated. The fire also destroyed the Lakeland Resort,
Camp Fire's Camp Wolahi and the former
San Diego-Imperial Council, BSA's Camp Hual-Cu-Cuish . The historic
Dyer Ranch house in the center of the state park, which functioned as a museum and the park headquarters, was also destroyed.
Climate }} ==References==