It’s Not Just a Park, It’s an Adventure

As giggling kids hunted around for spent shell casings, the four dead cowboys stood up, dusted off their black hats and talked the talk of losers.

“We all died,” said the one they call Curly, “but at least I got one of the bad guys on the way down. And the kids loved it.”

Yes, the kids did love the mock Old West duel, and they also enjoyed the hayrides, nature exhibits and trail tours that were offered free Saturday at Adventure Day at Ronald W. Caspers Wilderness Park near San Juan Capistrano.

The day was more than a busy festival for the park. It marked a return of a once-annual event canceled a decade ago after two mountain lion attacks. Restrictions had been placed on the access of youngsters to the rugged park and campgrounds.

In 1992, children were banned altogether after when one of those injured youngsters, Laura Small, won a $2-million judgment against the county. On Saturday, though, many visitors to the park off Ortega Highway were unaware or undeterred by those events.

“I guess somewhere in the back of my head I think about it, you know, the danger or some sort of freak accident,” said Dave Spreizter of Corona del Mar, visiting with his 4-year-old son, Derek. “But if you’re careful, I think everything is OK. And I like my son to see nature.”

Nature was not the main attraction for Dave Thomas, a 10-year-old from Yorba Linda who was mesmerized by the loud faux gunfire during a highway robbery staged by a troupe of Old West actors from San Juan Capistrano.

“Pow! They shot that guy and then the other guy shot back,” the boy said. “It was just like the real thing. Except no one got hurt. Oh, and there were no horses, either.”

More than 1,000 other people braved temperatures in the 90s to tour the park’s winding trails, listen to turn-of-the-century music and learn about the region’s natural and cultural history. As some youths listened to a Native American storyteller in traditional garb, others gathered around Isis, a red-tailed hawk.

“This is an open house for us, a chance for people to learn things, have fun and find out what a jewel this place really is,” said Michael A. Brajdic, a senior park ranger.

The park has seen the number of visitors climb since the ban on children was lifted last August, and large youth groups again routinely use the facility for camping. In the past four months, admission receipts have doubled, Brajdic said.

Still, Saturday’s celebration had the feel of a grand reopening for the park, Brajdic said.

“This is just great.” he said, surveying the crowds enjoying themselves beneath the park’s shady trees. “I wish it was like this every day.”