Heritage Hill Provides Glimpse of City’s Past

Before stepping into 1998, residents can take a journey through the past by visiting Heritage Hill Historical Park.

Featuring late 19th century buildings, including a schoolhouse and adobe home, the park will be open this week for free docent-led tours.

Included is the Serrano Adobe, which housed one of the founding families of Saddleback Valley, and the Old El Toro Schoolhouse, which is furnished in turn-of-the-century school equipment.

“It’s like taking a walk into the . . . history of the Saddleback Valley,” county ranger Dan Thomas said. “You can see how life was lived in the 1880s through 1940s.”

The tours, which are about an hour long, will run at 2 p.m. on Wednesday and Friday. There are tours at 11 a.m. on weekends throughout the year.

The park is at 25151 Serrano Road, near Lake Forest Drive and Trabuco Road. Information: (714) 855-2028.