In the Beginning, There Was a Bull

L.A. Times Archives

June 30, 1999 12 AM PT

Before it was a base--or a freeway intersection--El Toro was a town.

The land was originally held by Don Jose Serrano, who in the 1800s was granted 10,000 acres in the area by the Mexican government. It was known as Rancho Canada de los Alisos. But legend has it that it was nicknamed El Toro after a prized, white-faced bull that survived being trapped at the bottom of a well.

A lack of rain and water shortages forced the Serranos into debt, and in the latter part of the 1800s the ranch was sold. But the name stuck.

By the mid-1940s, when the U.S. military arrived, El Toro was a quintessential farming town--complete with railroad depot across the dusty road from the country store, pool hall and barber shop. The Moulton grain storage warehouse, which later gave Moulton Parkway its name, was on the other side of the tracks. Down the road were the Episcopal church and schoolhouse.

The Marines liked the image of a feisty, snorting bull so much they assumed the name--and adopted it as their mascot too.

In December 1968, when Interstate 405 was hooked up with Interstate 5, the El Toro Y was formed--and the traffic jams for which it is known followed.

The old El Toro village buildings have long since been torn down or moved to Serrano Historical Park in Lake Forest.

Residents voted in 1991 to change the name to Lake Forest, making it part of the nearby master-planned community. But there are those who opposed the change--and still do. It will always be El Toro to them.

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Flying Colors

A few of the squadron insignia associated with units at El Toro and Tustin.

El Toro

El Toro Air Station

Fighter Attack 314

“Black Knights”

Fighter Attack 242

“Bats”

Aerial Refueler/Transport 352

“Raiders”

Fighter Attack Training 101