California Citrus State Historic Park

This park provides more than just an outdoor recreation area for residents and visitors of Riverside, California. It is a preservation of the citrus industry that seems to be vanishing quickly. The park is a great way to get a feeling for the time when citrus was the main industry in Southern California. During the early 1900's, people headed to California during the gold rush. When their plans to strike it rich on gold fell through, they purchased land filled with groves of lemons, oranges, and grapefruit and began one of the most productive and lucrative industries in the state. The park is similar to parks of its kind from that golden age of citrus growing and features an amphitheater, an activity center, picnic areas, and demonstration groves that still produce citrus fruit. The park is located at the corner of Van Buren right along Dufferin Avenue. There are numerous trails winding through the nearly 400-acre park that offer views of the groves and plenty of walking land to enjoy. The land in the park is dotted with citrus grove equipment that was used during the height of the harvests. The visitor center on the grounds offers a look into the history of citrus growing and allows visitors a chance to learn more about the industry before or after touring the park.