So peaceful! Theres a lot of picnic area and there's a campground few meters away. My son was so amazed with the chickens haha, we walked around the area, theres an easy trail that you can take. Took tons of pictures! read more

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The good: only six bucks to park, beautiful old oaks, flush toilets, and convenient to freeway access The bad: so much road noise I could not think, and most sites are simply fenced grass The ugly: there is none. read more

Great place to stop either coming or going over The Grapevine. Clean bathrooms and plenty of picnic tables to have a quick bite.

We went here on a drizzly day. There's a really creepy vibe to it but it's really beautiful. I guess this used to be an old military base and they would have prisoners here. There was a man that worked here on the weekend and he was super friendly. When we went inside to look at the things that look like would be in a museum, he let us into specific rooms that were locked. We definitely have to go at a time when it's warmer. read more

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This is a nice California State Park along the route 5 highway when driving between Northern and Southern California. I recommend visiting either in the fall or spring, it is too hot in the summer and very cold and cloudy in the winter. It's a nice place to stop for a picnic lunch on a road trip and you have to pay a nominal fee to park (less than $10). I wish they rebuild the buildings from the original fort, the park ranger said they are planning to but haven't yet done it, so you just see fenced off areas where they say "This is where the fort's hospital used to be..." It's a nice place to learn about a part of California's history soon after it became an official US State. Sometimes they will even fire off the actual authentic cannon as well. The nature area is very nice and they have a campground as well. You can still here some highway noise though but a nice place to stop for a picnic lunch or quick visit on your road trip. read more

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Our 2nd time here. We actually came here when the park was in operation during day time which let us explore the different houses and displays. We loved the historical site and it's a really peaceful place to come and hang out. There are lots of different houses to explore and see how they operated the fort. A neat historical place for kids located in a concealed part of the Taejon pass. Gave it a 4 because the bathrooms could really use some deep cleaning. Overall, great place to visit. read more

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Wonderful piece of history ,open to the public for no fee. You only have to pay six dollars for parking. I came here with a few friends and enjoyed walking the grounds and learning about this Army Fort from the 1850s. read more

Fort Tejon State Historic Park - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me

Another win for the Passport 2 History program! Yes, we've passed the sign for the park many times on the Grapevine, but never had time to stop. After reading about their living history days on their website, I knew they feature them once a month, plus 4th of July. One benefit of making a special trip, especially on a holiday, was the very light traffic en route to Ft. Tejon. Even with major road construction through Santa Clarita, we made the drive in record time. Once we arrived, we found a free parking place and checked in at the ranger station. They gave us a special brochure on the fort's history, plus a map of the grounds. A number of families were taking advantage of the special activities the staff and costumed volunteers had planned for the holiday. Have to give proper kudos to the many volunteers. Men dressed up in uniforms from the fort's heyday in the 1850's. That means scratchy wool coats in almost 90 degree heat! Women were in hoop skirts like Scarlet O'Hara in Gone With The Wind. Demonstrations throughout the day included candlemaking, Laundry Day-1850's Style, cooking over an indoor cook fire (versus an oven), blacksmithing, and carpentry. Family-oriented games taking place in the main gathering space looked like fun for the kids. The complex of buildings in the State Park property offer a glimpse into life in the pre-Civil War era. A large adobe houses a gift shop downstairs, with barracks upstairs. Many vintage uniforms hang inside, along with some swords and guns from the time frame of the fort. In the commanding officer's house we checked out the various rooms, outfitted with period furnishings. A costumed docent sat in the downstairs hall, demonstrating the intricate art of making bobbin lace. Fascinating! She was very sweet and informative. Nearby, two women were preparing a sample meal in the kitchen. It was quite warm outside, and hotter still in the kitchen with its open fireplace. I was so impressed with the dedication of the re-enactors, taking their 4th of July holiday to share their enthusiasm for bringing history to life for guests of the park. That alone is worth five stars. The peaceful grounds, with mountainous backdrop, and ancient oak trees, cast a spell of relaxation and historical magic. We agreed we were glad we made the journey to check out Fort Tejon's past. Highly recommend visiting on one of the living history days! read more

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If you travel through the grapevine frequently chances are that you've seen the sign for Fort Tejon State Park. You probably motored right by because you're either entering or leaving the Lebec grade and you're really not wanting to stop. Well on this latest trip we did stop. Fort Tejon is a former Army Post that was active for ten tears during the mid 1800s. Various restored building and original foundations are here like the camp jail, barracks, and officers' quarters. Most buildings have artifacts and military uniforms on display. We spent about an hour here on a hot summer day. If anything, the interpretive trail is great for stretching your legs on a long trip. - Deer just walking through this place. Chickens too. - Adults $3 - Kids $1 - Every season will its own unique experience. - Bathrooms read more

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Cool place great interpretive staff and a nice place to take a break. It's a bit loud in the parking lot but the Barracks is much quieter and cooler. read more

This is a pretty cool spot if you're in the area. Interesting historical spot that remembers a part of early California history. Not exactly worth coming here for a visit. Not much shade so it gets really hot on a hot day. There's a hiking trail in the area. There's a parking fee so keep that in mind when visiting. Didn't have problem finding parking on a weekday read more

A big beautiful park, with civil war history exhibits. Sometimes re-enactments. Other local history as well. I usually see deer when I visit. read more

Fort Tejon SHP is off I-5 South we stopped here on our way to Southern Calif. They have FREE parking out front, but they charge Per Person $3, no senior discount. You gotta bring exact amount because it's Self-Registration where you put your money in an envelope, take the top half & carry it with you, then put money envelope in the green post. We went when there were students there on an overnight stay I think. They got to wear the army uniforms & do taste around the old fort. We did the Self-Guded Trail Dragoon Walk which is like 1-2 miles. Saw: Officers' Quarters Kitchens & mess Halls Jail Guardhouse Junior Officers' Qtrs Peter Lebeck Grave some Wells It's worth a stop if you have 1-2hrs to look around. Hrs: 9am-4pm read more

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Came here yesterday to attend a Civil War Reenactment. I had never been to Fort Tejon before, but had seen the signs for it many times as I passed by on the Grapevine. This was really fun, and actually, I'd like to come back and camp there.... I loved the old historic-looking buildings standing in the middle of the yellow rolling hills. It really gave you a sense of history... and it was an amazing backdrop for the Civil War Battle and participants. I really felt like I had a Passport2History and was seeing what things might have looked like back in the day. Their water was really refreshing and tasted good (from the fountain), and there's a stream nearby and lots of different kinds of birds. In fact, a bird watching group went there for Audubon's birdathon and saw way more birds than I did elsewhere. I recommend this Historic Park ... especially during living history events! I cannot wait to come back next year for the event. Note: watch out for rattlesnakes and apparently prairie dogs that bite! Summer Hint: Freeze bottles of water overnight and bring to the site so you will have cold ice water too! read more

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$6 for parking but no per person entrance fee on a regular day. Living History re-enactment is the first Saturday of every month at 10am, and there is an entrance fee ($5 adult, $3 kids and under 7 is free). That has candle making, iron smithing and every other pioneering activity. Then the big festival is the Civil War Re-enactment, which is the first weekend in June of every year. Expect big crowd on that weekend, and RVers are just better off paying the $15 for camping since it takes care of the parking and entrance fee, and it has hookup and shore power but no dumping/sewage. Hope that helps, along with my pictures. read more

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It's a really nice place to walk around and my kids love seeing the chickens and rooster. I haven't done the phone tour yet but it would be interesting to know more. Some of the signs they have out you can not read anymore so there's a lot of info we are missing that I think would be really interesting to know. They also have a campground here but it is closed currently. Still a great place to get out and not be around anyone. read more

It's been a while since I've stopped here and I am reminded of the feelings of peacefulness looking at the trees and many plants beautifying the area. Clean restrooms. A nice and relaxing place to stretch and power up before continuing with the long drive. read more

Dragoon Walk. That's what they call their half mile self-guided tour that takes you through this historic park that used to be an old army post from 1854-1864. Dragoon is the name given to mounted infantry trained in horse riding. A few of my favorite spots were the soldier's barracks where you get to view displays featuring old military uniforms and various items from the 1800s, like playing cards and the medical equipment. Peter Le Beck's grave site was also interesting. He was buried under the 300 year old oak tree after being killed by a bear. His epitaph was carved a tree stump. You get to walk inside of a rebuilt jail cell. You can close the cell door and experience what it was like to be a prisoner. You also get to tour the former Gardiner home and appreciate a typical home of the 1800s. Outside there are live chickens kept in a pen. This park may not necessarily be enough of a destination to justify a dedicated visit but it's a perfect little pit stop if you're passing through the grapevine and you have an hour or two to burn. The park and the interpretive exhibits are open 9-4 daily. They ask that you pay $3 when you enter the park. There is also an overnight camping option for $125. That's not really my thing but I could see how it could be a lot of fun. read more

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My fiancé and I attended a "ghost walk" (essentially a tour of the place with some creepy stories thrown in) here a few days before Halloween. The flyer advertised the "retelling of the gruesome death of Peter Lebec by grisly bear"... And then went on to call it "a family fun adventure." Later that night as I stood in what used to be the soldiers' barracks watching an actor writhe on a table with an apparent knife wound to the chest scream in pain, as his comrade looked on in horror while crying out "DOCTOR! SHIT! WHERE'S THE GOD DAMNED DOCTOR?!", it occurred to me that I'd be writing that in my review, and that the first time I'd ever write a full curse word on yelp would be to recount an event that the flyer advertised as fun for the family. But I'm getting ahead of myself. Aside from the ghost walk event, this place also serves as a sort of post civil war history museum... So, the event did include a fair amount of trivia about the grounds. They had some really neat stuff like giant kettles of water heating over a wood fire pit in the middle of everything, and button ring making (woo!). The funny part about all of it, though, was the tour commentary; some choice tidbits including: - "Stuff like sanitation and Alcohol hadn't been invented in the 1860s." - "Back then, this whole area was mostly a dirt field because they didn't have lawn mowers." - "Bears are part shark." - "People used to die of dysentery, but not anymore." - "You had to bury people really fast in the olden days, otherwise their bodies would liquify all over the floor." Most of those are absolutely untrue. Except for the lawn mower bit (though I have a sneaking suspicion that wasn't exactly the reason they didn't have grass there)... and maybe the the part about the bear/shark thing. So, I mean, our tour guide might not have been completely abreast of all that is civil war era knowledge, but that's fine. In fact, it arguably made the experience more fun. But wait! It got even better when the "ghost of Peter Lebec" showed up from behind the tree that he may or may not be buried under (there's apparently been some debate), and told us his life story. Except, when pressed, he didn't know what tribe he was from, or his mother's name. He said he had only known her as "mother", and who am I to say if that was true or not? To be fair, and I don't think I'm giving anything away when I say this, the guy was only an actor... And kudos to him for staying in character even when he couldn't answer the completely irrelevant questions posed to him. Anyway, the point is, it was awesome. Absolutely terrific, even. In regards to the screaming man on the table in the barracks, well... I managed to watch with a blank, if wide eyed, stare. A toddler who, I'm assuming, was not yet quite observant enough to understand that this wasn't a real death scene, but rather a just for fun one, began to cry. That was when we were shuffled to the last room of the tour, told one final chilling story about how the very place we stood was a veritable breeding ground for paranormal activity, and then asked to please enjoy the bake sale, and complimentary coffee and hot chocolate. The fiancé and I had a very interesting and fun night, and I'd definitely go again, and with a lot more people. read more

Fort Tejon State Historic Park - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me

We had snow! Easy traffic from LA, parking was sufficient, park was clean with picnic benches and lots of room to run around. read more

Fort Tejon State Historic Park - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me

The hills are alive with color, California poppies. Purple and yellow wildflowers too. Even green grass. Long drive north to visit his momma. Gorgeous day, lots of beauty. read more

Fort Tejon State Historic Park - California poppies. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me

I love Fort Tejon! I went for a 4th grade field trip in 2000 and I still love going there to this day for my photography! Lots of history, beautiful views, deer, and oak trees make this state park a great place to visit if you're heading either way on the 5! read more

Fort Tejon State Historic Park - Fort Tejon Barracks - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me

It's wonderful to have a local rarely crowded open-space to go for a walk and also numerous parking areas if a person's vehicle overheats coming up the grapevine. Thank you to the Park Rangers for keeping this up for us. read more

Hey, this is an awesome venue to visit to learn about our country's history. In fact there is going to be a Civil War Reenactment there on June 2 & 3 2018! Come up, meet soldiers, learn history and see battles. read more

I love Fort Tejon. Great historic place to learn about California history, but there is so much more. Not only does the park have an interesting history, it is beautiful. There is an appeal of natural beauty and a sense of peacefulness. Even though it is just steps away from a busy freeway, one seems to get lost in its idyllic setting. On the first Saturdays of the month year round, the parks volunteers and staff present living history programs that depict the parks history. read more

A beautiful setting for a rich piece of California history, Fort Tejon provides visitors with a flashback to the 1850s frontier. With a small creek running near the entrance and an abundance of deer roaming freely through the site, it's easy to see why this place is worthy of preservation. Walking the self-guided trail around the former US Army post is easy for any able-bodied individual and the remaining structures are living remnants of the beginnings of the Golden State. The barracks building and Captain's residence are also filled with historic exhibit displaying life at the Fort and how soldiers, settlers and natives co-existed in the rugged San Emigdio Mountains. Stop by anytime you're headed up or down the Grapevine for a historical blast from the past. read more

I have driven passed the exit for Fort Tejon a million times in my life. Well, finally I decided to have a look on a nice rainy morning. It was beautiful, and the history is very special. I decided when I buy my RV is to stay there for a couple of weeks and just chill out and enjoy the peacefulness. It is also good just to take a quick peek when leaving L.A. or going to L.A.. read more

when passing by Fort Tejon on the 5 it is always worth a stop. the location is beautiful, it is nice for a picnic and during the summer I love to dangle my feet in the cold water of the creek. Rest rooms, a fountain to fill your water bottle, and a place to walk and stretch out those legs from sitting too long! If you time it right, they have civil ware reenactments here as well! read more

I stopped here after passing by it several times and never knowing what it was. It is three dollars to get in for adults and one dollar for children. They have a machine inside to flatten a penny with a civil war print on it. Bring your quarters and pennies because the kids will want to do this. The grounds are beautiful. They are chipmunks running all over the place. While flowers and Marked trails. I brought my eight-year-old granddaughter and she really enjoyed it. The old buildings are open to look at. There is the old Jail, an old house, barracks, garden and chicken coop. This is a very interesting place and I was surprised by how much my eight year old granddaughter enjoyed it. It's probably best to come early spring to catch the wildflowers and avoid the heat. Beware of rattlesnakes and try to wear pants read more

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Last weekend I drove up to Ft. Tejon with a few friends to check out the Death of Peter LeBeck and Candlelight Ghost Tours and we had a great time. There were a few skeptics in our group and even they really enjoyed the tour. We arrived after dark and really got to enjoy the tour under a full moon! The volunteers did a great job decorating the fort and made it so easy to get around. There were crafts for the kids and a bake sale with amazing treats. Our tour was fun, exciting and a little creepy (perfect for the time of year). Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and all the stops on our walking tour were filled with other reenactors that helped bring the eerie stories of Ft. Tejon to life. Totally worth the drive up for this unique experience. read more

Came here with wifey and gotta say its beautiful. We went on a Monday, day tripping from LA, and arrived around 1030 AM. It was completely empty so we were able to let our little dog run free. She had the best time. Its vary open and well kept and is an honor system for paying when you go off season(Only 3$) We paid, as this is how they are funded, and we were happy to do it. The main houses have information plaques and displays of the clothing the soldiers would wear on the day to day. It was about 1/2 mile all the way around. Def a great place to get out and stretch the ol' leggaroos. After seeing all there is to see we drove a few miles down the street to eat at a place called Los Pinos. Will be leaving a 5 star review as well for taste, and freshness. We also stopped at a local gem called Alices Attic (thrift store) and found imported french soap bars and a necklace and colored candle cups for wifey. All in all, if you are in Lebec, stop here and enjoy a few hours of beautiful landscape and history/ read more

Never been here before as long as I live in Kern County so Monday I stop by with the family.they have an honor system three dollars for adults and a dollar for kids pretty neat place they do have overnight camping there if you can get permits at the front restrooms there ample parking up front right off interstate five on the grapevine they also do reenactments of the Civil War days there from time to time I'm not sure what days or months they do it on read more

Fort Tejon State Historic Park - Snakes - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me

Clean, interesting, and very pretty stop along the I-5. Worth the detour.

Very beautiful and they do have actors in old time clothing playing the rules that match the timeline.

This state historic park is absolutely beautiful and rich in history. Frontier Army Days and other events offered throughout the year are wonderful opportunities to learn about the history of California in the mid-nineteenth century. A must see for anyone who loves history. read more

I have been lucky enough to take part in some of their events. This place is amazing. If your looking for some great family time and meeting some new life long friends, come hang out during one of their events. U won't be disappointed. We will be back. read more

Adorable scenario really cute area to be in awesome couples retreat fun area to go even if you're handicapped just bring a off-road of old wheelchair read more

Just stopped at Fort Tejon on the way to the Kern with 3 friends who had never been there. Everyone loved it, said it was the best historic stop of our trip. Earlier that day an educational event for the local school children was held, nice the kids have this in their community. The facilities were really nice and the park well kept. Scenic views, shade under 400 year old oaks and plenty of park benches to just sit and enjoy the views or a picnic lunch. Just outside the park were 3 deer. A lot of interesting facts about the history of both the fort and local area. Here is a good link with pictures and includes more informational links about Fort Tejon--I'd highly recommend a visit :) http://www.caopenspace.org/forttejon.html read more

Aside from being a regular pit stop off I-5 at the top of the Grapevine Fort Tejon State Historic Park offers a great place to stop and have a picnic or a rest after a long trudge down I-5. There are plenty of rest stops on the trip from North to South but this is a park, with fewer people, less noise and a much prettier view. If you are passing through (between 9-4) try to make the Fort Tejon State Historic Park stop on your journey. read more

Interesting historical place to visit when you're driving through the grapevine. Ideal place to stop for a break, or to escape the traffic from the 5. Well maintained. read more

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