The announcement several months ago that the trustees of Green Oak Ranch wanted to sell 110 of the ranch’s 138 acres, moving its ministry of residential recovery to the remaining property, has inspired an outpouring of comment and concern among South Vista residents.
History: Green Oak Ranch has a rich history dating back to the early 1800s when it was part of the “Rancho Buena Vista” Mexican land grant and home to the Kumeyaay and Luiseno Indian tribes. During the Great Depression, it served as a camp for the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), providing jobs and environmental conservation efforts under President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s “New Deal” program.
In 1942, the ranch was leased by the U.S. Army as “Camp Vista” and served as a base for the Western Defense Command, responsible for protecting the coastline from attacks during World War II. As many as 800 men were stationed there at one time. Aer the war, it also housed the Navy while they worked on a local water conservation project. In 1950, the Union Rescue Mission purchased the property and renamed it “Green Oak Boys Camp,” using it as a Christian retreat for at-risk youth and employing men in recovery as ranch hands.
Today, Green Oak Ranch operates as a rustic retreat center offering venues for events, retreats, camps, and weddings, while also providing a long-term, Christian-based residential substance abuse treatment program for men. [History provided by Francis Dumler.]
In May, SD County Supervisor Jim Desmond led a county approval to begin negotiations to purchase the property to be redeveloped as a “regional campus for healing”. Under this plan, more than 63 acres would be preserved as open space with hiking trails, continuing its current use.
Vista City is also interested in purchasing the property. On May 28, Vista City Attorney Walter Chung announced that the City Council in closed session had authorized him to obtain an appraisal of the Green Oak Ranch property. News sources have stated that Solutions for Change has expressed interest in the property, as well.
According to a document from Supv. Desmond, the ranch’s trustees are acting on the deceased owner’s wishes that the property being sold will continue to be a site for healing and rehabilitation, continuing the previous type of ministry.
For South Vista residents: Vista City Council member Dan O’Donnell has issued an invitation to a town hall meeting about Green Oak Ranch:
I would like to take this opportunity to invite all of you to join me for a Town Hall on Sunday, June 30th from 12:30PM until 3PM taking place at the Vista Civic Center in the Morris Vance Community Room. The topic of discussion will be the County plans for the purchase of the Green Oak Ranch 120‐acre property located off of Sycamore at 1237 Green Oak Rd, Vista, CA 92081.
We are seeking community input and discussion over the County of San Diego’s desire to turn this location into a Regional County Behavioral Health Campus for detox beds, sober living residences, and long-term board‐and‐care spaces.
Guest Speaker: County Board of Supervisor Jim Desmond
Location of meeting: 200 Civic Center Drive, Vista, CA 92084 Morris Vance Room
South Vista Communities hopes there will also be information provided about the City of Vista’s plans for the Green Oak Ranch property, if the City purchases it.
