Weimar Institute Exploration
2-23-12
2-23-12
The weather this year has been pretty incredible. Bad year for snow sports, but an amazing year for sun and fun in the foothills. My hiking partner Fred had heard about a new (to us) area around Weimar, CA to explore. We made plans and met on the off ramp to start our day. After a quick stop for directions, we parked in the wide open lot of the Weimar Institute. A very helpful young lady was staffing the visitors center, and she gave us a park map. The trails are well marked and very well maintained. I highly recommend the Manzanita Trail, it was quite amazing! The cemetery was also quite interesting. The graves were almost all marked with numbers, no names at all. Quite creepy!
In 1919, Weimar Institute opened as a small tuberculosis sanatorium. It was later used for the care of the mentally ill. In 1957, it changed focus to the Weimar Chest Center, treating other pulmonary diseases. It was then renamed the Weimar Medical Center in 1960 and in 1966 Weimar Medical Center developed into a general community hospital. The hospital was closed 1972 due to financial cuts by the state and counties. Following the closure, the property changed hands several times and in 1975 it reopened as Hope Village, a temporary relocation center for Vietnamese refugees. In May 1977, a group of Seventh-day Adventists purchased the 457 acres (1.85 km2). In 1978 it was registered as the nonprofit organization, Weimar Institute of Health & Education, and Weimar College was opened. In 1981 Weimar Academy was established as a private four-year Christian boarding high school.
The total stats for our hike were:
5.25 miles
1,500 Feet of climbing
5.25 miles
1,500 Feet of climbing