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| Landmark #550 | Merced County | Visited: February 21, 2015 | Plaque? YES! 🙂 |
| What is it? | A plaque on the north side of the park! |
| What makes it historical? | THE GUIDE SAYS: Los Baños (the baths) del Padre Arroyo, visited as early as 1805 by Spanish explorers, was a favorite place for padres from San Juan Bautista Mission during their travels to the San Joaquin Valley. Its name was changed to Los Banos Creek by later American emigrants. The town of Los Banos was established at its present site in 1889, after the post office of Los Banos was built near the creek in 1874.
OTHER TIDBITS: Padre Felipe Arroyo de la Cuesta was the Franciscan missionary after whom this creek was named! Assigned to explore the San Joaquin Valley and convert whoever he found there, Padre Felipe enjoyed his dips in this creek. The valley, as he found it, was a haven for wildlife from geese to pronghorns to grizzly bears, but today, they are all gone, replaced by orchards, vineyards, and pasture! |
| How can I Help the Helpers? | HERE’S HOW:
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| Where is this place? | LISTED DIRECTIONS: Los Banos Park 803 E Pacheco Blvd Los Banos, CA 93635 ANNOTATIONS: From Los Angeles: ~265mi (427km) — 4.5hrs |
| When should I go? | Whenever the mood strikes you! |