Mt. Helix & Casa de Oro Real Estate Listings of Houses and Homes for Sale in San Diego County, California


	Casa De Oro/Mt Helix Houses for Sale

Casa De Oro/Mt Helix

In 1872, after a scientist discovered a European snail (Helix aspersa) living on a small mountain, Rufus King Porter, the founder of what is now unincorporated Spring Valley, CA named the peak Mount Helix. Then in 1885, the U.S. Postal Service rejected the use of two words for a post office name, so Rufus submitted just the name Helix and also became the first postmaster in Spring Valley; the Helix Post Office was operated out of his home.

Around this same time, Hubert Howe Bancroft came to the area. He bought the Porter's ranch and also acquired neighboring properties, accumulating about 500 acres. He began calling his property "Helix Farms." Bancroft hired workers to help develop Helix Farms, planting orchards and building structures for his ranch. By the early 1900s, Helix Farms was home to the largest olive ranch in southern California (some of the original olive trees can still be found today). Bancroft died in 1918 and eventually, his family sold the property.

Today, the peak of Mount Helix features a fantastic park accessible by a winding road. It offers amazing 360-degree views of the eastern part of the county, and is crowned with a stately white cross which can be seen for miles. The amphitheater at the top of the mountain is used for theatrical presentations and popular Easter sunrise services. For decades Mount Helix Park has been recognized as one of San Diego County’s most magnificent landmarks. Members of the public have enjoyed this unique park by attending weddings, celebrations of all types, musical performances, family outings, or simply quiet contemplation. The community of Mount Helix has long attracted artists, architects, musicians, scientists and university faculty and as a result has a thriving community-based culture.

Residents of the area come to love that things aren’t as busy as they are within the City of San Diego, but they love being able to take full advantage of everything that San Diego has to offer. A short drive lets them lounge on one of many beautiful area beaches, see Shamu at Sea World, check out the world famous San Diego Zoo or its sister property the San Diego Wild Animal Park, just to name a few of the local attractions. Beautiful Balboa Park, adjacent to Downtown San Diego, houses the Zoo as well as many terrific museums and still has plenty of room for you to find a quiet spot to rest in the shade.

San Diego is home to great sports, including the NFL’s Chargers. The city has hosted the NFL’s Super Bowl on several occasions, most recently in 2003. In 2004, Petco Park opened as the home of MLB’s Padres. As if San Diego didn’t offer enough, Los Angeles, Palm Springs, Phoenix and Las Vegas are also within a relatively reasonable driving distance.