Redonda Mesa
Encyclopedia
Redonda Mesa is a tall mesa
located in the Southern Santa Ana Mountains
near the Pacific Ocean
. It is in an unincorporated area of southwestern Riverside County, California
, United States. Redonda Mesa is part of the Peninsular Ranges
, and stands up at 2825 feet (861.1 m) above sea level.
and 11 miles (17.7 km) west of Temecula
.The views from atop of this mesa are redundant on clear days in all directions, to the south one can see Oceanside
, Fallbrook
, De Luz and Bonsall
. To the north, one can see more of the interior Santa Ana Mountains
. To the east, the Temecula Valley is below, as well as Anza
and the San Jacinto Mountains
further east. To the west, one sees more of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton
, the some of the last major undeveloped coastal land in Southern California, the Pacific Ocean
as well as Santa Catalina Island
on very clear days, and one can see parts of coastal city San Clemente
northwest in lower Orange County
. This mesa is also covered in coastal sage scrub
, some of the last remaining in Southern California.
During the 1970s, prior to the development of fiber optic transmission capabilities, the mesa's unrestricted views from San Diego to Orange County made it the ideal location for a microwave relay station which was the backbone of telephone communications in the era. AT&T purchased 20 acres (80,937.2 m²) at the top of Redonda Mesa from the Sharp Family Trust and in about 1981 completed the constructed a 100 feet (30.5 m) high tower with numerous white "cones" pointed toward transmission and receiving stations in the Oceanside and San Clemente areas. The tower served the region for about a decade and then fell into disuse as new technologies took over.
In 2000, looking to divest itself of the surplus property, AT&T sold Redonda Mesa back to the Sharp Family Trust who in turn sold it to Herb Massinger who liked the tower and intended to turn its unique architecture and spectacular views into his dream home.
Mesa
A mesa or table mountain is an elevated area of land with a flat top and sides that are usually steep cliffs. It takes its name from its characteristic table-top shape....
located in the Southern Santa Ana Mountains
Santa Ana Mountains
The Santa Ana Mountains are a short peninsular mountain range along the coast of Southern California in the United States. They extend for approximately 36 mi southeast of the Los Angeles Basin largely along the border between Orange and Riverside counties.- Geography :The range starts in the...
near the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
. It is in an unincorporated area of southwestern Riverside County, California
Riverside County, California
Riverside County is a county in the U.S. state of California. One of 58 California counties, it covers in the southern part of the state, and stretches from Orange County to the Colorado River, which forms the state border with Arizona. The county derives its name from the city of Riverside,...
, United States. Redonda Mesa is part of the Peninsular Ranges
Peninsular Ranges
The Peninsular Ranges are a group of mountain ranges, in the Pacific Coast Ranges, which stretch from southern California in the United States to the southern tip of Mexico's Baja California peninsula; they are part of the North American Coast Ranges that run along the Pacific coast from Alaska...
, and stands up at 2825 feet (861.1 m) above sea level.
Geography and views
Redonda Mesa lies almost right on the Riverside-San Diego County Line, just a couple miles northeast of Marine Corps Base Camp PendletonMarine Corps Base Camp Pendleton
Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton is the major West Coast base of the United States Marine Corps and serves as its prime amphibious training base...
and 11 miles (17.7 km) west of Temecula
Temecula, California
Temecula is a city in southwestern Riverside County, California, United States with a population of 100,097 according to the 2010 United States Census, making it the lowest populated American city over 100,000 population. It was incorporated on December 1, 1989...
.The views from atop of this mesa are redundant on clear days in all directions, to the south one can see Oceanside
Oceanside, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Oceanside had a population of 167,086. The population density was 3,961.8 people per square mile...
, Fallbrook
Fallbrook, California
Fallbrook is an unincorporated community in northern San Diego County, California. The Fallbrook census-designated place population was 30,534 at the 2010 census, up from 29,100 at the 2000 census....
, De Luz and Bonsall
Bonsall, California
Bonsall is a census-designated place in San Diego County, California. The population was 3,982 at the 2010 census, up from 3,401 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Bonsall is located just east of Oceanside and Camp Pendleton....
. To the north, one can see more of the interior Santa Ana Mountains
Santa Ana Mountains
The Santa Ana Mountains are a short peninsular mountain range along the coast of Southern California in the United States. They extend for approximately 36 mi southeast of the Los Angeles Basin largely along the border between Orange and Riverside counties.- Geography :The range starts in the...
. To the east, the Temecula Valley is below, as well as Anza
Anza, California
Anza is a census-designated place located in southern Riverside County, California, in the Anza Valley, a semi-arid region at a mean elevation of above sea level. It is located south of Idyllwild, and approximately southwest of Palm Springs, southeast of Los Angeles, California and...
and the San Jacinto Mountains
San Jacinto Mountains
The San Jacinto Mountains are a mountain range east of Los Angeles in southern California in the United States. The mountains are named for Saint Hyacinth . The Pacific Crest Trail runs along the spine of the range.The range extends for approximately from the San Bernardino Mountains southeast to...
further east. To the west, one sees more of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton
Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton
Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton is the major West Coast base of the United States Marine Corps and serves as its prime amphibious training base...
, the some of the last major undeveloped coastal land in Southern California, the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
as well as Santa Catalina Island
Santa Catalina Island, California
Santa Catalina Island, often called Catalina Island, or just Catalina, is a rocky island off the coast of the U.S. state of California. The island is long and across at its greatest width. The island is located about south-southwest of Los Angeles, California. The highest point on the island is...
on very clear days, and one can see parts of coastal city San Clemente
San Clemente, California
San Clemente is a city in Orange County, California. The population was 63,522 at the 2010 census. Located on the California Coast, midway between Los Angeles and San Diego at the southern tip of the county, it is known for its ocean, hill, and mountain views, a pleasant climate and its Spanish...
northwest in lower Orange County
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
. This mesa is also covered in coastal sage scrub
Coastal sage scrub
Coastal sage scrub is a low scrubland plant community found in the California chaparral and woodlands ecoregion of coastal California and northern Baja California. It is characterized by low-growing aromatic, and drought-deciduous shrubs adapted to the semi-arid Mediterranean climate of the...
, some of the last remaining in Southern California.
History
In the late 1960s the top of Redonda Mesa (along with several parcels in the valley below) were purchased from the Rancho California Land Company by Edward E. Sharp of Newport Beach, California, a leading real estate broker in the region.During the 1970s, prior to the development of fiber optic transmission capabilities, the mesa's unrestricted views from San Diego to Orange County made it the ideal location for a microwave relay station which was the backbone of telephone communications in the era. AT&T purchased 20 acres (80,937.2 m²) at the top of Redonda Mesa from the Sharp Family Trust and in about 1981 completed the constructed a 100 feet (30.5 m) high tower with numerous white "cones" pointed toward transmission and receiving stations in the Oceanside and San Clemente areas. The tower served the region for about a decade and then fell into disuse as new technologies took over.
In 2000, looking to divest itself of the surplus property, AT&T sold Redonda Mesa back to the Sharp Family Trust who in turn sold it to Herb Massinger who liked the tower and intended to turn its unique architecture and spectacular views into his dream home.
External links
- http://17mile.com/SWRC/17MileIntro.html
- http://www.thecentraloffice.com/Microwave/SCMW2.htm