Linda Vista Park

I still remember Mr. Iverson’s 4th grade class and learning about California history, the gold rush, the chain missions, and a memorable field trip to Mission San Jose. We traveled via Peerless Stage (a bus, not a stage coach!) from Marshall School in Castro Valley to the sleepy village of Mission San Jose. We were first led behind a former saloon to see the supposed “actual” boulder that was rolled down Mission Peak by in the late 1700’s in order to determine the final location of the planned thirteenth mission. Following a tour of the old adobe mission, chapel, cemetery and olive orchard we walked up a nearby cypress lined driveway to a park to enjoy our highly anticipated brown bag lunches (I was hoping for a tuna sandwich with the crusts cut off and maybe some Granny Goose potato chips and a couple of Hydrox cookies!) and I was surprised when we came upon a towering skeleton of a Ferris Wheel, several rusting carnival rides and a large overgrown swimming pool. It wasn’t until decades later that I understood the areas rich history and that my 4th grade field trip picnic lunch was held at the former site of Linda Vista Park, a once popular East Bay amusement destination. Originally established as Peak Vineyard in the early 1800’s, the site was purchased by Joseph Palmer in 1852 who, in-turn, sold the estate to Charles McIver in 1888. McIver also purchased several adjacent properties creating Linda Vista, a 1000 acre vineyard and showplace that included a classic country home, lush gardens and a world renowned winery. Following unfortunate personal and business setbacks in 1922, McIver sold his property to Tom and Blanch Witherly. The Witherly’s attempted to maintain their agricultural business through the depression years but were forced to begin subdividing the property and had the idea of turning the attractive grounds into a cash generating amusement park. As many as 5000 people could be found at Linda Vista Park on hot summer weekends in the 1930’s and 40’s enjoying the lush gardens, dance pavilion, bath house, cooling swimming pool, barbecue pits, Ferris wheel, carousel, and concession stands. The property changed hands several times again in the 1940’s and was ultimately purchased by the trustees of Ohlone College for the fledgling institution's permanent location. A few pepper trees and quickly fading memories are all that remain of what Oakland poet Joaquin Miller once called “The Golden Garden of Linda Vista and the Garden of Eden”.