Ocotillo Wells | |
|---|---|
 A4x4 truck at the Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area | |
  Ocotillo Wells Location within the state of California Show map of California Ocotillo Wells Ocotillo Wells (the United States) Show map of the United States | |
| Coordinates:33°08′40″N116°08′03″W / 33.14444°N 116.13417°W /33.14444; -116.13417 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  California |
| County | San Diego |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP codes | 92004 |
| Area code | 760 |
Ocotillo Wells is anunincorporated community inSan Diego County, California, United States. It is 3 miles (4.8 km) west of theImperial County line onCalifornia State Route 78 at an elevation of 163 feet (50 m). The name became official in 1962 when it was adopted for federal use by theUS Board on Geographic Names. A federally recognized variant name,Ocotillo, can cause confusion with the community ofOcotillo, California, in Imperial County, 29 mi (47 km) to the south onInterstate 8.
TheZIP Code is 92004 and the community is inarea code 760. The number prefix for wired telephones is 767, which is shared withBorrego Springs.
Ocotillo Airport has two dirt runways.[1] Runway extents are marked by white paving blocks. TheLos Puertecitos Historic Site is onCalifornia State Route 78 about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) west of the community.[2] Gasoline is available inBorrego Springs (17 mi or 27 km west), inWestmorland (18 mi or 29 km east) and at the Blu-In Cafe (3 mi or 4.8 km east). Gas sales resumed at the Blu-In as of 10/31/24.[3]
Several other small businesses sell off-road accessories and rentall-terrain vehicles. Most businesses in the area are closed during the summer months. My Desert Rose, which was a traditional restaurant located at the intersection of State Route 78 and Split Mountain Road, burned down in 2008.[citation needed]
The Split Mountain Store and the Iron Door are located about 1 mile (1.6 km) south of State Route 78 on Split Mountain Road. Both of these businesses are open part-time during the summer and full-time during the cooler months. The Split Mountain Store stocks groceries, beer, and parts for sand buggies and trucks. The Iron Door, a small bar, has two pool tables and serves beer, wine and some food. Local artifacts are on display in the bar, where several layers of decorated dollar bills are stapled to the walls.[relevant?]
Ocotillo Wells has ahot desert climate (Köppen climate classification:BWh) with short, mild winters and long, extremely hot summers.
| Climate data for Ocotillo Wells, California (normals 2003–2020, extremes 2003–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 88 (31) | 92 (33) | 101 (38) | 108 (42) | 115 (46) | 124 (51) | 122 (50) | 122 (50) | 121 (49) | 112 (44) | 99 (37) | 89 (32) | 124 (51) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 80.1 (26.7) | 83.2 (28.4) | 93.8 (34.3) | 101.0 (38.3) | 106.4 (41.3) | 115.4 (46.3) | 117.6 (47.6) | 116.2 (46.8) | 112.1 (44.5) | 102.1 (38.9) | 90.8 (32.7) | 79.3 (26.3) | 119.0 (48.3) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 68.8 (20.4) | 73.1 (22.8) | 79.6 (26.4) | 85.7 (29.8) | 93.7 (34.3) | 102.3 (39.1) | 108.1 (42.3) | 107.8 (42.1) | 101.9 (38.8) | 90.7 (32.6) | 78.6 (25.9) | 68.2 (20.1) | 88.2 (31.2) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 58.8 (14.9) | 62.4 (16.9) | 68.7 (20.4) | 73.6 (23.1) | 81.4 (27.4) | 88.9 (31.6) | 95.7 (35.4) | 95.7 (35.4) | 89.9 (32.2) | 79.1 (26.2) | 67.1 (19.5) | 57.6 (14.2) | 76.6 (24.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 48.7 (9.3) | 51.8 (11.0) | 57.8 (14.3) | 61.4 (16.3) | 69.2 (20.7) | 75.5 (24.2) | 83.3 (28.5) | 83.5 (28.6) | 77.9 (25.5) | 67.5 (19.7) | 55.7 (13.2) | 47.0 (8.3) | 64.9 (18.3) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 36.7 (2.6) | 39.9 (4.4) | 45.3 (7.4) | 50.2 (10.1) | 56.7 (13.7) | 65.1 (18.4) | 74.8 (23.8) | 73.8 (23.2) | 66.3 (19.1) | 55.5 (13.1) | 43.9 (6.6) | 36.2 (2.3) | 33.6 (0.9) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 27 (−3) | 28 (−2) | 39 (4) | 45 (7) | 51 (11) | 60 (16) | 71 (22) | 67 (19) | 59 (15) | 39 (4) | 36 (2) | 32 (0) | 27 (−3) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 0.68 (17) | 0.81 (21) | 0.54 (14) | 0.13 (3.3) | 0.03 (0.76) | trace | 0.28 (7.1) | 0.37 (9.4) | 0.26 (6.6) | 0.25 (6.4) | 0.19 (4.8) | 0.49 (12) | 4.03 (102) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 2.2 | 2.3 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 2.1 | 15.1 |
| Source:NOAA[4] | |||||||||||||
There are no schools in Ocotillo Wells. The community is served by theBorrego Springs Unified School District.[citation needed]
TheCalifornia Department of Parks and Recreation operates theOcotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area which borders the community. Thisoff-road vehicle area is part of the department's Southern Division, Ocotillo Wells District which is headquartered in Borrego Springs.[5]
Free camping is available at numerous locations along State Route 78. The most popular of these are Main Street, Holmes Camp, County Line Road, and Pole Line Road. Each of these areas have ample access to numerous trails that provide a challenge to riders of all skill levels. Any vehicle with alicense plate or off-roadregistration is able to operate in the park.[citation needed]
Natural features in the park include:
TheJuan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail travels through the Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area.[6]
A map of these locations as well as numerous other trails is available at theranger station.
On 29 September 2020, around 4:00 PM, aUS Marine Corps (USMC)F-35B fighter aircraft was involved in amid-air collision with a USMCKC-130J tanker during anaerial refueling exercise.[7] The F-35B crashed near Ocotillo Wells in front of civilian onlookers who recorded the impact, with its pilot able to eject safely.[8] The KC-130J made an emergencywheels-up landing in an agricultural field nearThermal, California, with all eight crew members surviving.[9][10]
Part of the 1971 film, The Andromeda Strain, was filmed on location in Ocotillo Wells, which featured an agricultural station and planted fields that were specifically constructed for the film.[11]
