The Hidden Ranch That Comes Alive at Night: Fall-O-Ween at Heritage Hill

When the sun sets over Heritage Hill Historical Park, history gets a little brighter.

Fall-O-Ween in Lake Forest transforms this quiet historic site into a glowing fall wonderland filled with pumpkins, lanterns, and family photo ops tucked between the 1800s buildings.

The creak you hear underfoot? That’s not just part of the setup, it’s history.

Before there was Lake Forest, there was Rancho Cañada de los Alisos, a 10,000-acre spread where Don José Serrano ran cattle across the hills.

His rancho may be long gone, but his name lives on across South OC, on streets, schools, parks, and neighborhoods.

It now anchors Heritage Hill Historical Park, a four-acre pocket of the past tucked behind shopping centers and soccer fields, a place most locals drive by without realizing it’s there.

The park is home to four historic buildings that tell the story of how this area grew from open range to orange groves to suburbia:

@thesceneoc

When the sun sets over Heritage Hill, history starts to glow ✨ This weekend, Fall-O-Ween transforms this quiet Lake Forest historical park... See more

1. Serrano Adobe

Built in 1863, it’s the oldest surviving home in the Saddleback Valley. Step inside during regular hours to see its whitewashed walls, handcrafted furniture, and the clay floors that have witnessed every chapter of OC’s growth.

The Serrano Adobe still stands on its original site, while the park’s other historic buildings were carefully moved here to join it.

2. El Toro Schoolhouse

/

Built in 1890, this one-room school served the children of the El Toro farming community until 1914. It was the town’s first formal classroom—before that, kids were taught wherever space could be found.

After being used as a community hall and even a storage building, it was moved to Heritage Hill in 1976 to save it from demolition.

Inside, the original desks, chalkboards, and potbelly stove recreate the feeling of an 1890s school day.

3. St. George’s Episcopal Mission

Constructed in 1891 by the residents of El Toro, this little chapel hosted weddings, Sunday services, and countless potlucks. It was built from locally milled redwood and originally stood near what’s now El Toro Road.

When the congregation outgrew the building, it was scheduled to be torn down but volunteers stepped in, dismantled it board by board, and reassembled it at Heritage Hill in 1976.

Today, it’s one of the park’s most photogenic spots, especially when its stained glass glows at night.

4. Bennett Ranch House

Built in 1908 by rancher Harvey Bennett, this house represents the next chapter of South OC’s story: the shift from cattle to citrus.

The Bennett family ran one of the largest orange operations in the area, with acres of groves stretching across the valley.

The home itself was donated and moved to Heritage Hill in 1978. Its wraparound porch, floral wallpaper, and tall windows capture the optimism of early 20th-century ranch liferight before Orange County became the suburban sprawl we know today.

Together, these four buildings tell the story of how the Saddleback Valley became the South OC we know today.

And this weekend, you can see it all under a different kind of light. During Fall-O-Ween, the park glows with pumpkins, lanterns, and spooky scenes that turn the historic grounds into a glowing fall festival.

Word to the Wise

If you’re going for the history, don’t visit during Fall-O-Ween. The buildings are closed, and the park fills up with families, strollers, and little ghosts in costume.

But if you’re after atmosphere, they nailed it. The lighting is stunning, the pumpkins are plentiful, and it’s one of the best photo ops in South OC this season.

📍 Address: 25151 Serrano Rd, Lake Forest, CA 92630

📅 Fall-O-Ween at Heritage Hill
Fri & Sat, Oct 18–19 | 4:30–8:30 PM | Heritage Hill Historical Park, Lake Forest

🕰 Normal Hours
Tuesday-Saturday | 9 AM–5 PM | Free admission
Docent-led tours are offered Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday at 11 AM.

📱 Website

1