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Attractions, Entertainment, and Points of Interests
Mission Viejo History The land within these city limits originally belonged to two ranchos, Rancho Mission Vieja and Rancho Trabuco. Mission Vieja stretched from the present boundary of Orange and Riverside County to San Juan Capistrano, Rancho Trabuco once incorporated what is now the northern half of Mission Viejo and the Cleveland National Forest. Parts of both were swallowed up into a new ranch owned by Richard O'Neill, who bought the land from the reancheros.
This type of transfer of land was typical during and after the Mexican War. When Mexico seceded from Spain, the new nation included the lands of Alta California--the present state of California--and Baja California, the peninsula that is separated from mainland Mexico by the Sea of Cortez. The Mexican governor of California, General Pio Pico, deeded vast portions of land to various Mexican citizens. These were the rancheros. Many ranchos were actually confiscated lands that once belonged to the missions of the Catholic Church. The Franciscan missionaries had been entrusted with this land and meant, in time, to turn it over to the local Indian populations. The creation of Mexico changed all that, causing the Indians to receive nothing.
After the Mexican War, the United States annexed Arizona, New Mexico and Alta California. The rancho owners were not immediately displaced, but eventually their property was bought by new settlers from the East, who raised importance in the Saddleback Valley, as a place for citrus fruit. Thus began the spread of the famous orange groves, which eventually gave their name to the region.
Orange County grew slowly during the first half of the 20th century, remaining a rich agricultural county well into the 1950's. During the 1960's, Mission Viejo was one of the prototype planned communities in this part of Orange County. The farmland was cleared to make way for new, affordable family homes. The bungalow style of the post World War II building boom, familiar to residents in the more populous northern portion of the county, was being replaced by homes that were less boxy, more rancho style, with Spanish style roofs.
Lake Mission Viejo
Marguerite Pkwy-between Alicia Pkwy and Vista Del Lago
One of several Man-Made lakes in Orange County. Lake Mission Viejo is bordered by the
market on the lake shopping village and residences with their own boat slips. Several
restaurants offer dinning with a view of the lake, and there is a pleasant 2.5 mile
jogging path around this picturesque lake.
Mission Viejo Recreation Center
Marguerite Complex
27341 Trabuco Circle, Mission Viejo, CA
Center Infor (949) 951-6872-Swim office (949) 380-2552
Hours Monday to Wednesday and Friday 5:30 am to 10 pm-Thursday 12pm to 10pm-Saturday and
Sunday 8am to 8pm.
The Olympic sized lap pool and diving area is a true standout. It's used for many regional
swim meets and Olympic tryouts. The platform diving structure is so tall it can even be
seen behind the tall trees that line Marguerite Pkwy.
Marguerite Tennis Center
23840 Marguerite Pkwy, Mission Viejo, CA
(949) 855-6854
Hours Monday through Friday 8am to 10pm-Saturday and Sunday 8am to 6pm
This large recreation complex has excellent tennis and swimming facilities. The fee to
play tennis is just $6 for 1 to 5 hours, and you need not be a resident. The center also
has racquetball, handball and wally ball courts for $4 per hour.
Mission Viejo Mall
27000 Crown Valley Pkwy, Mission Viejo, Ca
(949) 364-1771
This is Mission Viejo's only indoor shopping mall, with four department stores and dozens
of other stores on two levels.
Fun N' Games
27000 Crown Valley Pkwy, Mission Viejo, CA
(949) 364-5627
Arcade
Saddleback College Theater
28000 Marguerite Pkwy, Mission Viejo, CA
(949) 582-4656
Local Community Theater
Children's Theater Village 23891 Via Fabricante, Mission Viejo, CA
(949) 588-8857
>Local Community Theater
Fezziwigs Family Fun Center
25800 Jeronimo Rd, Mission Viejo, CA
(949) 855-1231
Billards, video games, brunswick tables.
Shout West 28471 Marguerite Pkwy, Mission Viejo, CA
(949) 364-9378
Local Night Club
Saddleback Lanes
25402 Marguerite Pkwy, Mission Viejo, CA
(949) 586-5300
Local Bowling Alley
Edwards Cinemas Crown Valley Cinemas/Mission Viejo Mall/Trabuco Hills 5 Theaters
