Vasona Lake County Park, Regional park in Los Gatos, California, US.
Vasona Lake County Park is a Santa Clara County park in Los Gatos that surrounds the Vasona Reservoir, a lake formed by damming Los Gatos Creek. The Los Gatos Creek Trail crosses the grounds, and a marina on the water rents pedal boats. The park borders Oak Meadow Park, where the Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad and the W.E. "Bill" Mason Carousel stand.
The site was originally farmland that was transformed into a recreational park during the 1930s when the lake and surrounding green spaces were created. This conversion made it an important recreation area for the expanding local population.
The name Vasona comes from a pony ridden by farmer Albert August Vollmer, who chose it for the flag stop he asked the Southern Pacific to build near Pollard Road. Since 1999 the park has held the Vasona Fantasy of Lights each December, filling it with illuminated holiday scenes and animations. It also co-hosts the Pianos in the Park event.
The Los Gatos Creek Trail crosses the park in two segments between Lexington Dam and downtown San Jose. Boats may be launched only from the on-site marina, which rents pedal boats; outside watercraft and swimming are not permitted. The Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad runs weekends year-round and daily during school summer vacations.
The name "Vasona" comes from a pony: farmer Albert August Vollmer asked Southern Pacific for a flag stop near Pollard Road and was allowed to name it after his favourite childhood pony. Vasona Junction, where the Vasona Branch split toward Palo Alto, kept the name, and the park inherited it.
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