Fort Tejon

Fort Tejon is a military heritage site in Grapevine Canyon, California, set between two mountain ranges. The grounds include restored barracks, officer quarters, and other wooden buildings spread across roughly five acres.

The United States Army established the garrison in 1854 to secure the travel route El Camino Real. The post closed in 1864 and later served as ranch property before the state acquired it.

The name comes from the Spanish word for badger, reflecting the wildlife in the surrounding area. Visitors today see nineteenth-century wooden buildings and experience daily soldier routines through demonstrations.

The grounds are open year-round and offer paths to the main buildings along with rest areas. Visitors should bring suitable footwear for walking on uneven terrain.

The site once served as the western endpoint for experiments with camels as transport animals in arid regions. These trials brought animals from the Mediterranean to California and tested their suitability in desert conditions.

Location: Kern County

Inception: 1954

Website: https://parks.ca.gov/?page_id=585

GPS coordinates: 34.87400,-118.89400

Latest update: December 20, 2025 13:56