GILROY GARDENS

GILROY, CA

Máyyan 'Ooyákma - Coyote Ridge Wildflowers This Santa Clara Valley open space preserve south of San Jose, CA opened in 2023 and has 5 miles of trails. I saw lots of wildflowers during my hike. — Máyyan 'Ooyákma - Coyote Ridge Wildflowers Credit: ricknor

Gilroy Gardens is a family theme park located in Gilroy, California. It was founded in 2001 and is set on a sprawling 20-acre property. The park offers a variety of activities, including amusement rides, gardens, water play areas and more.

The park is divided into six themed areas, each boasting a unique atmosphere and attractions. The Circus Trees are a highlight, featuring 19 unique trees shaped through the pruning process known as “pleaching.” Guests can also experience a wild west adventure in “Explorer’s Gulch” and explore a tropical paradise in “Monte's Tropical Island.”

The park has a variety of rides for all ages, ranging from a classic carousel to the thrilling Komodo Dragon rollercoaster. There are also eight water rides, including The Lady Bug Bop and Dragon's Den, as well as a lazy river and an interactive water play area. The park also features several gardens, including the Sensory Garden, The Maze Garden and the Hummingbird Garden.

Throughout the year, the park hosts interactive events and special programs such as “Wine Down Wednesdays” and “Laughing Stock Comedy Night.” Guests can also take a break from the rides and games and enjoy a meal at one of the park’s restaurants or grab a snack at one of the snack bars.

Gilroy Gardens is a fun and unique place to explore and is sure to provide hours of entertainment and memories that will last a lifetime.

GILROY GARDENS is a Arboretums, Botanical Gardens, & Nature Center in GILROY CA. US MID #8400601157

The museum is classed as BOT (Arboretums, Botanical Gardens, & Nature Centers). It comes under American Alliance of Museums (AAM) region: Western (Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington). Total revenue from most recent IRS 990 Form: $ 9,898,972 from tax period 201302 (YYYYMM).

Castroville / Japanese Schoolhouse internment – to detention (# 0016) Description of of being rounded up and forced to leave for the detention center.

See the <u><a href="https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=63714" rel="noreferrer nofollow">schoolhouse marker</a></u> for detail of the text.

<i>Use the “Castroville Japanese Schoolhouse” tag to connect the pictures.</i>

Castroville / Japanese Schoolhouse internment cycle (# 0028) A fascinating, and very under-utilized, historical site in Castroville, which is on the way to Monterey, CA. I fortunately discovered it, and a number of other places related to Japanese and Chinese history in California, just by searching through <u><a href="https://www.hmdb.org" rel="noreferrer nofollow">The Historical Marker Database</a></u>.

Japanese laborers had been migrating to this area since the late 1800’s as tenant farmers (the primary crop remains artichokes). By the 1930’s there were enough Japanese families that they wanted a schoolhouse to preserve history and also to provide a community for their children that was safe from the local hostility. The “Japanese Schoolhouse,” founded in 1936, was short-lived since in 1942 all Japanese were ordered to be interred, due to the war with Japan.

Historical Marker <u>”<a href="https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=63772" rel="noreferrer nofollow">For the Sake of the Children</a>”</u> provides a good description of the history of the area. Note that the schoolhouse is sometimes referred to as the Castroville Japanese Language School. Use the <i>Castroville Japanese Schoolhouse</i> tag to connect the pictures.

Castroville / Japanese Schoolhouse – monument (# 0030) As the <u><a href="http://www.mchsmuseum.com/Japanese.html" rel="noreferrer nofollow">Monterey County</a></u> site and the <u><a href="https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=63714" rel="noreferrer nofollow">HMDB timeline</a></u> describe the schoolhouse and the Castroville community, the town has historically been home to migrants who work in the surrounding fields, and those migrants have regularly had a concern that their children remember their heritage and use their heritage for protection, thus the “ For the Sake of the Children” motto.

Unfortunately, the site is not well-marked on either of the major highways passing it, and there are no signs in the town leading to it. Thus, much like I’ve experienced in other recent efforts to understand historic discrimination and hostility to Asian populations, there seems to be a concerted effort to keep that past invisible.

<i>Use the “Castroville Japanese Schoolhouse” tag to connect the pictures.</i>

Storm and Rainbow over South San Jose Taken from the top of Bernal Rd in Santa Teresa Park

Manzanita trunk Older bark on manzanitas erodes or peels away to reveal the bare woody trunk or branches. This specimen has dropped limbs and branches yet still produces abundant leaves and blossoms.
Seen at Rancho Canada del Oro Open Space Preserve

New Almaden Bell Tower Located in the Hacienda entrance to Almaden Quicksilver County Park

Spread The Word It was a very familiar story. The ice plant community was living happily on the hillside. Had been for centuries. The weeds came along with what they believed was a better way of life and forcibly spread the weed message. The weeds also introduced disease nearly decimating the ice plants.

Aptos, California 2012

Contact GILROY GARDENS

telephone: 4088407100
website: http://www.gilroygardens.org

GILROY GARDENS FAMILY THEME PARK
3050 HECKER PASS HWY
GILROY
CA
95020-9411

Disclaimer: please note this database is maintained by volunteers and whilst we endeavour to do our best, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the listing.

If you notice any errors or omissions in the listing, please let us know in the comments section below.

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GILROY GARDENS Information

MID #	8400601157
Name	GILROY GARDENS FAMILY THEME PARK
Alternate Name	GILROY GARDENS
Classification	Arboretums, Botanical Gardens, & Nature Centers, , Western
Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN)	311574450
NTEECC	C41
Tax period of the latest return filed (YYYYMM)	201302
INCOME	10,436,474
REVENUE	9,898,972
LAT/LONG	37.013171, -121.629743
CODES	FIPS State Code: 06 FIPS County Code: 085 US Census Tract: 512200 US Census Block: 2085