The diminished Golden Hill Fountain Grotto (Save Our Heritage Organisation)
History, Golden Hill

Did You Know…

By Frank Sabatini Jr.

…that the Golden Hill Fountain Grotto ranks as one of San Diego’s oldest outdoor design features?

Located at 2440 Russ Blvd in the Golden Hill section of Balboa Park, the long-defunct fountain was designed in 1907 by architect Henry Lord Gay, who also built the Western Metal Supply Company Building that is now prominently incorporated into Petco Park.

It’s hard to imagine a once-running fountain when looking at these decrepit remains. By most accounts, it last operated in the 1930s. A descriptive marker installed at the site several years ago explains how Gay created a sunken garden with twin cobblestone stairways leading into the deep canyon as a natural shelter to the fountain.

Even though the site possesses less beauty and Zen than it did in earlier times, it still gives urban explorers and hikers a sense of discovery.