The highest pond in the resort is Alligator Pond, or Pond Number 6, depending upon who you ask. It is noted for the island in the middle that sports a concrete alligator and a good bit of foliage. Word has it that the alligator has a broken foot from when the gang who were installing it dropped the poor thing. But who knows, no one goes to visit the alligator any more.

Sometimes the water fountains in Alligator Pond are running, and you can hear the sounds of falling water even when it is not raining. This pond is also a favorite of some of the local wildlife, including an egret fishing along the shores of the island for some of the prized mosquito fish or koi planted in the ponds.

When the water runs out of Alligator Pond, it runs down a rock-lined channel and over a water-fall into Pond Number 5, the pond whose bottom was just relined. A few months ago this pond was bone dry. It would not hold water.

Then donations were collected to buy a bottom and a crew of volunteers went to work. They lined the bottom of the pond with a rubber liner and covered that with soil. Finally, they filled the pond with water and the water now runs out the drain.

The new pond now offers a great view of the Clubhouse and the Palomar Mountains in the distance as seen from this view. The lake is now full, and the new fountain has been installed. There is even some grasses planted around the edge of the water.

When the water leaves Pond 5 it flows down Juni River. The bottom of this river was built by the Rockettes (a renowned female volunteer construction crew who did all the rock work in the park) using the broken concrete pads from the original Crazy Horse RV Park down below. Along side the river are the miniature golf course and the horseshoe pits.

The water flows into Pond 4. Here there is a picnic table and shade trees for viewing the placid waters of this lake. It is one of the quiet places for members of the resort. There is a recirculating pump that sends water from Pond 4 back up to Alligator Pond. This keeps the water fresh and provides a pleasant note to the resort.

When the water overflows Pond 4 it flows into part of the storm drain system and down to Pond 1. This bottom lake is across the road from the new dry waterfall built by the volunteers to carry storm water from Granite Loop down the side of the hill and prevent erosion.

There are two other ponds above Pond 1 along side Jojoba Hills Road. Guess what. Their names are Pond 2 and Pond 3. During the rains the connection between them has a beautiful waterfall.  Overflow from Pond 1 continues down the storm drain system then alongside the boondock area to the old water course beside the property, dry like it was for hundred of years. 

November 4, 2009