On April 20, Mt. Helix Park will hold the 100th Sunrise Easter Service in the historic amphitheater. Every year, a different church handles historic production, and this year the service will be produced by Legacy Church of La Mesa.
As the news of the beauty and perfect climate in San Diego spread throughout the United States in the late 1900s, the county began to grow. Col. Ed Fletcher, who left the East Coast with six dollars in his pocket, saw the vision of what San Diego was about to become. He worked his way up and labored hard until he accumulated enough wealth to purchase land and water rights.
Just 20 minutes from downtown and the beaches, he fell in love with the towering hill at 1,400ft, later known as Mt. Helix. He purchased the land and began creating an artist colony, attracting famous authors, actors, and even an opera singer.
The Mt. Helix Historic Nature Theatre was made possible by the Yawkey family’s vision and finances. Recently, there were uncovered documents where Fletcher stated that he was saving the top for “something special”. A perfect partnership of friends and family created this incredible place for the community.
Fletcher was a savvy man and as the City of La Mesa’s Sunrise Easter Service was not able to be funded in 1917 due to WWI, he quickly realized the opportunity to bring it to the top of Mt. Helix where there was somewhat of a natural dirt bowl shape on the hillside ideally facing east to catch a perfect backdrop of the morning sun rising over the mountain range. He was part of the marketing and advertising club, and they had funds to make the service happen. Fletcher had already built a wooden cross to attract “motor-enthusiasts” to purchase land on Mt. Helix. Easter Sunday, 1917, began the reign of Mt. Helix, holding the second-longest Sunrise Easter Service.
Shuttles will start from Grossmont High at 5 a.m. If you are a member of the Mt. Helix Park Foundation, only $35 a year per household, you will receive a permit for closer parking and shuttles, along with invitations to other member-only events. Service starts at 6:30 am, but you will want to allow plenty of time for the shuttle ride. It is a transformative experience to arrive at the park as the night stars fade into the light of the sun coming over the mountain, so get there early.
