Lake Cuyamaca Recreation & Park District

Raw space venue

The venue will provide just the space. You’ll bring in your own caterer and vendors.

Full wedding (ceremony and reception) pricing

Starting at $1,000

Packages

Guest capacity

Up to 100 seated guests

About this venue

We have two venues: *The Island -- Lake Cuyamaca has a scenic, natural site suitable for small outdoor weddings. Venue is rented for 6 daylight hours. Tables & chairs are not included.  *Ole Firehouse -- The Firehouse is a newly renovated former fire station with a 40' x 60' event room, the perfect space for both weddings and receptions. Amenities include: the venue room, a full kitchen, two restrooms, an outdoor patio area, a large, shaded deck, and an upstairs bridal dressing room/loft space. It has a 80-person indoor capacity with the Firehouse bay doors closed & a 100-person capacity when they are open. We'd love to give you a tour of our unique locations & are committed to doing all we can to help you make this a memorable day!

Seated guest capacity

  • 1-100

Venue type

  • Beaches, Waterfront Settings
  • Parks, Gardens

Venue setting

  • Indoor
  • Outdoor
15027 Highway 79, Julian, CA 92036

Our event spaces

The Island

The most beautiful lakeside wedding in the middle of the forest in San Diego county!

Known as "The Island", a peaceful, scenic, natural site located in the mountains of Julian, CA around 4800 feet elevation within Lake Cuyamaca Recreation and Park District, it is a beautiful space to hold a small wedding. Venue is rented for 6 daylight hours. We'd love to give you a tour of this unique space. We are committed to doing all we can to help you make this a memorable day! We look forward to connecting with you!

Guest capacity

1-80 Seated

1-80 Standing

Square footage

10,000

Ideal for

Wedding ceremony, Wedding reception, Other, Elopement, Wedding shower, Engagement party, Welcome party, Farewell brunch

Guests often feel this space is

“Relaxed”

Included in this room:

We only supply our lake venue. We have many local vendors that we can refer to assist you with your event.

Room cost

Included in total venue pricing

Ole Firehouse

Unique space, with all-around gorgeous views, located in the mountains of Julian, CA around 4800 feet elevation!

The Firehouse is a newly renovated former fire station with a 40' x 60' event room, the perfect space for both weddings and receptions. Amenities include the venue room, a full-size kitchen, two restrooms, an outdoor patio area, a large, shaded deck, and an upstairs bridal dressing room/loft space. It has a 80-person indoor capacity with the Firehouse bay doors closed & a 100-person capacity when they are open. Email us for a tour at info@lakecuyamaca.org. We look forward to connecting with you!

Guest capacity

1-100 Seated

1-100 Standing

Square footage

2,400

Ideal for

Other, Cocktail hour, Elopement, Rehearsal dinner, Wedding shower, Engagement party, Welcome party, After party, Farewell brunch, Couples luncheon, Baraat

Guests often feel this space is

“Relaxed”

Included in this room:

Amenities include the venue room, a full-size kitchen, two restrooms, an outdoor patio area, a large, shaded deck, and an upstairs bridal dressing room/loft space.

Room cost

Included in total venue pricing

The Island

The most beautiful lakeside wedding in the middle of the forest in San Diego county!

Known as "The Island", a peaceful, scenic, natural site located in the mountains of Julian, CA around 4800 feet elevation within Lake Cuyamaca Recreation and Park District, it is a beautiful space to hold a small wedding. Venue is rented for 6 daylight hours. We'd love to give you a tour of this unique space. We are committed to doing all we can to help you make this a memorable day! We look forward to connecting with you!

Guest capacity

1-80 Seated

1-80 Standing

Square footage

10,000

Ideal for

Wedding ceremony, Wedding reception, Other, Elopement, Wedding shower, Engagement party, Welcome party, Farewell brunch

Guests often feel this space is

“Relaxed”

Included in this room:

We only supply our lake venue. We have many local vendors that we can refer to assist you with your event.

Room cost

Included in total venue pricing

Lake Cuyamaca Recreation & Park District packages

20% off Cabin Rentals

Description

We offer a 20% discount on cabin rentals with a signed event contract! We will place a hold on the requested cabin(s) you select for you and/or your guests. Full payment is due 45 days prior to event date.

Available services that can be provided by Lake Cuyamaca Recreation & Park District

Services & amenities

  • Dressing room / Bridal Suite
  • Pet friendly
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Wifi

Transportation & access

  • Self parking - free
  • Wheelchair accessible

Accommodations

  • Bedroom suites
  • Double bed rooms
  • Honeymoon suite
  • Room blocks offered

Reviews

Write a review

5.0 out of 5

6 reviews

Write a review

  • 5 Stars – Truly a Dream Venue!

    •Verified review
    •Yarimar B.•Jun 7, 2025

    We couldn’t have asked for a better place to celebrate our special day. The venue was super affordable, which was such a blessing during wedding planning. The views were absolutely stunning—every corner felt like a picture-perfect backdrop. The space was well-kept, Kelly was so kind and accommodating, and everything went so smoothly. It honestly exceeded all our expectations. Highly recommend to any couple looking for a beautiful, budget-friendly venue that still feels magical in every way!

    Response from vendor•Jun 13, 2025
    Yari - It was our pleasure to have you and your groom solidify your love and bond together at Lake Cuyamaca! We're so happy that everything met your expectations and you had a beautiful day full of lasting memories! We hope you come visit us again - maybe on your 1st year anniversary! :)

  • gorgeous setting

    •Verified review
    •Lisa Z.•Feb 22, 2025

    The team at Lake Cuyamaca Recreation & Park District went above and beyond to make our daughter's wedding day truly special. From their prompt communication to their willingness to go the extra mile, they were available every step of the way to ensure that everything went smoothly. The beautiful lakeside setting and charming firehouse provided an affordable and picturesque backdrop for our celebration. We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful and memorable wedding venue.

    Response from vendor•Feb 24, 2025
    Thank you, Lisa. It was our pleasure! We're so glad your daughter's wedding and reception was a beautiful time, and special memories were shared together here at Lake Cuyamaca. The pictures you posted are fantastic! We hope they can help other clients envision their special day at the Ole Firehouse & Island venues. :)

  • Caterer

    •Verified review
    •Kristina•Dec 17, 2024

    Lake Cuyamaca Recreation & Park District was an absolute pleasure to work with. Their communication style was responsive, attentive, and pleasant throughout the entire planning process. The venue itself was spacious, accommodating, and absolutely gorgeous - the perfect backdrop for a special day. Need catering option for your event? Choose the Pub at Lake Cuyamaca! They can create a specialized catering menu, unique to the event and offer Bartending Services.

    Response from vendor•Dec 23, 2024
    Thank you, Kristina! We look forward to working with the Pub at Lake Cuyamaca again. :)

  • Super special venue in a great location

    •Verified review
    •Cu F.•Oct 31, 2024

    We have so many good things to say about the Ole Firehouse, we’re not sure where to start. In a gorgeous location with mountain and lake views, the Ole Firehouse is just a short drive from Julian. The venue has a HUGE amount of space inside and out—in addition to the main indoor-outdoor area, there’s a getting-ready room upstairs, a fully functional kitchen for any catering needs, plenty of parking, and a beautiful outdoor deck. The staff is easy to work with and very relaxed, which was such a pleasant change from other venues that insist on monitoring your every move. Getting to access the venue for three days for set-up and tear-down was also a game-changer. And finally, all of these amenities—including tables and chairs—came at a seriously amazing price. Bottom line: if you want a stress-free, beautiful space to host a wedding or a reception, book the Ole Firehouse ASAP! We feel so fortunate that we were able to celebrate our special day in this one-of-a-kind venue.

    Response from vendor•Dec 23, 2024
    It was a pleasure working with you, Cu! We're so glad you had a memorable experience and loved the venue at Lake Cuyamaca!

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