The area is cold enough to have snow, and it is a favorite winter destination for San Diegans who want to throw snowballs and make snowmen. Each fall the apple crop is harvested and made into 10,000 pies. Shops offer unique gifts and antiques in the ambiance of a quaint village.

 

The town was named in 1870 by two ex-confederate soldiers who had left Georgia to seek riches in the California gold fields. The first gold was found in Coleman Creek in 1869 by A.E. Coleman. By 1879, the mines in the area had yielded approximately $5 million in gold and the town was home to about 300 miners.

 

Julian survived even though the gold played out because of its climate and proximity to San Diego. Apples have thrived in the area's rich soil since the first trees were introduced in the 1870s. Julian apples were winning prizes at world's fairs in the early part of the 20th century. The Julian Hotel was started by a former slave, Albert Robinson and his wife, in 1897. The hotel was famous for its hospitality and its food when the Robinson's operated it. It has recently been restored to its original splendor and is now listed in National Register of Historical Places, Washington, D.C and as a State of California "Point of Historical Interest".

 

Julian is a favorite destination for San Diego residents and tourists who flock to the area during all seasons.