Camp Wright was first established on October 18, 1861, on Warner's Ranch at the Fork of the Trail to San Diego to guard communications between California and Arizona. About November 23, 1861, Major Edwin A. Rigg of the First California Volunteers moved it to this site. It was named for Brigadier General George Wright of the United States Army, who commanded the Pacific Department and California District from 1861 to 1865, and it was abandoned in December 1866.