AND IT’S BRINGING OUT CROWDS WE HAVEN’T SEEN HERE IN YEARS.. SUN AND FUN AT LAKE SAN ANTONIO AS THOUSANDS FLOCK HERE FOR A LONG HOT 4TH OF JULY WEEKEND.. NOT A BAD WAY TO SPEND AMERICA’S BIRTHDAY.. GRILLING.. CHILLING.. SWIMMING BOATING.. WHERE TEMPERATURES TOPPED 90 DEGREES.. SO HOT.. THIS VISITOR FORGOT WHAT HE CAME FOR.. CAMPING. CHILLING, LET ME HELP YOU, SWIMMING, BOATING, ENJOYING TIME WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND CELEBRATING :57) PARK RANGERS SAY THE CROWDS WHICH STARTED ARRIVING MID-WEEK ARE SOME OF THE LARGEST THE LAKE HAS SEEN IN YEARS.. EXPECTED TO BE RIGHT UP THERE WITH MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND.. LARGE CROWDS MEAN MORE DOLLARS FOR IMPROVEMENTS AND UPKEEP AT THE LAKE SINCE IT’S SELF SUPPORTED.. AND ITS GOOD FOR NEARBY BUSINESSES.. THE PLETYO STORE SEEING A STEADY 143 152S :57 YEAH, THEY’RE GOOD YEAH, THEY’RE GOOD CROWDS. EVERYBODY’S LIKE. THEY’RE HAVING FUN, ENJOYING THEIR TIME. YOU KNOW? NOBODY’S BOTHERING ANYBODY RIGHT HERE. JUST CHILLIN, NOTHING MUCH :06 PARK RANGERS ASK VISITORS TO BOAT AND DRIVE RESPONSIBLY.. AND THEY WARN YOU.. IF YOU’RE COMING OUT TO THE LAKE.. LEAVE THE FIREWORKS AT HOME.. IT’S HOT.. IT’S DRY… PERFECT CONDITIONS FOR A FIRE TO EASILY START.. AT LAKE SAN ANTONIO.. FELIX CORTEZ ACTION NEWS 8.
Crowds flock to Lake San Antonio for a hot Fourth of July weekend
Updated: 6:11 PM PDT Jul 4, 2025
Lake San Antonio in South Monterey County is experiencing large crowds as visitors enjoy the best water levels in years during a long, hot Fourth of July weekend. Temperatures have topped 90 degrees, drawing thousands to the lake for sun, fun, and festivities.CarlosArellano, a visitor at the lake, said, “Just enjoying the lake, man. It’s really… The lake is pretty cold. And with this nice hot weather, it really feels really good to just get in there. And, we’ve been cooking up, try to make burgers, hot dogs, pretty good food.”Another visitor, Leo Hernandez, shared his experience, saying, “Camping. Chilling, let me help you, swimming, boating, enjoying time with friends and family and celebrating this country.”A group of girls expressed their excitement, saying, “Yuup off school, off work. Yeah. Long weekend. Yuup.”Park rangers noted that the crowds, which began arriving mid-week, are some of the largest seen in years, comparable to Memorial Day weekend. “Memorial Day was our best Memorial Day we’ve had in quite a while,” Jon Anthony, with Monterey County Parks, said. “Coming back off the drought, coming back off the park, being closed for a few years during the drought and coming back from the COVID pandemic, people are starting to get back out and do the things that they used to do.”The influx of visitors is beneficial for the lake’s self-supported improvements and upkeep, as well as for nearby businesses. Michelle Clark, Pletyo store manager, said, “There’s no other store within than 25 miles. So we’re the only place for the locals and for the people who are going to the lake, since there is no store at the lake.”Ernie Martinez, another visitor, said, “They’re good crowds. Everybody’s like. They’re having fun, enjoying their time. You know? Nobody’s bothering anybody right here. Just chillin, nothing much.”Park rangers are urging visitors to boat and drive responsibly and warn against bringing fireworks due to the hot and dry conditions, which are perfect for a fire to easily start.
MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. —
Lake San Antonio in South Monterey County is experiencing large crowds as visitors enjoy the best water levels in years during a long, hot Fourth of July weekend.
Temperatures have topped 90 degrees, drawing thousands to the lake for sun, fun, and festivities.
CarlosArellano, a visitor at the lake, said, “Just enjoying the lake, man. It’s really… The lake is pretty cold. And with this nice hot weather, it really feels really good to just get in there. And, we’ve been cooking up, try to make burgers, hot dogs, pretty good food.”
Another visitor, Leo Hernandez, shared his experience, saying, “Camping. Chilling, let me help you, swimming, boating, enjoying time with friends and family and celebrating this country.”
A group of girls expressed their excitement, saying, “Yuup off school, off work. Yeah. Long weekend. Yuup.”
Park rangers noted that the crowds, which began arriving mid-week, are some of the largest seen in years, comparable to Memorial Day weekend.
“Memorial Day was our best Memorial Day we’ve had in quite a while,” Jon Anthony, with Monterey County Parks, said. “Coming back off the drought, coming back off the park, being closed for a few years during the drought and coming back from the COVID pandemic, people are starting to get back out and do the things that they used to do.”
The influx of visitors is beneficial for the lake’s self-supported improvements and upkeep, as well as for nearby businesses.
Michelle Clark, Pletyo store manager, said, “There’s no other store within than 25 miles. So we’re the only place for the locals and for the people who are going to the lake, since there is no store at the lake.”
Ernie Martinez, another visitor, said, “They’re good crowds. Everybody’s like. They’re having fun, enjoying their time. You know? Nobody’s bothering anybody right here. Just chillin, nothing much.”
Park rangers are urging visitors to boat and drive responsibly and warn against bringing fireworks due to the hot and dry conditions, which are perfect for a fire to easily start.