What is Morgan Hill Known For?

If you want to get to know Morgan Hill, California a little better, this is the story for you! Morgan Hill is a southern Silicon Valley community brimming with restaurants, wineries, farms, and natural settings. It is also the seat of several high-tech companies and has a fascinating history, with roots in agriculture and industry that shape Morgan Hill to what it is today.

Read on for 9 Things to Know About Morgan Hill!

1. El Toro Peak

This prominent peak, resting in the valley between the Diablo and Santa Cruz Mountain ranges, is commonly mistaken as “Morgan Hill.” However, the peak is actually called El Toro Mountain or Murphy’s Peak: El Toro refering to the legend that a bull fight once occured at the top and Murphy refering to the Murphy family of California pioneers. On El Toro Mountain there is a trail visible to the eye and many ask about the hike. This is on private property and therefore not open to public. However, there are plenty of other great trails in and around Morgan Hill to enjoy!

2. Hiram Morgan Hill

“So where did the name Morgan Hill come from?” you might ask. Let us share a bit of history… In the late 1800s a man named Hiram Morgan Hill, lived on a ranch in California with his bride, Diana Murphy. The Union Pacific train made regular stops at the Morgan Hill family house, which eventually birthed the town’s name. Today the historic Morgan Hill House still stands at Villa Mira Monte, Morgan Hill’s history park, including the Morgan Hill History Museum, Centennial Rose Garden and History Trail, and the Native American Garden honoring the Amuh Mutsum Tribe and its ethnobotanical history.

3. Poppy Jasper

The Morgan Hill area is known for a form of Jasper, called Morgan Hill Poppy Jasper, only found here. Orbs of warm reds, orange, yellows, and browns form the unique pattern distinguishing this rare stone. There is even a local film festival named after the stone, the Poppy Jasper International Film Festival, which takes place annually in April. The Downtown Morgan Hill parking garage staircase is enclosed in glass panels depicting Poppy Jasper, which becomes illuminated at night casting an amber glow onto the 3rd Street plaza.

4. Mushroom Farming

Morgan Hill has numerous farms, many of which are multi-generational family operations. It has also been called “the mushroom capital” and the community even has an annual festival— the Mushroom Mardi Gras— dedicated to the celebration of this fungi. South Valley Mushroom Farm has been growing mushrooms on a family farm in Morgan Hill from the 1960s to 2020s. Today they operate an apiary and produce award-winning honey. Monterey Mushrooms, the largest commercial grower of fresh mushrooms in North America, is based in north Morgan Hill, and ships 200 million pounds of mushrooms per year!

5. Stone Fruit Orchards

Morgan Hill, located in the Santa Clara Valley, is also known for its fruit orchards, which dominated before the high-tech boom of Silicon Valley. Morgan Hill still has prominent stonefruit orchards of cherries, apricots, plums, and other crops like citrus, nuts, and olives. Andy’s Orchard is known to have one of the largest collections of premium heirloom stone fruits on the West Coast of the United States and operates a classic farm store. U-Pick Orchards hosts an eagerly anticipated annual “pick-your-own cherries” event during the 3-5 weeks that the sweet fruits are ripe for harvest, usually around May and June.

Santa Clara Valley AVA, Sarah’s Vineyard

6. Santa Clara Valley WINE REGION

Wineries are another notable agricultural feature of Morgan Hill. The Santa Clara Valley AVA has about 35 wineries from the Eastern Santa Cruz Mountains to the foothills of the Diablo Range. This region was originally discovered to have wild grapes, also known as Vitis Californica, which is why many land and water features, roads, and vineyards are named “Uvas” in southwestern Morgan Hill. Today, the Santa Clara Valley Wine Trail is known for having multiple varietals thanks to microclimates from both coastal and inland influences. The experience of the wineries is laid back with a focus on quality, and feels like a family affair combining old world flair and modern sophistication.

7. Athletic SPIRIT

If you or your children have played soccer, lacrosse, or flag football in Northern California, you likely know of the Morgan Hill Outdoor Sports Center. This sports complex is made up of 12 fields and hosted the recent CrossFit Games in 2021. It supports local youth sport progams, which reflect the community’s athletic and family-oritented culture. Adjacent to the sports center is the Morgan Hill Aquatics Center, with its record-breaking pool that hosts major Western swim meets. The Aquatics Center is also home to Akuna Artistic Swimming, led by a former Olympian. Both sports facilities are conveniently located across the street from several lodging acoommodations.

Specialized Bicycle Components Headquarters

8. Cycling Culture

Morgan Hill is home to the headquarters of Specialized Bicycle Components, which designs, manuafactures and markets bicycles, cycling equipment, accessories, and apparel. As a large employer in Morgan Hill, it’s natural that cycling is a revered hobby for many residents and visiting employees from other branches. Morgan Hill hosted stops on the Amgen Tour de California twice. Its beautiful, winding backroads and rugged trails offer a range of experiences for both road and mountain bike riders. Bike Therapy, Morgan Hill’s downtown bike shop has been awarded Platinum in the Bicycle Retailer “Best Bike Shop” awards for consecutive years. It is also honored for providing community cycling advocacy and coordinating free group bike rides.

And a BONUS…

9. A GROWING FOODIE SCENE

Morgan Hill has over 100 restaurants and its downtown is growing in reputation as a Bay Area culinary hot-spot! Many of the eateries are independently owned, making for a diverse, quality, and authentic dining experiences. When the chefs and owners are passionate, that shows up on the plate! Have a favorite kind of food? Morgan Hill restaurants offer a range of cuisines and atmospheres, from dine-in casual and tap-side food trucks, to upscale dine-ins and hip pop-ups. Most restaurants feature local wine, beer, and even hard ciders and you won’t be in any shortage of finding a photo-worthy, artisan handcrafted cocktail. Morgan Hill dining is an experience any foodie won’t want to miss.