Pala, CA

Pala is a San Diego County census-designated place within the Pala Indian Reservation, a traditional gathering place of Native peoples and home to the Pala Band of Mission Indians. Mission San Antonio de Pala was founded in 1816 as an asistencia to Mission San Luis Rey, and it remains a historic mission facility serving a Mission Indian tribe. The area later became known for gold and tourmaline, especially pink tourmaline from the gem fields. Pala is a Southern California community where tribal land, mission history, and mineral country meet.