Warner's Ranch, near Warner Springs, California, was notable as a way station for large numbers of emigrants on the Southern Emigrant Trail from 1849 to 1861, as it was a stop on both the Gila River Trail and the Butterfield Overland Mail stagecoach line (1859-1861).

[4] Warner established a successful trading post there in the San José Valley, and purchased cattle from Rancho Santa Margarita; this lasted until 1851.

[5] On December 2, 1846, Stephen Watts Kearney, with a small command from New Mexico, reached the ranch on what proved to be his way to the Battle of San Pasqual.

He opened the only trading post between New Mexico and Los Angeles on a wagon road developed after the Mexican–American War.

During the American Civil War, Union troops established Camp Wright on the grounds of Warner's Ranch on October 18, 1861.

Due to difficulties caused by frequent high winds on the exposed position, the location of the camp was moved by Major Edwin A. Rigg, 1st California Infantry on November 23, 1861, to Oak Grove Butterfield Stage Station some 20 miles (32 km) to the north, also in San Diego County.

They challenged his actions under provisions of Mexican and United States law, but lost their case in the U.S. Supreme Court in 1901.

The court ruled they were correct in their assessment of rights to the land, but had waited too long to press their claim.

[13] Source: "List of Butterfield Overland Mail Stations "Itinerary of the Route"" (PDF).