SAN DIEGO -- Known as San Diego's backyard campground, Cuyamaca Rancho State Park lost almost all of its 26,000 acres in the Cedar Fire.

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Cuyamaca Park's Future After Cedar Fire

The park remains closed to the public. However, 10News reporter Geni Cavitt took a tour of the devastation Tuesday.

"In order for this park to look the way it did on Oct. 26 of this year, it's going to take 100 years. So, we're looking at a completely different Cuyamaca for the next 25, 50, 75, 100 years. Our kids will never have the memory that we have of the way it looked," State Park Superintendent Mathew Fuzie said.

Only 400 acres of the park was untouched by flames.

Even the park's popular climbing tree -- called the fairy tree -- was partially destroyed, but not a total loss.

"We've lost half of it, approximately, and the chances of the other half coming back are pretty slim, but we're not ready to give up on it yet," Fuzie said.

The fire also destroyed the park ranger headquarters at the historic Dyar House. It was built in 1923 (pictured, left).

"We'll use as much as possible of the existing downed wood to help pay for the recovery and the rebuilding," Fuzie said.

The park will remain closed until at least next spring, according to Fuzie.

"We would like to encourage everybody to stay out and let us recover and send us your best wishes and donations if you want to help rebuild the park," Fuzie said.

For more information, call (760) 767-5311 or visit the Cuyamaca Rancho State Park Web site.