On October 7, 1858, the first westbound Butterfield Overland Stage arrived at the new outpost at the Machado Rancho La Laguna ranch house located near "Laguna Grande", the future Lake Elsinore. The Butterfield Overland Trail route through the Elsinore valley (now known as Grand Ave.) was used as a mail route until 1862. Butterfield Elementary School, named in commemoration of this famous trail, opened with a K-6 population of 482 students in fall 1982 with Frank Evans as principal. It is located slightly over a mile southeast of the original Butterfield Stage outpost. The Butterfield Overland Trail route runs directly in front of the school.