The San Diego Chargers only held training camp at Rough Acres Ranch for one year, the summer of 1963.
After an injury plagued 1962 season, Chargers coach Sid Gilman decided that the team needed toughening up, so he moved training camp to a “dude ranch” in remote Boulevard.
The team hated the harsh conditions at Rough Acres! Gilman instituted a weight lifting program, and also injected the players with steroids three times a day. Steroids were not a banned substance in 1963.
Gilman’s tactic worked out. On Jan. 5, 1964 the Chargers put on one of the greatest offensive displays in the history of pro football playoffs to defeat the Boston Patriots 51-10 to win the American Football League title before 30,127 spectators at Balboa Stadium. The 1963 Chargers title remains the only championship for a major sports team in San Diego history.
