Camarillo Ranch House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Camarillo Ranch House
|
|
Camarillo Ranch House
|
|
 Location in California
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 201 Camarillo Ranch Rd., Camarillo, California |
|---|---|
| Built | 1892 |
| Architect | Herman Anlauf, Franklin Ward (original) Lopez Architects, Craig J. Lopez (restoration) |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Restored | 1998 |
| NRHP reference No. | 03000039 |
| Added to NRHP | February 20, 2003 |
The Camarillo Ranch House, also known as Rancho Calleguas or Adolfo Camarillo House, is a beautiful Victorian house in Camarillo, California. It was built in 1892 and designed in the Queen Anne style. The house is about 6,000 square feet (557 square meters) and was created by architects Herman Anlauf and Franklin Ward.
Adolfo Camarillo managed the ranch for 78 years. He changed the ranch from mostly raising cattle to growing many different crops. He was a smart farmer who grew lima beans, barley, corn, alfalfa, walnuts, and citrus and eucalyptus trees. The Camarillo Ranch House became a National Register of Historic Places site in 2003.
Contents
History of the Ranch House
The story of the Camarillo Ranch House begins with Juan Camarillo. He came to California in 1834. Juan and Martina Camarillo got married in 1840. They moved to Ventura, California in 1854. This made them one of the first European families in the town.
In 1876, Juan Camarillo (1812–1880) bought a huge piece of land. It was called Rancho Calleguas and was about 10,000 acres (40 square kilometers). He bought it from Jose Pedro Ruiz for $3,000 in gold.
Family and the Rancho Land
Juan Camarillo passed away in 1880. His wife, Martina, passed away in 1898. In 1891, Martina had given the Rancho to her sons, Adolfo and Juan, Jr.. After her death, some of the Camarillo daughters disagreed with this plan. They felt they should have received more from the family's valuable property. This led to some family discussions about the land.
Adolfo Z. Camarillo's Leadership
After his father Juan died in 1880, Adolfo Camarillo (1864–1958) took charge of the ranch. He was only sixteen years old. Adolfo turned the ranch into a very successful farm. It became known as "the largest bean ranch in the world."
Adolfo Camarillo had many workers on his ranch, sometimes up to 700 people. He grew so many crops that he could even influence the price of beans! The Ranch House was built in 1892 under Adolfo's guidance. Architects Franklin Ward and Herman Anlauf designed it. Adolfo was a respected leader in his community. He was often seen riding his beautiful purebred white stallions.
Adolfo's wife, Isabella, worked to make guests feel welcome. She would serve tea, jam, and tortillas. The Camarillo family had several servants who lived and worked on the ranch. A long hallway, called a breezeway, separated the family's living areas from the servants' quarters.
Adolfo Camarillo became one of the richest landowners in the area. In 1911, he was chosen to lead the Ventura County Board of Supervisors. He also served on the State Board of Agriculture. Adolfo managed the Camarillo Ranch for 78 years. He changed it from a cattle ranch to a place that grew many different crops. He was a true innovator, growing lima beans, barley, corn, alfalfa, walnuts, citrus, and eucalyptus trees. Adolfo, sometimes called “The Last Spanish Don,” helped shape the City of Camarillo.
Selling the Rancho Land
In 1963, the Camarillo family decided to sell most of the large ranch property. The ranch land was eventually sold off. It was then developed into housing areas, shops, and industrial centers. The Camarillo family kept about 100 acres (0.4 square kilometers) of land. This included the old ranch house.
Architecture and Ranch Life
After Adolfo Camarillo received the ranch land in 1891, he hired architects Herman Anlauf and Franklin Ward. In 1892, they built the 6,000 square foot (557 square meter) Queen Anne style Victorian house. The house has two tall towers, a large porch, and big lawns. Adolfo also planted many kinds of trees around the house, including eucalyptus trees.
The Camarillo Ranch House became the main center for the huge Rancho Calleguas for the next 70 years. From this house, Adolfo managed the ranch's production of lima beans, walnuts, and citrus fruits. The house was also famous for the barbecues, rodeos, and fiestas that Adolfo hosted. Adolfo lived in this three-story mansion until just before he passed away in 1958.
Even though the Camarillo Ranch House was in sunny Southern California, it was hard to keep warm in the early 1900s. Almost every room in the house has a fireplace! Adolfo used new technology to solve problems on the ranch. He was one of the first farmers to buy a refrigerator. Back then, a refrigerator would take up an entire room! But it allowed him to store food safely for the first time. He also had heaters installed to make his family more comfortable.
The most beautiful room in the house belonged to Adolfo's middle daughter, Carmen. Carmen loved horses. She learned how to care for them from the Ranch Manager, Meliton Ortiz. Meliton Ortiz would often visit the ranch house and share stories about growing up there.
The home was updated in 1914 when Carmen, the oldest daughter, got married. Walls were removed and the stair design was changed to open up many rooms. The grand parlor, for example, became one large open space.
In 1998, Lopez Architects helped restore the house. They made sure it was safe from earthquakes and looked like its original Victorian style. Between 1999 and 2000, the City of Camarillo and the Camarillo Ranch Foundation worked together. They spent $1.5 million to restore the house, barn, and stables. The restoration was finished in 2001. Today, the three-story, fourteen-room Queen Anne Victorian home is a museum. It offers tours and hosts many events.
Famous White Arabian Stallions
The Camarillo Ranch is famous for the white Arabian parade stallions that Adolfo bred. He would ride them in the yearly Fiesta of Santa Barbara. Adolfo's first special horse was Sultan. Sultan was a pure white stallion, part Arabian and part Morgan. Sultan was known for producing "snow white, pink skinned foals" no matter the color of the mares he was bred with.
Since the 1920s, the Camarillo horses have appeared in many parades. They were even at the opening of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge in 1941. In 1950, the Camarillo horses led the famous Rose Parade. They have been in many Rose Parades since then. Even after Adolfo passed away in 1958, his family continued to breed the white Arabians. They also kept riding them in local parades.
In 1967, the Camarillos were still breeding these white horses. There were about a dozen Camarillo white Arabians left. The Los Angeles Times wrote that "The Camarillo horses love a parade." They noted how the horses would "dance down the street" with a family member riding a beautiful silver saddle.
Public Ownership and Use
In 1998, the Camarillo Planning Commission allowed an industrial park to be built near the Camarillo Ranch House. But they made a deal: the developer had to give the ranch house, barn, and 4.4 acres (1.8 hectares) of land to the city. The city then fixed up the house and opened it to the public in 2001. It became a museum and a place for events.
The house is now managed by the nonprofit Camarillo Ranch Foundation. The renovation cost $1.5 million. Many volunteers also helped, giving 10,000 hours of their time.
The Camarillo Ranch House is a popular spot for weddings and other events. It is also used for filming movies and TV shows. One location manager said the house looks like a rural setting "almost anywhere in the United States."
Events and Activities
The house is run by the Rancho Camarillo Foundation. You can take tours led by guides on Saturdays and Sundays. It can also be rented for weddings and other special events. The Camarillo Ranch Foundation hosts community events every year. These events teach people about Camarillo's history. They host over 150 private and public events each year.
The Camarillo Ranch House is a wedding venue with four different areas. These include the Front Lawn, the Red Barn, the East Garden, and the West Garden. Around the property, there are several themed gardens. These include a butterfly garden and a formal Victorian garden. The Camarillo Ranch House also hosts events for businesses and nonprofit groups.
The Camarillo Ranch Foundation's Work
The Camarillo Ranch Foundation was started in 1998 by the City of Camarillo. It is a non-profit group that helps the community. The Foundation is managed by a board of 15 directors.
The Foundation's goal is to "preserve, restore, operate, and maintain the Camarillo Ranch as a historic site." They want to make it a main spot in the community for learning, fun, and showing off diverse history and culture. The Camarillo Ranch House offers programs for the community. These include “Bring a Child to the Ranch” and scholarships for students related to the Camarillo family.
See also
