Rancho Guejito facts for kids

Rancho Guejito (pronounced wa-hee-to) is a very large piece of land in Southern California. It covers about 13,299 acres (which is about 53.8 square kilometers). This ranch is special because it was originally a "Mexican land grant." This means the land was given out by the Mexican government a long time ago. Rancho Guejito is located about seven miles east of Escondido. Over time, the ranch has grown even bigger, now covering about 22,359 acres. It is one of the last remaining Mexican land grants that is still a single, huge property today.

Rancho Guejito: A Historic California Ranch

The Ranch's Beginnings

In 1845, the Mexican Governor, Pío Pico, granted the 13,299-acre Rancho Guejito. This land was given to José María Orozco. He was a customs inspector and a Justice of the Peace.

Changes Over Time

Later owners of the ranch bought more land next to it. This made the total size of the ranch grow to about 22,000 acres. In the 1970s, the State of California almost bought the ranch for $10 million. However, the governor at the time stopped the purchase.

In 1974, a businessman named Benjamin Coates bought the land for $10 million. Since then, most of the land has remained undeveloped. It has been used mainly as a cattle ranch. After Benjamin Coates passed away in 2004, his daughter, Theodate Coates, took over the ownership. Her company, The Rodney Company, now manages the ranch.

Facing Wildfires

Between 2003 and 2007, a large part of the ranch was affected by wildfires. About 93 percent of the area burned during these fires. On October 22, 2007, a fire started on the ranch itself. It was called the "Guejito Fire." This fire later joined with a bigger fire known as the Witch Fire. The Witch Fire caused significant damage to homes in areas like Rancho Bernardo. It also created serious challenges for the community.

Rancho Guejito Today

Future Plans and Challenges

In 2009, the owners of Rancho Guejito talked with the county about building homes. They suggested building around 10,000 homes. They also planned to keep about 16,000 acres of the ranch in its natural state. However, many people who work to protect nature and residents from nearby towns did not support this development.

In 2012, San Diego County fined the Rancho Guejito Corporation. The fine was $150,000. This was the highest amount allowed by law. The fine was given because the ranch had built a road on the property without permission.

Ranching in the Modern Era

For 177 years, Rancho Guejito sold its ranch-raised beef at auctions. But in 2022, the ranch started a new program. They began selling their beef directly to customers. This beef is approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It is labeled as "Rancho Guejito 100% Grass Fed [Beef], All Natural,* Pasture-Raised**, Raised without Added Hormones, No Antibiotics Ever. Born and Raised at Rancho Guejito." This means the beef comes from cattle that eat only grass. They are raised naturally on the ranch without extra hormones or antibiotics.