About the Ranch

Question

What is the history of the Camarillo Ranch?

Answer

The product of a romantic gesture, this turn-of-the-century Queen Anne-style estate was built in 1892 by Adolfo Camarillo for his wife Isabella. Camarillo was considered "the last Spanish Don" and the founder of the city that bears his name. The house was a cultural and social hub and the center of the ranch. He used the ranch mainly for growing crops -- mainly lima beans, barley, corn, alfalfa, walnuts, and citrus. Some of the land that Camarillo owned was in the Mission Oaks and Leisure Village area of the city. The 4.5-acre property, including the barn and stable adjacent to the ranch house, was given to the city of Camarillo in 1997.