Camarillo Ranch House

Juan was a member of the Hijar-Padres Expedition to California in 1834 and he settled in Ventura in 1857. Juan and Martina Camarillo were married in 1840 and moved to Ventura, California in 1854, becoming the fourth European family in the town.{{cite news|title=Ventura County: Death of Mrs. Camarillo, a Pioneer|work=Los Angeles Times|date=1898-04-17}} In 1876, Juan Camarillo (1812–1880) bought the {{convert|10000|acre|km2|adj=on}} Rancho Calleguas in eastern Ventura County from Jose Pedro Ruiz for $3,000 in gold.{{cite web|title=Ranch History|url=http://camarilloranch.org/home/history/ranch-history/|website=camarilloranch.org|publisher=Camarillo Ranch Foundation|access-date=24 September 2014}}{{cite news|title=Rancho Adolfo situated on historic Calleguas site|work=Los Angeles Times|date=1979-03-03}}

Juan Camarillo died in 1880, and Martina Camarillo in 1898. In 1891, Martina had deeded the Rancho to her sons, Adolfo and Juan, Jr. Following her death, the Camarillo daughters (who were bequeathed $5 each in the will) challenged the deeds and the will.{{cite news|title=Ventura County: Will of the Late Mrs. Martina H. Camarillo Filed|work=Los Angeles Times|date=1898-05-17}} The Los Angeles Times reported that it promised to be "the greatest legal battle yet fought" in the courts of Ventura County, as the family members fought over property then valued at "a million dollars or more."{{cite news|title=Ventura County: Contest Between Sisters and Brothers Over a Ranch; Ten Thousand Acres of Valuable Land Worth One Million Dollars -- Validity of Deed and Will Challenged|work=Los Angeles Times|date=1898-06-17}} While the initial suit was settled within a few months,{{cite news|title=Camarillo Contest Settled|work=Los Angeles Times|date=1898-10-14}} the sisters filed a new legal action in 1905, alleging that the brothers had deceived their mother and that Juan had confessed his fraud to his sister and paid her $8500.{{cite news|title=Fierce Contest for Big Estate: Brothers and Sisters in Legal War at Ventura; Blackmail Charge of Plaintiff Against One Defendant Is Sensational Development in Suit for Division of Vast Calleguas Rancho. Million Dollars Is Involved in Case|work=Los Angeles Times|date=1905-10-05}} It was also alleged that Adolfo had forced Juan to leave the country upon threats of exposure of his "private acts" that would cause disgrace and scandal. The Los Angeles Times followed the "spicy" case closely, noting that its charges and counter-charges "would furnish material for a sure-enough 'season's best seller.'"{{cite news|title=Case May Be A Spicy One: Campo-Camarillo Rancho Case To Be Heard Tuesday; Transferred to Santa Barbara from Ventura County -- Litigation Involves Rich Lands of the Calleguas Property -- Many Complaints and Counter-Complaints Filed|work=Los Angeles Times|date=1906-08-12}} At the trial, a letter was introduced purporting to be signed by Martina Camarillo instructing Adolfo to destroy the will leaving everything to himself and his brother.{{cite news|title=Santa Barbara Trial Interests: Camarillo Case Promises to Be More Sensational; Action Grows Out of Disputes Over Wealthy Estates Left by the Old Spanish Land Owners|work=Los Angeles Times|date=1906-08-20}} Juan testified that his sister sought to blackmail him by threatening to send him to prison for "an infamous crime," and a grandson testified that he saw Adolfo "mysteriously place a paper in Mrs. Camarillo's tin box within a few minutes after her death."

Following Juan's death in 1880, his oldest son, Adolfo Camarillo (1864–1958) took over the ranch operations at the age of sixteen and turned it into "the largest bean ranch in the world." Camarillo employed 700 workers on his ranch, and his production was so great that the Los Angeles Times reported in 1909 that, "through the enormous output of his ranch, [Camarillo] is, in a measure, able to set the price which the public must pay for beans."{{cite news|title=Personalities: Gossip of Interesting People|work=Los Angeles Times|date=1909-02-21}} The Ranch House was built in 1892 under instruction of Adolfo Camarillo using architects Franklin Ward and Herman Anlauf. Adolfo would have preferred to have built a home in Spanish style due to his background, but the homes surrounding the area were owned by Eastern Europeans. Despite his 4’11 stature, he was highly respected within his community, and could be seen frequently riding his pure bred white stallions. Adolfo's wife Isabella, who strived to fit into this new environment, would entertain guests with tea, jam, and tortillas. She enjoyed the English culture, and worked to infuse her own culture into it as well. Adolfo Camarillo himself had to have fresh tortillas every morning for breakfast. The Camarillo family had multiple servants who worked and lived on the ranch with them. A large hallway, also known as a breezeway, separates the living quarters between the servants and the rest of the family.

Adolfo Camarillo became one of the wealthiest landowners in the county, and in 1911 he was elected chairman of the Ventura County Board of Supervisors.{{cite news|title=Wealthy Man Is Chairman: Supervisors of Ventura County Re-organize and Name Ranch Owner as Head|work=Los Angeles Times|date=1911-01-05}} He also served as a member of the State Board of Agriculture.{{cite news|title=Camarillo Rites Fixed: Wife of Ventura County Pioneer Will Be Rendered Final Honor Tomorrow|work=Los Angeles Times|date=1936-07-21}} For 78 years, Adolfo operated the Camarillo Ranch, changing the operations from mostly cattle to crops. He was a leading innovator growing lima beans, barley, corn, alfalfa, walnuts, citrus and eucalyptus trees. Adolfo, sometimes referred to as “The Last Spanish Don,” was a leader within the community and a heavy donator that helped shape the City of Camarillo.

In 1963, the family put the vast ranch property up for sale. An initial sale of {{convert|5500|acre|km2}} in 1963 fell through,{{cite news|title=Camarillo Ranch Sold in $23 Million Deal: Palisades Subdivider to Develop {{convert|5500|acre|km2}} for Homes, Business, Industry|work=Los Angeles Times|date=1963-12-22}}{{cite news|title=Pact Signed on Camarillo Ranch Sale: L.A. Group to Buy {{convert|4600|acre|km2}} of Land for $20 Million|work=Los Angeles Times|date=1964-01-08}}{{cite news|title=Suit Filed to Regain Ranch Title: Camarillo Family Lawyer Says Buyer Faulted on Contract|work=Los Angeles Times|date=1964-03-14}} but the ranch was eventually sold off and developed into the housing tracts and commercial and industrial centers.{{cite news|title=$18 Million Ranch Sale Under Way: {{convert|4600|acre|km2}} of Camarillo Property Involved in Deal|work=Los Angeles Times|date=1964-11-17}}{{cite news|title=Foreclosure Sale Set for Camarillo Ranch|work=Los Angeles Times|date=1968-08-18}} The Camarillo family retained about {{convert|100|acre|km2}}, including the old ranch house.

Image:Camarillo Ranch House 2.jpg

After receiving title to the Rancho from his mother in 1891, Adolfo Camarillo hired architects Herman Anlauf and Franklin Ward in 1892 to build a {{convert|6000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} Queen-Anne style Victorian house. They also designed the House at Faulkner Farm near Santa Paula. The house has two turrets, a large veranda and sprawling lawns. Adolfo also planted many varieties of trees, including eucalyptus trees, around the house. The Camarillo Ranch House, as it is now known, became the center of the sprawling Rancho Calleguas for the next 70 years. From the ranch house, Adolfo oversaw the Rancho's production of lima beans, walnuts, and citrus. The house also became known for the barbecues, rodeos and fiestas held by Adolfo.{{cite news|author=Jerry Berns|title=A family's history is reflected in the Adolfo Camarillo House|work=Los Angeles Times|date=1986-11-22}} Adolfo lived in the three-story Victorian mansion until shortly before his death from pneumonia in December 1958.{{cite news|title=Don Adolfo Camarillo, of Historic Family, Dies|work=Los Angeles Times|date=1958-12-11}}

Despite the Camarillo Ranch House's ideal location in Southern California, back in the early 1900s the home struggled to stay warm. Almost every room in the house has a fireplace in it. Adolfo looked to technology as a way to remedy problems that would arise on the ranch. He was the first farmer to ever purchase a refrigerator, which at that time, would take up an entire room in the house. However, he was able to safely store perishables for the first time in his life. He also had multiple heaters installed throughout the house in hopes of providing more warmth to his family. The most beautiful room in the Camarillo Ranch house belonged to Adolfo's middle daughter Carmen. Carmen was an avid equestrian who learned how to care for and maintain the horses from the Ranch Manager, Meliton Ortiz. Up until Meliton Ortiz’ death in 2010, he would visit the Camarillo Ranch House frequently to provide stories and details about his life growing up on the ranch. The home was remodeled in 1914, when the oldest daughter Carmen married. They opened many rooms by taking down walls and changing the stair design. The grand parlor had the greatest changes from this, causing it to go from multiple to rooms to one giant open grand parlor. This was in the hopes that it would open up the house more.

In 1998, The Firm of Lopez Architects, A.I.A, of Camarillo, CA, provided a Historic Preservation Rehabilation to the House. Under the direction of Principal, Craig J. Lopez, A.I.A. the home was seismically upgraded, and replicated to its original room, exterior porch configuration and High Victorian exterior style. Between 1999 and 2000 the City of Camarillo and the Camarillo Ranch Foundation worked together to complete a $1.5 million restoration of the house, barn and stables. With its completion in 2001, the three-story, fourteen-room Queen Anne Victorian home is a fully furnished museum that provides tours and holds events.

{{main|Camarillo White Horse}}

Image:Camarillo Ranch House Barn.jpg

The Camarillo Ranch is known for the white Arabian parade stallions bred by Adolfo that he rode in the annual Fiesta of Santa Barbara dressed in colorful Spanish attire.{{cite news|url=http://www.vcstar.com/story/news/local/communities/camarillo/2017/07/21/surrey-fringe-top-back-camarillo-ranch/469097001/|title=Surrey with the fringe on top is back at Camarillo Ranch|newspaper=Ventura County Star|first=Anne |last=Kallas|date=July 20, 2017|access-date=23 July 2017}} Adolfo's original sire, Sultan, was a pure white, part Arabian and Morgan stallion. Sultan reportedly produced "snow white, pink skinned foals" no matter the color of the mares with whom he was mated. Since the 1920s, the Camarillo horses have appeared in numerous parades and at the opening of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge in 1941. In 1950, the Camarillo horses led the Rose Parade and have been in many Rose Parades since. Even after Adolfo died in 1958, the family continued to carry on the tradition of breeding the white Arabians and riding them in area parades. In 1967, the Camarillos were still breeding the white horses on the remaining {{convert|117|acre|km2}} owned by the family, and the Los Angeles Times published a feature story on the Camarillo horses. At that time, there were about a dozen Camarillo white Arabians remaining, and the Times wrote: "The Camarillo horses love a parade. Any spectator who has ever watched one dance down the street -- a brightly costumed member of the Camarillo family astride a heavily ornamented silver saddle -- can attest to the predilection."{{cite news|author=Sharon E. Fay|title=Camarillo White Horses Keep in Step for Historical Parade|work=Los Angeles Times|date=1967-07-30}}

In 1998, the Camarillo Planning Commission approved a zoning change to allow an industrial park to be built around the Camarillo Ranch House, but conditioned the approval on the developer's donating the ranch house, barn and {{convert|4.4|acre|m2}} to the city.{{cite news|author=Dawn Hobbs|title=Planners OK Industrial Park on Land Near Historic Ranch House|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-mar-05-me-27576-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times|date=1998-03-05}}{{cite news|author=Dawn Hobbs|title=Council Approves Industrial Park Plan; Development: The project is proposed near the historic Camarillo Ranch House, which will be transferred to the city in August|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-apr-09-me-37604-story.html|publisher=Los Angeles Times (Ventura County Edition)|date=1998-04-09}} The city then renovated the house and opened it to the public in 2001 as a museum and site for receptions and other functions.{{cite news|author=Jennifer Knight|title=Ventura County Roundup: West; Camarillo; Demolition of Historic Ranch Buildings Begins|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-oct-09-me-30850-story.html|publisher=Los Angeles Times (Ventura County Edition)|date=1998-10-09}}{{cite news|author=Suzie St. John|title=The Region; A Stroll Through the Past; History: Tours of the renovated Camarillo Ranch House are designed to convey what life was like for the city's founding family|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-feb-18-me-ranch18-story.html|publisher=Los Angeles Times (Ventura County Edition)|date=2002-02-18}} The house is operated by the nonprofit Camarillo Ranch Foundation.{{cite news|author=Stacy Brown|title=Ventura County Roundup; Camarillo; New Foundation for Old Barn|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-sep-10-me-8456-story.html|publisher=Los Angeles Times (Ventura County Edition)|date=1999-09-10}} The renovation cost $1.5 million and was also made possible by volunteers who donated 10,000 hours to the effort.

Camarillo Ranch House is a popular location not only for weddings and receptions but also for filming. One location manager noted that the house has the appearance of a rural setting "almost anywhere in the United States -- from Bakersfield to Nebraska."{{cite news|author=Dawn Hobbs|title=Camarillo Focuses on Larger Role in Film Industry|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-feb-24-me-22584-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times|date=1998-02-24}}

The house is operated by the Rancho Camarillo Foundation and is open to the public for docent-led tours on Saturdays and Sundays. It is also available to be rented for weddings and other special events. The Camarillo Ranch Foundation sponsors annual community events intended to educate the public about Camarillo's history,{{cite news|last1=McKinnon|first1=Lisa|title=Food truck event to rock, roll at Camarillo Ranch House|url=http://scripps-cms.endplay.com/web/vcs/entertainment/events/food-truck-event-to-rock-roll-at-camarillo-ranch-house_14262557|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140924040746/http://scripps-cms.endplay.com/web/vcs/entertainment/events/food-truck-event-to-rock-roll-at-camarillo-ranch-house_14262557|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 September 2014|access-date=24 September 2014|publisher=Ventura County Star|date=17 August 2014}} and hosts over 150 private and public events annually.{{cite news|last1=Letzer|first1=Jennifer|title=Camarillo Ranch House plans more family-friendly events|url=http://www.vcstar.com/news/camarillo-ranch-house-plans-more-family-friendly|access-date=24 September 2014|publisher=Ventura County Star}} The Camarillo Ranch House is a wedding venue with four different venues including the Front Lawn, the Red Barn, the East Garden, and the West Garden. Around the property are several thematic gardens including a butterfly garden and a formal Victorian garden.{{cite web|title=Wedding Rental|url=http://camarilloranch.org/weddings/|website=camarilloranch.org|publisher=Camarillo Ranch Foundation|access-date=24 September 2014}} The Camarillo Ranch House also hosts corporate and nonprofit events.{{cite web|title=Corporate Events|url=http://camarilloranch.org/home/venue-rental/corporate-events/|website=camarilloranch.org|publisher=Camarillo Ranch Foundation|access-date=24 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141104162855/http://camarilloranch.org/home/venue-rental/corporate-events/|archive-date=4 November 2014|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Non-Profit Events|url=http://camarilloranch.org/home/venue-rental/non-profit-events/|website=camarilloranch.org|publisher=Camarillo Ranch Foundation|access-date=24 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141105043057/http://camarilloranch.org/home/venue-rental/non-profit-events/|archive-date=5 November 2014|url-status=dead}}

The Camarillo Ranch Foundation

was established in 1998 by the City of Camarillo as a non-profit public benefit organization. The Camarillo Ranch Foundation is operated by a 15-member board of directors.{{r|VCS 2019/06/19}} The Camarillo Ranch Foundation's mission statement is: “To preserve, restore, operate, and maintain the Camarillo Ranch as a historic site in partnership with our public and private sectors, on a self-sustaining basis; to foster its place in the rich history of California; to transform it into a focal point of the community for education, enrichment, and enjoyment; and to exhibit our diverse history and culture.” {{cite web|title=The Foundation|url=http://camarilloranch.org/foundation/|website=camarilloranch.org|publisher=Camarillo Ranch Foundation|access-date=24 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140525045049/http://camarilloranch.org/foundation/|archive-date=25 May 2014|url-status=dead}} The Camarillo Ranch House offers programs aimed to benefit the community such as “Bring a Child to the Ranch” and scholarships to students directly related to the Camarillo family.{{cite web|title=Scholarships|url=http://camarilloranch.org/foundation/programs/scholarships/|website=camarilloranch.org|publisher=Camarillo Ranch Foundation|access-date=24 September 2014|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140924043019/http://camarilloranch.org/foundation/programs/scholarships/|archive-date=24 September 2014|url-status=dead}}

• List of Registered Historic Places in Ventura County, California
• Ventura County Historic Landmarks & Points of Interest

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{{Cite news|url=https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/local/communities/camarillo/2019/06/19/camarillo-ranch-negotiations-city-council-foundation/1493637001/|title=Camarillo Ranch negotiations underway between City Council and foundation|last=Childs|first=Jeremy|date=June 19, 2019|newspaper=Ventura County Star|language=en|access-date=2019-06-21}}

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{{commons category|Camarillo Ranch House}}

• [http://www.camarilloranch.org/ Camarillo Ranch Foundation web site]

{{National Register of Historic Places in California}}

Category:Houses in Ventura County, California

Category:Museums in Ventura County, California

Category:Historic house museums in California

Category:Houses completed in 1892

Category:Houses on the National Register of Historic Places in California

Category:National Register of Historic Places in Ventura County, California

Category:Queen Anne architecture in California