Community Historical Osuna

Tours Set for Osuna Ranch, the Covenant’s Historic Gem

Editorial Board

Future ideas for the community’s use of Osuna Ranch include the creation of a natural play area, Kumeyaay Village, educational pavilion, native plants and pollinator garden, and more.

Step back in time by visiting the Osuna Ranch and Adobe, the Covenant’s historical gem built in 1831, set in the lush green acres of Osuna’s horsekeeping facility. RSFA members are invited to tour the Osuna Ranch and Adobe on two Sundays – April 13 and 27 – from 1- 4 p.m. Osuna Ranch is located at 16332 Via De Santa Fe in Rancho Santa Fe.

Osuna Ranch spans over 24-plus acres of open space which is the last remaining land from the 8,824-acre San Dieguito Land Grant, given to Juan Osuna, the first mayor of San Diego, by Governor Pio Pico in 1845. The 200-year-old Adobe is one of the oldest adobes in California still in its original setting, and is considered to be the “heart and soul” of Rancho Santa Fe – a preserved legacy of early California history. Click on the link to enjoy a video of Osuna Ranch.

Osuna Ranch’s brand

Today, the Osuna Ranch is an operational horse ranch that houses 50 horses. The property includes three barns, two of which are historic – beautifully preserved and full of historic charm. The horse ranch also includes lush green pastures and a riding area.

In 1984, the members of the Rancho Santa Fe Association voted to increase their dues in order to create an Open Space Fund that could be used to purchase and preserve Open Space properties. The Osuna Ranch was purchased with Open Space funds in 2006 to prevent it from being carved up and lost forever to future generations. Per the RSFA, “The Association plans to continue to preserve the existing Adobe and surrounding land.” There are many acres available for future community use, such as the creation of a natural playground, Kumeyaay Village, educational pavilion, native plants and pollinator garden, and more.

Osuna Ranch’s Farm-to-Table Dinner last Spring. (Photo: Sophia Alsadek)

Osuna Ranch will be open to Association members from 1-4 p.m., on Sunday, April 13 and Sunday, April 27 with tours at 1:30 pm., and 3:30 pm.

I disagree with lowering the speed limits in RSF. They are already low enough; lowering them even further will just cause anger/frustration/road rage. As an example, El Camino Del Norte was lowered to 35mph as that road is within Encinitas city limits. I travel it often and the cars that travel at only 35 mph (and sometimes lower) cause traffic to back up behind them. This has led to several occurrences where an impatient driver crossed over the solid double-yellow lines and passed the long line of cars. We do not want this to happen in RSF.

My opinion is that a speed limit of 45 mph is appropriate; however, it’s already been lowered to 40 mph. Now some are calling for the speed limits to be lowered further to 35 mph. 35 mph is too low for the long distances we must travel to leave RSF. I know the knee-jerk response to this post will be “lower speeds are safer”, “think of the kids/horses/elderly”, etc… But the reality is modern cars are extremely safe, and our roads are long with infrequent intersections. A 40+ mph speed limit is appropriate.

And have you seen what happens at the stop signs on Paseo Delicias when the “Your speed is” radar wagons are placed there? Traffic backups of 50+ cars are not uncommon at the stop signs. That is quite aggravating to have to deal with everyday and every time you leave your house. We don’t need or want permanent radar setups in RSF. Keep RSF country. – Axxlrod

I agree with Adele Hendrick’s Op-Ed on the need to lower speed limits here in RSF! I think we, as a community, should look at the speed limits on select roads, and make a request to the county to lower some speed limits. I think it’s easy to say that all of the 45 MPH zones should be lowered to 40 MPH, at the very least. As we are in an unincorporated part of the county we have SD Sheriff for law enforcement, and CHP for traffic. As opposed to Solana Beach where SD Sheriff serves both functions, and even though we pay the CHP overtime to be here more often, it is rare to see them (they drive the same cars, and SUVs as the Sheriff with different door badges). One thing that does seem to make a difference enforcing the limits we have, is when Chief Wellhouser rolls out the “radar wagon” that displays a driver's speed, and the speed limit. Maybe we should also consider permanent radar signs in select locations? They can be very low profile, solar powered, and unobtrusive. – Todd Huckins

One of the best loved and most decorated authors of children’s books, Marguerite Henry was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1902. At the age of six, she contracted rheumatic fever, which affected her severely until the age of twelve. Not only bed-ridden for long periods, she was kept out of school and isolated from other children for fear of contagion. Pouring herself into reading, she soon showed a flair for writing. The author sold her first story at age 11!

Henry valued historical authenticity, and her books were meticulously researched. Most of them were fact-based, with her imagination filling out the stories. Through the years, Henry’s work earned prestigious Newberry awards. In 1946 she received Newberry Honors for Justin Morgan Had a Horse, the story of an Eighteenth Century American horse breeder who developed the well-known Morgan breed. More Newberry Honors followed in 1948 for Misty of Chincoteague. In 1949, Henry won the Newberry Medal, the top award, for King of the Wind, about the Arabian horse who sired the line of thoroughbreds we celebrate today.

After a lifetime of charming and thrilling children with her many books and stories, Henry died at age 95 in 1997 at her home in Rancho Santa Fe. (Courtesy of the RSF Historical Society)