As a cultural landscape historian and author of the Cultural Landscape Report for both the Osuna Ranch (2021) and the Rancho Santa Fe Covenant (2004), I strongly oppose any considerations by the Rancho Santa Fe Association (RSFA) Board to sell any part of the historic Osuna Ranch. This property is not just a plot of land; it is a living chronicle of the community’s unique history.
In the past five years, cities and towns throughout California have been purchasing open space to create new parks. There has also been a trend toward developing community-centered parks that celebrate local history. These historic parks have restored adobes, farmhouses, barns, lighthouses, railcars, and archaeological sites, making them active guardians of local heritage.
Rancho Santa Fe is fortunate to have purchased the Osuna Ranch in 2006. The ranch’s listing on the California Register of Historical Resources (1989) and listing on the National Register of Historic Places (2017) recognizes its importance at both state and national levels. In addition to its Osuna Adobe homestead and historic stables, the property offers educational, economic, health, and social benefits that promise to benefit the Covenant community.
A Living Chronicle of Southern California History
The Osuna Ranch embodies critical aspects of Southern California’s development, spanning multiple eras:
• Native American Heritage: The land was originally inhabited by the Kumeyaay people as early as 12,000 years ago. Their presence is still evident in the natural setting and indigenous plants that thrive on the property.
• Spanish and Mexican Colonial Periods: The Osuna Adobe, constructed in the early 1830s, was part of an 8,842-acre land grant known as Rancho San Dieguito, awarded to Juan María Osuna in 1836 by the Mexican government. Significant historical events mark this period, such as the Californios gathering at Osuna Ranch before the Battle of San Pasqual inthe Mexican-American War.
• Santa Fe Railway Era: The property’s evolution continued through the railroad era (1906–1916), when the Santa Fe Railway planted 3.5 million eucalyptus trees in Rancho San Dieguito to provide railroad ties. While the experiment failed, it forever changed the physical and economic landscape of the region.
• Santa Fe Land Improvement Company Influence: In 1916, this subsidiary of the Santa Fe Railway began planning and promoting “gentleman farmer” estates to grow citrus and avocado trees. Their primary goal was to generate profitable returns from fruit tonnage shipped by the Railway.
• Lilian Rice’s Architectural Contributions: Recognized for her major role in the planning and design of Rancho Santa Fe, Rice also remodeled the Osuna Adobe from 1924–1925, adding to its architectural significance.
• Equestrian Culture: In 1928, the Osuna property was purchased by Arthur Loomis, who introduced thoroughbred breeding and riding to the area and is credited with “introducing the equestrian element” to RSF. Today, the Ranch operates a top-rated equestrian facility, hosting 50 horses and providing access to miles of trails.
What sets Osuna Ranch apart from most historical sites is its exceptional landscape integrity. Unlike other sites that have been fragmented or heavily altered, the ranch retains much of its original setting, land use patterns, and viewsheds, allowing historians and visitors to understand how each era has left its mark on the land.
Quality of Life Benefits
The Osuna Committee’s proposed development of Osuna Ranch Historic Park also provides educational, economic, health, and social benefits for community members of all ages. The historic park is an exceptional indoor and outdoor classroom site and a future social hub. Students, residents, historians, and visitors would have opportunities to learn about history, wildlife, land use, agriculture, family life, and other changes to our area over time. School field trips, historic programs and reenactments, nature tours, short-term camps, and a venue for Scouts to earn Environmental Science merit badges are just a few examples of educational benefits the Ranch offers. Archaeologists and students might also investigate tools, pottery, and other artifacts from various time periods, providing valuable insights into past daily life and cultural practices.
Historic parks also have financial benefits for Covenant members, including higher property values and a higher community tax base. Homes in areas with historical or cultural significance frequently appreciate faster and also maintain their value better than other homes during economic downturns. When potential buyers see historic preservation, they recognize a community that is dedicated to maintaining its unique character.
Finally, the Osuna property offers a host of social and health benefits for residents and visitors. Annual events such as “Celebrate Osuna” and Farm-to-Table Dinners would continue to feature live music, historic performers, pony rides, crafts and games, and locally-sourced foods and wines. Expanded community uses would enable friends and families to walk and ridethe trails, exercise their dogs, enjoy picnics, and play or relax inthe outdoors. Such activities promote social interaction, new friendships, and a heightened sense of community pride and shared identity.
A Call for Preservation
Given these many benefits, I urge the RSF Association Board to consider the extraordinary value of Osuna Ranch as a complete cultural landscape. Retaining all of its land is just as important as preserving its historic structures. Once lost, such a rare historical asset can never be reclaimed.
RSF residents have already expressed their enthusiasm for developing an Osuna Ranch Historic Park. The property has immense potential to serve as a unified site for education, an equestrian facility, passive recreation, and community engagement. Notably, it should also enhance Covenant property values. Preserve Osuna Ranch as a crucial piece of RSF and California history for future generations to study, enjoy, and cherish.
Vonn Marie May is an historian and author of the book “Images of America: Rancho Santa Fe,” available at RSF and San Diego County Libraries and the Rancho Santa Fe Historical Society.