A Stroll Through the Past

A stroll through the recently renovated Camarillo Ranch House gives visitors a sense of what life was like more than a century ago for city founder Adolfo Camarillo and his descendants.

Vintage photos--of family, weddings and Camarillo’s famous white horses--line the walls of the 1892 three-story Victorian home.

Situated on about 67 acres that were once part of the original 10,000-acre Rancho Calleguas, one of the last Mexican land grants, the millionaire rancher’s house, barn and stables are parallel to the Ventura Freeway near Flynn Road.

The residence was home to Camarillo descendants until 1997, when it and the surrounding land were sold for development. As part of the deal, the city of Camarillo acquired the buildings and 41/2 surrounding acres in 1998.

“It is a tangible, historic community asset,” said John Fraser, the city’s liaison to the ranch.

Three years ago, the city formed the nonprofit Camarillo Ranch Foundation to oversee the property, and plans for renovation were soon underway.

Although the 6,000-square-foot home was modernized through the years, it had not received a complete restoration until now.

“It was definitely due some attention to detail,” ranch manager Gary Blum said. “Not only did it have to be made structurally sound for earthquakes, the electrical, plumbing, heating and air-conditioning all needed to be updated.

“It’s a bit of irony that I have this connection and here I am restoring this house,” said Blum, a Camarillo descendant. Blum’s great-uncle, Alfred Petit, married Adolfo and Isabella’s daughter, Rosa Camarillo. Blum also serves as site supervisor of Oxnard’s Heritage Square.

When the city completed the structural and exterior improvements to the Camarillo house, the Camarillo Ranch Foundation started work on the interior and the landscaping.

After two years, 10,000 volunteer hours, 43 contractors and $1.5 million in state grants, city funds and private donations, the house was reopened late last year.

The historic residence is open for free tours every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tours will be expanded to Wednesdays and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. beginning in April.

The docent-led tours wend through the first two floors of the house. The first floor has been restored to represent the time period 1892 to 1914, and the second floor reflects changes the house underwent after 1915 as the Camarillo children became adults.

The goal of the restoration was to refinish and refurnish the house to capture its original look. Interior decorators went by photographs and samples of original wallpaper found in the hallways, kitchen, upstairs powder room and ranch office.

The downstairs features a front and back parlor, office, dining room, breakfast room, study, kitchen, bride’s room (formerly the maid’s bedroom) and utility room, which has a walk-in refrigerator from 1915.

Ascending the redwood stairs, visitors see the master bedroom, nursery, four additional bedrooms, two powder rooms and a bathroom.

The gardens are rented out for weddings and receptions. Meeting space in the house is also available for rent. A gift shop in the former stables behind the house is operated by the foundation during tours and special events. When restoration is complete on the barn, it also will be available for rent.

“Our general idea is to make it usable for 300 people,” said Pat Distad, Camarillo Ranch Foundation president.

“Everything has been a phenomenal success,” Blum said. “Almost our entire summer is booked for 2002 with weddings and receptions, so now we can focus on making Camarillo Ranch a focal point for the business community.”