page_title: Camarillo Ranch House
section_title: Architecture and use as the center of ranch operations
hierarchical_section_title: Camarillo Ranch House / Architecture and use as the center of ranch operations
caption_attribution_description: Camarillo Ranch House, 201 Camarillo Ranch Rd., Camarillo, California
context_page_description: Camarillo Ranch House, also known as Rancho Calleguas and Adolfo Camarillo House, is a Queen Anne-style Victorian house in Camarillo, California. Built in 1892, the 6,000-square-foot house was designed by architects Herman Anlauf and Franklin Ward., Adolfo Camarillo operated the ranch for 78 years, changing the operations from mostly cattle to crops. He was a leading innovator growing lima beans, barley, corn, alfalfa, walnuts, citrus and eucalyptus trees. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2003.
context_section_description: 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 6,000-square-foot (560 m²) 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.  Adolfo lived in the three-story Victorian mansion until shortly before his death from pneumonia in December 1958.
  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 1999-2000 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.
caption: Camarillo Ranch House, September 2008
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