Trips back in time along the road to Rancho Santa Fe

As I drive the length of San Diego on a daily basis, I view so many areas as they used to be, and how I wish they were as they once were. One of my favorite drives is from Fairbanks Ranch to Rancho Santa Fe along the shoulder road, Via de Santa Fe. This road hugs the old Osuna ranch and is the site of the Osuna adobe. Built on a lovely knoll above the San Dieguito river valley, this structure was built in 1831 by Librado Silva, but is widely known as the Juan Osuna ranch house, but was rarely occupied by him. The 9.000 acre San Dieguito rancho was granted by Governor Pio Pico to his friend Juan Maria Osuna in 1836. Osuna was the alcalde (mayor) of the pueblo of San Diego would visit the ranch, but did not reside there on a permanent basis until shortly before his death in 1851. 

The house was occupied through its early history by Osuna's son Leandro. The house was described in family records as being composed of "luxuriant little valleys, ample lengths of mesa, and a bubbling river." The house was used by the Californio's as they retreated from their only victorious battle in the Mexican-American war. Leandro Osuna killed Captain Abraham Johnson in the opening moments of that unique victory at the Battle of San Pasqual in 1846. 

The house was restored by famous architect Lillian J. Rice in 1924. The house later served as base of operations for the fatally flawed project to raise eucalyptus trees to make railroad ties by the Santa Fe Railroad company. 

The ranch was owned by crooner Bing Crosby beginning in the 30's through the early 60's and served as a vacation home and has ties to the Del Mar racetrack. Der Bingle raised thoroughbreds on the ranch. 

The 28 acre remnant of the ranch is now owned by the Rancho Santa Fe Association. As you drive along Via de Santa Fe, put a little Bing Crosby music on the Pandora, and let your imagination take you back to more pastoral times and appreciate all that history on that busy section of road.