History abounds at Leo Carrillo Ranch in Carlsbad

Peppertrees, palm trees, windmills and several adobe houses greet visitors who have discovered Leo Carrillo Ranch in Carlsbad. This quiet and peaceful place was once the home of movie and television star Leo Carrillo and is now owned by the City of Carlsbad.

Leopoldo Antonio Carrillo was born August 6, 1880, in the Olvera Street area of Los Angeles in a small adobe house. He left home for work at 16 (with permission from his parents), and then a few years later he obtained a university degree and joined the art department at the San Francisco Examiner.

He then went into show business and was best known for playing the role of Pancho in the 1950s television series “The Cisco Kid.”

After he achieved his fame, Carrillo wanted to live in a place where he could “get an old adobe which was forgotten, but not too late to save.” He got his wish when he found the Carlsbad property. The house was abandoned and adobe and he thought that it could be saved.

He bought the property, homesteaded by the Kelly family, who settled in the area during the 1860s. It was 1937 when Carrillo purchased 2,538 acres of the Kelly homestead and constructed or reconstructed buildings that are still on the site, including a hacienda, pool, cabana, carriage house, stable, barn and cantina.

While the ranch construction was taking place Carrillo drove up to Hollywood during the week and returned on weekends, where he slept in the small adobe washhouse.

His wife Deedie died in 1953 after they had been married for 40 years. Carrillo himself passed away in 1961.

An adopted daughter, Marie Antoinette, lived at the rancho until her death in 1978. The ranch was subsequently purchased by the City of Carlsbad.

The land is beautiful and is filled with meandering trails punctuated by peacocks and peahens. Carrillo enjoyed looking at the peafowl at an uncle’s ranch and thought his ranch needed some too. The peafowl that wander the ranch land are the descendents of the ones Carrillo brought to the ranch more than sixty years ago.

Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park

6200 Flying LC Lane

Carlsbad

(760) 476-1042

http://www.LeoCarrilloRanch.org