Carlsbad CA— The City of Carlsbad has joined the Friends of Carrillo Ranch in celebrating the group’s 25th anniversary as a nonprofit dedicated to the preservation of Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park, which is named for the late Hollywood actor and park preservationist.
The city and friends have established a quarter-century long partnership that has resulted in the restoration of the 27-acre core of the actor’s 2,500-acre spread, which served as both a retreat and working cattle ranch for the late film star. The ranch is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a registered California Historical Landmark.
Today visitors can stroll through the landscaped canyon, sit and watch episodes of “Cisco Kid” or explore the old adobe buildings while imagining what it was like to work on an old California ranch. Much of this was made possible by the collaboration of the City of Carlsbad Parks & Recreation Department and the Friends of Carrillo Ranch.
Carrillo was a longtime character actor whose career thrived during Hollywood’s Golden Age of the 1930s and ’40s. His signature role was Pancho in the 1950s television series “The Cisco Kid.” Carrillo was not only an actor, but an advocate for California culture and history. His family roots trace to the state’s earliest Spanish settlers, and his grandmother was Josefa Bandini of San Diego’s pioneering Bandini family. Carrillo served for 18 years on the state’s Beach and Parks Commission and helped acquire Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. He was also instrumental in helping the state acquire Hearst Castle in San Simeon, one of the park system’s biggest attractions. He died in 1961 at age 80.
Carrillo dreamed of re-creating a piece of California history and got his chance when he purchased a 2,500-acre spread in what is now eastern Carlsbad. He named it “Rancho de los Quiotes” and modeled his modern ranch after the old California ranchos. Most of the ranch was sold off for development in 1960, and the city acquired the core of the ranch and its 17 structures — including Carrillo’s adobe house — in 1977.
In 1985, newly arrived Carlsbad residents Joan and Alan Kindle discovered the old ranch, which was sitting idle, and asked the city about its plan for the property. At that time the city intended to restore the many old structures but had no plan or timeline.
Joined by a group of like-minded residents, the Kindles volunteered to research the property with hopes of restoring the old buildings, and in 1990 the Friends of Carrillo Ranch was established as a nonprofit educational corporation. Since its founding the group has worked closely with the City of Carlsbad, and one their joint accomplishments was writing an award-winning master plan for the park in 1996 that led to the old rancho opening as a city park in 2003. The city has restored structures and added activities, working closely with the Friends along the way. The Friends of Carrillo Ranch are committed to advancing the knowledge of California history, hosting a regular program for fourth-grade students to learn about their state through hands-on art projects.
Over the past 25 years the Friends of Carrillo Ranch have made numerous contributions to Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park, including:
- Acquisition through a donation of the entire Cisco Kid TV series, 156 episodes, in English and Spanish
- Donation of a Library of Leo Carrillo motion pictures
- Production of a video of Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park for the park visitor center
- Acquisitions of artifacts and memorabilia from donors
- Securing of grants from foundations, corporations, private parties, the state of California and federal government
- Donation of a golf cart for visitors with mobility issues
To mark its 25th anniversary, the Friends has launched an updated website that showcases the park’s many features. The website includes a walking tour, which visitors can download and print, to guide them as they stroll through the park.
At the City Council meeting of Dec. 1, Carlsbad Mayor Matt Hall honored the Friends of Carrillo Ranch with a proclamation that honored the group for its 25 years of fundraising, educational programming and community outreach. The proclamation also thanked the Friends for helping the city plan and develop the park “by establishing a mutually beneficial relationship.”
John Rodenhausen, the president of Friends of Carrillo Ranch, said much of the group’s success can be attributed to the late Alan Kindle, the founder and first president.
“The Friends of Carrillo Ranch has been there to invigorate and motivate, and to assist in rebuilding and enhancing the park so it could be appreciated by the public,” said Rodenhausen. “We have enjoyed a long and fruitful partnership with the city in achieving this goal, and we look forward to many more years of making the park an important refuge and resource for Carlsbad residents.”
Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park, 6200 Flying Leo Carrillo Lane, is open Tuesday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free. The public is invited to join 90-minute, docent-led tours Saturdays at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., and Sundays at noon and 2 p.m. In addition to the docent-led weekend tours, self-guided walking tours of the building exteriors and park grounds are available during normal park operating hours.