Goleta Magazine 2017 - 53

Historical Walks
Explore the Goleta Coast by getting
outside and enjoying the history,
beauty and nature of some of our local trails.
Rancho La Patera & Stow House
and Lake Los Carneros
In 1871 W.W. Stow purchased 1,043 acres of fertile Goleta
Valley land for $28,600 for his son, Sherman and his bride,
Ida Hollister. As they began their life on one of California's
most lovely historic ranches, they planted the first orchards
of almond, walnut and lemon trees in the first commercial
planting in California. Later, Sherman's son, Edgar Stow
(1885-1949) would expand the ranch and leave a lasting
legacy on the area's citrus industry, as well as developing a
disease resistant variety of lemon that subsequently was
cultivated statewide.

Campbell Ranch & Coal Point
In the 1920s, a wealthy couple, retired British military officer Colin Campbell and his wife Nancy, the daughter of Levi
Leiter (a partner in the highly successful Marshall Field &
Co. retail chain) purchased a 250-acre parcel at Coal Point,
just west of Isla Vista, to build their dream home. When the
colonel died shortly after, Nancy moved forward with their
plans to build a Spanish Colonial Revival 20,000 square foot
home and polo barn, designed by architect Mary Craig.
Known in the area for their opulent lifestyle, Nancy and
family entertained in a grand style, even hosting a party
attended by Prince George of England in 1926.

The Stow family home and other historic structures on
Rancho La Patera are now a museum, while the City of Goleta
maintains the 160 acres of beloved open space, known as
the Lake Los Carneros Natural & Historical Preserve. The
Museums and Historic Gardens are preserved by Goleta
Valley Historical Society. To visit the Stow House and to
learn more about Goleta's history, visit goletahistory.org.

However, after she died, her son Colin Jr. took over the
ranch operations and by 1941, had decided to close the
estate. The subsequent auction drew interest from celebrities Charlie Chaplin and Cary Grant, and was eventually sold
to Devereux School.

The Walk:

Now primarily integrated into the West Campus of UC Santa
Barbara, the beautiful 3-mile walk is best started from Isla
Vista School. This gives you access to the trail alongside the
dilapidated barn, and along the coastal trail to Coal Point.
Along the way, you can see glimpses of the once grand estate,
enjoy the view from the Campbell family's seaside burial
spot, and peer down at their beach cottage, now covered in
graffiti, on the sand below.

Beginning at the beautiful Carpenter-Gothic style Stow
House, you can stroll through the historic gardens and view
the ranch buildings and historical markers. Just beyond the
home, wander the 1.5 miles of trail including, crossing the
dam of "Stow Pond" built by Sherman Stow.

The Walk:

Both walks
are easy and
popular with
families,
cyclists
and birders.

Top: Stow family home, c. 1920. Bottom left: One of the earliest photos of the Stow House built in 1873. Inset: Stow House
Today. COURTESY GOLETA VALLEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY. Bottom middle: Campbell Ranch beach cottage, 1923. Bottom right:
Campbell home. COURTESY SANTA BARBARA HISTORICAL MUSEUM. Pictured at the right, Lake Los Carneros today.
2017 * 2018 EDITION

http://www.goletahistory.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Goleta Magazine 2017