rancho camulos museum

Rancho Camulos was established in 1853 on an old Spanish Land Grant. There are several original adobe buildings and gardens all surrounded by an 1800 acre working ranch. There are docents available at certain times that will take you on a tour and tell you about the history of the place. The site is famous as the setting of the novel Ramona by Helen Hunt Jackson. A 1910 silent movie based on the book was filmed at the Rancho. It is well worth a visit if you are going to be in Ventura county. The tours are free but donations are accepted The rancho is also available for private parties and weddings.

Tour guide was excellent and the complex of buildings are what sets this property apart. The winery, chapel, and 2 adobe homes provide a great window into 19th century California. Work is ongoing to improve the ranch visiting experience. Money for renovations on certain structures in the ranch and an improved visitor center are on the wish-list. The setting is lovely as Piru is a rural community, so while other ranchos in Southern California have often lost much of their core property, Ranchos Camulos did not. The site does not look very appealing from the highway yet beautification of this area, and improvement in the parking area are considered a priority. Nevertheless, the ranch is very much worth visiting and a worthwile stop if in the general vicinity of Piru. Visits are by tour only, which are free, donations are appreciated.

The museum is very informative and well done. It is a historical landmark. The buildings are fun to walk through. The grounds are beautiful.They have a lot of interesting pictures and other items that are over 100 years old. The docents are very helpful and knowledgeable about the history of the rancho and the area in general. It is especially fun to visit during Ramona days.

Our visit gave us great insight into what life in this valley might have been like 150 years ago