Holman Ranch was originally part of the Rancho Los Laureles, a 6,625-acre (26.81 km2) Mexican land grant in present-day Monterey County, California.

In the 1900s the Pacific Improvement Company liquidated their holdings (10,000-acre (40 km2)) and the Del Monte Properties headed by Samuel FB Morse, acquired the land.

In 1926, Frank and Jet Porter, of Salinas bought 600-acre (2.4 km2) of the southeast corner of Rancho Los Laureles, calling it Robles del Rio, California.

The Porters later acquired a portion of the Marion Hollins ranch and sold the northeast corner of Rancho Los Laureles for an airpark.

[6] She commissioned architect Clarence A. Tantau, who helped design the Hotel Del Monte, to build a Spanish-style hacienda out of Carmel stone with terracotta roofing, and oak-beamed ceilings.