San Ysidro Ranch

The San Ysidro Ranch is a luxury resort located in the Montecito foothills of the Santa Ynez Mountains.

Originally part of a land grant in 1769 by the Charles III of Spain, the Ranch was fully deeded with the Presidio in 1780, serving as a sanctuary for Franciscan friars in the late 1700s.

[4] After the depression, the Johnston’s sold the hotel to Hollywood actor Ronald Colman and hotelier and former Senator Alvin Carl Weingand, who transformed the ranch into a venue for celebrities; known for its setting, service and guest privacy.

Guests over the years range from Audrey Hepburn, Lucille Ball, Bing Crosby and Groucho Marx to Winston Churchill, John Galsworthy, Somerset Maugham and Sinclair Lewis.

[8][9] Covering approximately 500 acres (200 ha), today the San Ysidro Ranch includes 41 private cottages and suites as well as two restaurants.