rancho la patera & stow house

Well preserved and documented early California ranch. Nice little tour/museum and an even better walk around the grounds and the small lake that adjoins the ranch.

The Stow House is part of an old California ranch that covered most of the Goleta Valley. There is the old farm house, a collect of farm equipment used on the property, and a railroad museum housed in the old Goleta rail station. The Goleta Historical Society has an office there as well. Check it out.During the summer every other Tuesday evening there are free concerts on the lawn in front of the house. Bring the kids and dinner and relax.

Stow House is an historic destination - once a turn of the century ranch house, it is now an historic site, and the "ranch" has been converted into a beautiful park and preserve. Natural grasses, eucalyptus groves, water fowl, native florals abound, as do the wonderful aromas that accompany the environment. Joggers, walkers, nature lovers. Benches placed in expected and not-so-expected places. Not crowded. Space enough for all to enjoy. I'll definitely revisit Rancho La Patera again!

Lovely unspoiled area. Historic house (check for tour times); music concerts during the summer and great walking route around Lake Los Carneros, a favorite birding spot.

Rancho La Patera is a great place to see what life might have been like for the well-to-do in rural Central California in bygone days. This house is beautifully preserved/restored to its original grandeur, and tours are offered on weekends (and other times by arrangement, I believe). The knowledgeable docent gave a good tour of the house. Tickets were very reasonable. If one doesn't wish to tour the house, admission to the grounds is free (although donations are gratefully accepted) and includes a good exhibit of antique farm machinery and the original blacksmith shop of Jim Smith, who was the village blacksmith for Goleta in the early 20th century. It was a little difficult corraling our 16-month-old granddaughter, but the docent was very patient. This is also a popular site for weddings, so you might chance upon one if you visit on a weekend. If you're in the area, don't miss a visit to the Stow Grove park, just a few blocks away, at 580 La Patera Lane, Goleta, where you can wander through a grove of coastal redwoods planted by the Stow family, a truly unique find in this area of the central coast.

Sehr nette Leute und Mitarbeiter von den historischen Haus des stows! Interessant war's auch für meinen 12 jährigem Sohn zu sehen wie früher mal Landwirtschaft betrieben wurde!!