𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐨𝐭 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐒𝐨 𝐃𝐢𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐬

During the dry seasons of the 1800s, California rancheros turned to an ingenious solution, feeding cactus to their cattle. 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐝𝐬, carefully singed to remove their spines, provided vital moisture and nutrition when grass was scarce.

Join us for our Open House and experience these Ranchero stories firsthand. Pack a picnic and enjoy the spring weather with live music in our blooming gardens. Tour inside the beautifully restored 176-year-old adobe hacienda built by the 𝐉𝐮𝐚𝐧 𝐉𝐨𝐬𝐞́ 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨 family with its historic exhibits and knowledgeable docents.

𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜 by Bob & Denise Gomez and Chris Vinson

Hands-on adobe 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 for kids

𝐌𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫’𝐬 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐭 to take home

𝟏𝟖𝟒 𝐎𝐥𝐝 𝐀𝐝𝐨𝐛𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝, nestled in the Watsonville countryside. (831) 226-9669

Parking is limited; RSVP encouraged: https://SantaCruzStateParks.as.me/CastroAdobeOpenHouse

Hosted by California State Parks & Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks