Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
THE INN AT
RANCHO SANTA FE
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The first residents of this Southern California area were a group of Native Americans we now call
the San Dieguito. Named for the major waterway in the area, San Dieguito, meaning “Little San
Diego,” referred to the area north of San Diego, where the San Dieguito River empties into a lagoon
and then flows into the ocean, just north of today's city of Del Mar.
Juan Cabrillo's discovery of San Diego in 1542 prompted Spain to claim the area, and Gaspar
de Portolá's 1769 expedition opened the new territory for European settlement. Shortly after Mexico
(or “New Spain”) declared its independence from Spain, the Mexican governor gave a provisional
land grant of the area now called Rancho Santa Fe to Lebrado Lilva. Later, when that governor was
overthrown, his successor gave the interim land title to Juan Maria Osuna.
Osuna, an early settler in San Diego, was a corporal in the local military. Born to a Spanish
father and an Indian mother, Osuna took part in the Mexican Revolution of 1821 and later became
a district elector in 1830. After retiring from the military, Osuna built a three-room adobe house on
the plains of San Diego.
In 1833, Osuna led a committee that convinced the governor to establish a local government
for San Diego Pueblo, to replace many years of military rule. When this was accomplished, Osuna
was elected the first alcalde or mayor of San Diego Pueblo. That same year, Osuna was granted the
interim title to Rancho San Dieguito by the governor. Interestingly, as alcalde, Osuna had already
approved his own application for the land. What had originally been an Indian rancheria was now
two square leagues (about 8,800 acres) that comprised Rancho San Dieguito.
The center of this rancho would be near today's Rancho Santa Fe. To the north, a 4,431-acre
parcel of land was given to Don Andres Ybarra in 1842, and this was called Rancho Las Encinitas.
These two ranchos and some surrounding land became known as San Dieguito.
Osuna raised cattle and horses on the ranch, but he had a weakness for gambling. He was forced
to sell part of his land to pay off his debts. In 1845, the new governor awarded him full title to the
land but he wouldn't enjoy it for long. Osuna remained loyal to the fledgling government of Mexico
during the Mexican-American War from 1846-1848. After the war, Osuna faired poorly under U.S.
rule because he didn't understand U.S. law, and he didn't speak English. He died in 1851.
