The San Ysidro Ranch, located high in the Montecito hills, is today one of the area’s most exclusive resorts. It boasts a history that may be traced back to the earliest days of Santa Barbara.
The ranch was named after Saint Isidore, the patron saint of farmers. He was born into a poor family in 1070, and he and his wife became devout Christians after losing a child at birth. Isidore attended church daily, which often delayed his arrival in the fields. The story goes that he was never punished for his tardiness, for angels were often seen helping him with his chores. Isidore was also credited with a number of miracles and was canonized in 1622. The Plow & Angel pub on today’s ranch commemorates Saint Isidore.
The ranch was originally part of Mission Santa Barbara lands, but after Mexico took over California in the early 1820s, the ranch passed into the hands of Tomas Olivera, whose father had served as a sergeant at Santa Barbara’s Royal Presidio. In 1825, he built an adobe home for himself and his new bride. The adobe still stands, is a state and a county landmark, and is one of the oldest buildings in Montecito.