Gerry Olsen Discusses Adolfo Camarillo
Posted by Sandy Warren
on Oct 20, 2015
Gerry Olsen Discusses
Don Adolfo Camarilllo
Imagine inheriting control of a 10,000-acre ranch at age 16. According to Gerry Olsen of the Camarillo Ranch Foundation, that's precisely what happened to Don Adolfo Camarillo, a patriarch of the City that now bears his name.
At our Club meeting on Monday, October 19, Gerry presented a fascinating profile of the very colorful life of Adolfo Camarillo, who ended up owning and managing the Ranch for 78 years until his death in 1958. He supervised the raising and care of 3,000 acres of lima beans, 500 acres of black-eyed peas, 1,000 acres of hay, 600 acres of walnuts, several hundred acres of citrus, plus corn, olives, wheat, barley, alfalfa, pumpkins, watermelon, and tangerines.
Adolfo was extremely active in the local community and was a member of 38 organizations for an average of 24 years each. He was also widely known for the distinctive Camarillo White Horses that he raised.
Gerry noted that the Ranch property at 201 Camarillo Ranch Road is open for public visits, and guided tours are available. Information is available on the ranch website: www.camarilloranch.org. Thanks, Gerry, for a wonderful presentation on some of the distinctive history of our area!