El Rancho Escondido
Situated in a small
valley nearly 12
miles outside of
Avalon is El Rancho
Escondido, “the
hidden ranch.” Still
a working ranch, it
was originally
started as the
Wrigley family's
Arabian Horse Ranch.
The facility’s
prizewinning horses,
historic
memorabilia, and
entertaining
exhibits make it a
favorite stop on the
Inland Motor Tour.
In the early 1930s,
Philip and Helen
Wrigley embarked to
develop a breeding
program for Santa
Catalina Island’s
wild horses. By the
1950s those efforts
evolved into the
breeding of champion
Arabian horses that
were exhibited at
shows and
competitions all
over the United
States. El Rancho
Escondido had become
world-class horse
ranch as well as a
major attraction on
the island.
In 1977 Philip and
Helen Wrigley passed
away, and their
children took over
running the ranch.
Though activities at
El Rancho Escondido
have modified over
the years, the
intent has remained
constant: to share
Catalina's interior
with visitors.
El Rancho
is located east of
Little Harbor. Prize
winning horses are
raised on the ranch.
Catalina pictures
by BTaylor
Caribbean travel guide
Jamaica,
Barbados,
Belize,
British Virgin Islands,
Antigua,
Dominican Republic,
U.S. Virgin Islands,
Cayman Islands,
Anguilla,
Bonaire |
