Destination: House of Corona

In the late afternoon we came to our destination. Just a few miles north of the border, followed the small backroads from kilometer marker 12, up into the hills. Feels lush. Not like the low desert.  I am liking this.

We find the entrance to the ranch, through overhead sign, immediately onto a dirt road that tests the powers of the little Ford Focus. A very steep sudden incline takes us down into the bed of the Santa Cruz River. In times of flowing water, it is difficult to get to the ranch, as it was for John Wayne in the old days visiting here, but he liked the challenge in those old cars.

On the other side of the waterless river bed we see cows among the trees on either side, protected on one side in pasture by a fence with large gaps at a crossroad, allowing the animals to roam at will, A half mile more we see the sign for the ranch, on a metal car rood. There are several more crossroads, with roads leading to various parts in the giant property, to subdivided parcels where the former owner, who hosted John Waybne now lives in a newer house on top of the tallest hill, having sold the main ranch, including the Hacienda house, where we are going, to the current owners. 

The directions say to go past the "Jeep Garden". What does that mean. It turns out to mean an classic jeep chassis beside the rocky drive path with flower planted inside of it. 

We go up the hill, past a barn, and another barn, to the house. There are many cars in front. It looks like a small cottage among a clump of trees that give more than the usual shade for this terrain. It's pleasant and shady. The owner comes out to meet us. He is tiny-pony-tailed, in his forties, with a beard gathering patches of grey. He smiles in friendly welcome. Says to not fear the small dog, who greets us at hour feet.

He tells us he wrapping up hosting a pool party (while pointing through the trees), but to drive around to the front of the house and just go inside. He will meet us there at the main entrance. We drive around on the driveway past the cars of the pool party goers into the circular driveway. Through the line cedars you can see, and realize you on the crown of a majestic hill affording a view for many miles to the west over unbroken ranch land, with the mountains in the background.

It is shaded. There is a breeze. The entrance is low and shaded. The owner is there and takes us inside, past the murals painted in the mid twentieth century by a man named Corona, whom the original innkeeper owner honored by naming the hacienda after him---Hacienda Corona.