Welcome to VisitCatalinaIsland.com
We have detected that you do not have the Flash 9 player installed.
Please download the Flash plugin here.
Points of Interest
Related Pages
El Rancho Escondido
Ranch Life In The Islands Interior
Nestled 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 set out 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 across the United States. El Rancho Escondido had become world-class horse ranch as well as a major attraction on the island’s interior.
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.