Encino Park’s Roots Trace to De la Ossa

In 1849, by his own recollection, Vicente de la Ossa paid 100 pesos and “many obligations” for the first of several purchases that by 1857 would make him sole owner of the 4,460-acre Rancho Los Encinos, which he named Rancho El Encino.

Upon acquiring the land, which had been originally granted as a parcel by the Spanish governor of California in 1789, De la Ossa immediately set to work on the construction of a nine-room adobe ranch house next to a natural spring on the property. With his wife, Rita Guillen, De la Ossa raised 13 children in the house.

Despite having been heavily damaged in the 1994 Northridge earthquake, the original adobe still stands as the heart of Los Encinos State Historic Park.

The son of a Spanish corporal, De la Ossa was born in San Diego in 1808. At 24, he settled in the young pueblo of Los Angeles, where he opened a saloon and held a number of official positions, including secretary of the town council, before moving his family to the rancho in 1849.

With the waters of its year-round spring and its proximity to El Camino Real, De la Ossa’s adobe soon became a popular stopping place for cattlemen and traders traveling the highway. Although he was known for his generosity, financial problems led him in 1859 to place an ad in the Los Angeles Star newspaper offering his hospitality, but also asking for travelers’ consideration:

“They will find at all times for themselves, and for their horses, beds at night, etc. I hope those wishing to call at our place will not forget to bring with them what is necessary to defray their expenses.”

De la Ossa died at 53 in 1861; his family sold the ranch less than a decade later. The adobe, awaiting repairs, can be seen at Los Encinos State Historic Park, 16756 Moorpark St., in Encino.