Rancho Santa Clara’s history dates to prehistoric times, where it was within the historic territory of the Ventureño Chumash, adjacent to the village of Sa’aqtik’oy, meaning “place sheltered from the wind’, a place also identified by its springs, which were an unfailing source of water, protected by ancient valley oak, cottonwoods and willows.  The bounty of land, which included runs of steelhead salmon, beaver, big game, and diverse plant life supported remedial nutritional and even the spiritual needs of over 15,000 Chumash people for thousands of years. 

In 1837, 13,898 acres of land to the South side of the Santa Clara River were granted to Juan Maria Sánchez, a soldier at the Presidio of Santa Barbara by Juan Alvarado, the Mexican Governor.  It was subsequently patented to Sánchez by the United States Government in 1852 and successfully operated for cattle and sheep grazing for another 10 years under his ownership. 

Following record droughts in 1864, the land passed to the Sciappa-Brothers, natives of Genoa, Italy who acquired it from Sánchez for the then fair price of 90c per acre (equivalent to approximately $2,000 in today’s dollars.) The brothers subdivided the ranch, selling the eastern portion of the property and maintaining the 7,000 acres of the western portions of the property which strategically bordered the Santa Clara River.  With a consistent source of water, the ranch’s agricultural operations gradually evolved from grazing to farming. Its lima bean farming operation was reputed to be the world’s largest, employing hundreds of laborers and over 120 head of draft horses and mules to operate steam thrashing machines and wagon tenders.  There was also a diversity of other crops including flax, wine grapes and fruit orchards thriving in the property’s healthy soils, with an adjacency of groundwater from the nearby Santa Clara River.

By the late 1800s, the prosperity of the ranch’s farming operations led to the development of a stately main post. The thick adobe brick walls of the original house were used as the foundations for a gracious white-pillared mansion, with elegantly proportioned rooms, a broad porch, a Palladian window and bifurcated stair.  The original swept earth garden that characterized early California adobes was transformed into a verdant Italian garden, laid out on a central axis with water features and exotic palms and plants.

In 1908, Ida Lloyd-Butler, née Ross, inherited the home ranch from her maternal aunt and uncle, Amparo and Leopoldo Sciappa-Pietra. (who were her adoptive parents).   In 1915, she married John Lloyd-Butler (the nephew of her governess) at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City.  The couple returned to the ranch to start a family and manage the property through The Depression and the War Years.  John was among the first to introduce avocado production to Ventura County, and the trees he planted in 1955 are still in production today.  The five children, Sheila, Shane, Clare, Patrick and James all joined in with the ranch’s staff to help harvest walnuts and beans and tend livestock.

After John’s passing in 1978, their youngest son, with the support of his surviving brothers, Shane and Patrick, managed the property from 1979 until weeks before his passing in 2022.  Jim not only looked after the ranch’s farming and financial operations for 40 years, he paid unusual attention to the ranch’s environmental resources, especially its soils and water.  Jim was the among first in Ventura County to utilize water saving drip irrigation.  He fallowed fields with cover crops, and spent thousands on mulching fields and orchards.  In later years, he collaborated in a study to support native pollinators with habitat gardens and a mile-long riparian corridor which connected the interior of the ranch with the rich habitat of the adjacent Santa Clara River.

Today, the home ranch is owned and operated by the 4th and 5th generation descendants who are advancing its farming operations with new regenerative techniques, experimenting with new drought tolerant crops, and working with environmental groups on conservation programs to preserve the biodiversity and ecological history of this rich land.  The historic main post, with its 6 acres of grounds and gardens is a living museum for immediate family to live and work.  It also serves as a place for extended family and friends to engage in charitable events, weddings and other gatherings.