Did you know Southern California was home to a preserved early 1900s ranch that is still standing and available for tours? Tucked inside a small SoCal desert town, you can visit this little slice of history that will take you way back to a very different time. Here’s a closer look at the historic Keys Ranch located in Southern California.
Want a little more history and culture in your life? Then we have the perfect day trip in mind for you that will take you to a historic ranch in SoCal that is located in an incredibly unique destination.
Located on the actual site of a former working ranch owned by the Keys Family, this destination in SoCal is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Sprinkled with structures that were built between 1910 and 1969, you'll get to see exactly what life looked like back then.
Evidence of what life was like on the ranch can be seen by all that still remains on the land. For example, this old piece of equipment that serves no use today was once an old mill pulled by oxen that crushed ore while extracting gold.
You'll also see a few rusted out vehicles parked on the property that will give you an interesting glimpse of a very different time in SoCal. Set against the backdrop of the rugged rolling hills of the desert, it's quite a fascinating contrast.
In order to properly preserve this historic site, visitors to Keys Ranch can only take a reserved guided tour to experience the ranch in person. Please note, drop-ins are not allowed.
With its location in the SoCal desert, tours are unavailable during the height of the summer due to soaring temps. However, tours can be taken the rest of the year between October and May when the SoCal heat is more tolerable.
Tours of Keys Ranch run approximately 90 minutes long and include about a half-mile of walking through this 160-acre ranch. The price for a tour at Keys Ranch is $10 per person.
Now that’s one fun adventure the whole family can enjoy. What do you think of this cool outing in SoCal? If you’d like to get more information about this historic destination and how to take a guided walking tour of the area, make sure to visit the National Park website for more details.
While you’re visiting Keys Ranch in the town of Twenty Nine Palms, you may also be interested in checking out nearby Joshua Tree. Here’s a closer look at what you can see and do in the town of Joshua Tree on a weekend getaway or even just a day trip.
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