This place is an absolute gem hidden off of Melrose! You turn down in here and you see so many beautiful things. There are peacocks during the early morning time roaming around. They have a beautiful little movie theater where you can watch a show about how it all began and a tiny little gift shop. Then you can walk around and see all of the horse stables, houses, and beautiful reflection pool. read more

We got the opportunity to walk with a docent/guide during a light rain we had in May. It was s nice to walk in the rain and hear stories of the past at Leo Carrillo Ranch. The cacti were in blossom which was a unique treat! We saw peacocks, a wide variety of local biota and enjoyed talking story with a knowledgeable elder. read more

Thank you, Leo Carrillo Ranch, for the perfect venue and setting for my daughter Shannon's wedding on Sunday, November 17th. She and her finacé Seth were wed in front of the well-known pepper tree on the terrace, followed by their reception on the lawn/patio area below. There's really not much I can add that hasn't already been said in the glowing reviews here - the beauty of Leo Carrillo Ranch speaks for itself. I do, however, want to specifically thank our amazing wedding coordinator, Jessica. She has a sparkling personality, coupled with a relaxed demeanor that had a calming effect on the wedding party. We knew from the start that we were in good hands, and everything would run smoothly for Shannon & Seth's special day. And that it did. Jessica guided the groom, bridesmaids, and best man in as the ceremony began, always with a smile on her face. Smiling at my daughter Shannon and me, she cued us in for our walk down the aisle, and we were off. At the conclusion of the ceremony, she began getting the reception up 'n running. This young woman worked hard throughout the entire event, cheerily answering any questions our guests would ask. I can say without reservation that every guest who interacted with Jessica enjoyed their time that much more because of her aplomb and engaging personality. Another standout was Daniel, our bartender. One of the happiest guys I've ever met, he kept everyone's thirst satisfied with his efficient service behind the bar. He loved the string quintet we'd hired to play for the ceremony and during cocktail hour, and clearly loved music in general - he was movin' 'n groovin' to the DJ's dance music once it started up. Though I didn't get the names of all the staff, everyone working the wedding and reception was clearly happy to be there, again making our guests feel welcome. Once again, thank you, Leo Carrillo Ranch! read more

Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park - Mr. & Mrs. Rockwell November 17th, 2024 - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Carlsbad, California

Very cool place to visit for a few hours. Came here at the recommendation of a friend and it was pretty cool to see. The ranch is lots a lot of very cool buildings and courtyards made in the old Spanish architecture. The horse stables are probably my favorite. Lots of history here. We did the guided tour and got to learn about the history of the ranch and some of the items and their family history. I highly recommend the tour. Lots of walking in nature and sightseeing. Great way to spent a couple of hours. read more

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We love this park. The grounds are very walkable and there's a good chance you'll see a few peacocks. They have a great deal of cactus that bloom in the spring and summer. There's a small gift shop in the upper barn. It's very peaceful with lots of shady spots. read more

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I've been visiting this magical place for more than 20 years. My first visit was a guided tour on a weekend, and we were able to go inside the main residence and Dee Dee's art studio. Then, as now, staff seem genuinely invested in providing a positive and inclusive experience for guests. They are welcoming, friendly and knowledgeable. They are also very helpful and particularly so with guests who have mobility issues. What I love most about coming here is stepping back in time, soaking up the history and the beauty of the historic buildings and grounds, seeing the peacocks fly and hearing them scream, and imagining Leo Carrillo and his Hollywood friends partying at the pool and outdoor kitchen. The annual free film festival is a lot of fun, and I always look forward to it. I enjoy bringing friends and family to this event to see the corny episodes of The Cisco Kid, followed by an old Hollywood movie featuring Leo Carrillo. We bring food and beverages and make it a picnic, and we enjoy meeting new "neighbors". Get your tickets early! read more

I didn't see a single peacock here. This place is on tightly-packed dirt, so your shoes and the bottom of your pants will get dirty. You can see the historic home of the original owner, but sadly, you cannot go inside as they are locked and closed. You only see them from the outside. There is nothing to do here other than walk under the sun (hardly any shade), and that's it. They do have nice, clean bathrooms. I wouldn't recommend this place. Definitely not a fun place for kids, either, in my opinion. You can walk through this whole place in 15 minutes. The best part, for me, was seeing the plants. read more

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Looking for a fun and easy Carlsbad activity? Are you interested in free and admission and free small group tours? Is California history calling? Ever wonder about old Hollywood stars and where they lived? Do you enjoy historic settings? What about a penchant for botany and beautiful plants? Do you need a site for a wedding or family reunion? How about a great summer camp for your children or an activity for your Boy Scout troop? If your answer to any of these questions is yes, plan a visit to the Leo Carrillo Historic Park. You will not be disappointed. It is a true " hidden gem." read more

We really enjoyed the history and beauty of this ranch. The grounds are very cool and definitely worth visiting. read more

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The nice thing is that this place is free and has free parking, and it is in Carlsbad off Palomar airport road and only 5+ miles from the 5 freeway. There is a lot of history here about Leo Carrillo, the Cisco kid. There is plenty of information and in the barn/check in area there are plenty of pictures explaining the history and there is some video playing too. The overall campus is not too large, you can walk it all slowly in less than 30 minutes. It is free to take pictures of the historical buildings and the peacocks and peafowl. Those crazy birds may be walking around, on top of the buildings, or walking through the residential neighborhood. You never know when you will see them or how many there will be or where they will be. If you are doing a wedding or paid photography shoot there is probably a fee and there is a sign to check in and register, etc. But for the average citizen just taking photos of the birds and the grounds, it is free and you don't have to sign in. There are some surrounding trails when you leave the grounds, that go up in to Carlsbad homes and across the street to some Carlsbad trails. I have been here 8 or 9 times in all different seasons and it is picturesque with the peacocks and various flora blooming. Definitely worth checking out if you are in the area. read more

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Always enjoyed our visit here at the ranch! We started visiting in 2020 when the pandemic started. The ranch is spacious and open. This provides ample of distance between our family and others. There are many benches and tables for people to have a picnic and kids to run around. It was fun and educational to walk around and see the architecture of the houses. The best time to visit is March to June. One can hear and see wild peacocks in the ranch. Local residents may not like to hear them because the peacocks are really loud during mating season but it is a joy to many to see the beautiful birds. Did I say that these are wild birds? Please don't feed the birds and respect their space!!! read more

Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park - The entrance to the ranch - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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It's a shame the way the caretakers are treating the facility. It's noticeable way the staff treats people of color. Especially the younger staff. Today I was approached by a younger female staff member who was of a lighter complexion. I am of Hispanic descent and a couple a few other families of color and Caucasians as well, and I were meeting at the park. Together if all 5 families meet at a park the kids can range from 1-4 per family when we go out. When we were approached we were asked if we had made a reservation for the facility. We had sat at the picnic tables, as we were told and we told while walking to the restrooms that we needed to reserve the tables to sit at them. This seemed to put the staff on high alert because our group sat at the tables. We were then approached by her again asking what we were doing here. After explaining that we are homeschooling moms and that our older children have been learning about the Rancho California lifestyle in the history of Leo Corrillo that our kids were interested in coming to see the ranch. This was the reward for our kids learning together and completing their group project. We were told that there are docent at most of the buildings, but that if we wanted a guided tour we would have had to have made reservations which we were fine with no guided tour and just doing the walking tour as provided on their website. After having her supervisor come and speak with us and tell us that reservations really need to be made for any groups, including small families due to weddings or events going on. We then informed the supervisor that we had called ahead of time and asked if there were any events going on today and we're notified on the phone of the early closure for an event going on this weekend. It was then that we were told that they would allow us to stay and visit the ranch for the day, but if more than one family, I was meeting at the park that we need to make reservations and fill out a permit . Walking around the park, we saw several other families that didn't seem to be bothered or had a golf cart following them around the property as they did the walking tour. Two of the families that we spoke to next to the carriage, house were impressed with how much information our kids knew about the ranch and were happy to hear about their projects. This is where the obvious favoritism was shown families that were people of color in the situation were being followed around the park with golf carts other families of the same size were not question at all, even though we were doing the same walking tour. The only thing that I noticed that was different was that we had a darker skin color. The shame about this is the history of the ranch Leo himself to Hispanic background and he was in favor of the class and supported ethnicities of color. read more

Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park - Palm tree trail as we were being followed by staff golf carts around the facility. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Carlsbad, California

I come here often, but this was the 1st time I had the opportunity where a volunteer, Steve, approached asking if I, or we, would like a tour of the actual interior buildings. No doubt today was a pleasant visit, and I truly loved learning more about Leo Carrillo. For sure, it was fun with a planned visit to pick up "The California I love" by Leo Carrillo to read via my local library. read more

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We come here for family walks and to see the beautiful peacocks and peafowls that roam about the property. The ranch provides a fun open space for kids to play and explore. It has a variety of plants, trees, historical buildings, courtyards and picnic tables to sit and enjoy a snack in the shade. The grounds and public bathrooms are kept exceptionally clean and there is ample parking. It was interesting to learn about Leo Carillo and see his original home on site. I love the romantic outdoor terrace with the over hanging pepper tree. It can be used to host an outdoor wedding or a special event. The park is also a great setting for outdoor family photos read more

Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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I thought this was a very interesting and charming place to learn about some California history. The docents were very nice. It was a very pleasant way to spend a Sunday afternoon. read more

The beauty of this park is to be appreciated. The grounds are beautiful with a great amount of history. The buildings have a story and a history that is sight to see up close. The wedding we attended at this location paired well as the location and the grounds have a peace and calm feel to them with each step. If you are in the area you must add this to your list as a must visit. read more

Beautiful venue to walk around, take in nature, see the beautiful peacocks and to attend or have a wedding. It's a historical site of an actors home-front belonging to Leo Carrillo himself and who was also in the same cohort as the Roy Rogers era. Many events were had when they resided here. Deedie had her own residence on site and wasn't as ostentatious as her husband. So having her own little retreat was good for her. Come and see and or hear the peacocks who run this beautiful little venue/property. read more

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What a lovely find in Carlsbad! After days of rain and Mother's Day was here, I decided to explore this park with my kiddos and my parents. If you haven't been here, you're missing out. Parking is a breeze. Walk right in and start looking for peacocks! Yes, peacocks! They're everywhere...but you have to look! Explore the grounds, pack a picnic lunch, stop by the visitors center for the full history of the historic park....prepare to spend a few hours here. It's a lovely park! I'll be back! read more

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I happened upon this place while looking for things to do near Carlsbad. After taking a stroll above the Flower Fields, it was a short drive to this lovely oasis. I arrived about an hour before closing, but it was enough time to wander through the whole property and take in all the beauty of the grounds and gardens, the colorful peacocks, and the lovely buildings. I really want to move into Deedie's House. Such a tranquil place and a wonderful way to spend an hour or two. Or get married there! I'm so happy they open it for people to enjoy and learn about its rich history. They have very clean restrooms and there is plenty of parking. read more

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Leo Carillo Ranch Historic Park is a surprisingly wonderful venue for weddings and wedding ceremonies. With a nature filled woodsiness it's the perfect backdrop for those couples looking for that rustic feel. I would say about 100 people fit comfortably with tables and chairs, complete with food and bar set up. Staff was very helpful and polite. Only downside was parking at the top of a dirt slope with pebbles rocks lining the pathway down to the venue. My wife had a hard time walking in heels up and down the hill. But fret not, the venue does provide a golf cart shuttle. Gorgeous venue that I highly recommend. read more

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This ranch was a magical Summer camp for my son, Max. The head counselor John was engaging, encouraging, and kind. He was so knowledgeable and inspired the kids to learn first hand about nature! Last day of camp, Max brought home seeds. We are planting them in the garden today. Highly recommend all of their youth programs! Thanks, John! read more

Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park - Herb garden greenhouse project - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Carlsbad, California

This place is amazing! It's so full of interesting history and the city did a great job at preserving it. We had a really fun time touring the grounds. Our guide, Skylar, was great! Super knowledgeable and she presented the info in a very fun and interesting way! I'll definitely be coming back and bringing more family members! read more

I was too tired to go to the zoo and definitely didn't want to go all the way to L.A. so we found this hidden gem. It is a sprawling historic ranch that was built and reconstructed by a famous actor who was nickname Mr. California. I really enjoyed the peacocks wandering the grounds admiring themselves in the mirrors that were around the property. Many famous actors enjoyed the ranch such as Clark Gable.There is a summer camp for children, in fact a group of girls were taking a sewing class. The volunteers were very helpful. We watched a 10 min video that was very informative. I highly recommend visiting, fun for all ages. read more

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This place is soooo cute and is so close to our house! I've been looking for places to walk and hang out with my 8 month old and this was the perfect place. Every spot is so picturesque. I can't wait til he can walk and explore on his own! The trail is stroller friendly but I ended up just carrying my baby in the carrier. Lots of parking and there are clean bathrooms. read more

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Such a fun and beautiful place to walk around, explore and learn the history of this ranch. We spent over an hour walking around and got to learn about Leo Carrillo and the amazing history of the ranch. Definitely a fun place to visit and it's free! read more

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Another great family friendly place to visit in North County. Best of all it's Free! One of many Historical buildings in the area, the Leo Carrillo ranch is a great place to take the kids. There are plenty of paths and buildings to explore and of course the noisy peacocks are roaming and squawking as they please. Parking was plentiful and they have real bathrooms on site. Their main office is where you can watch an informative 10 minute movie on the history of Leo Carrillo and of this ranch. Free guided tours are offered on the weekend ( Saturday 11 and 1, Sunday 12 and 2). The tour meets up in the parking lot and goes on a thorough walk around the park. You'll get plenty of behind-the-locked-door access on this tour and you'll learn about Leo, the history or Carlsbad, and even a history of Los Angeles (Hollywood). Did you know that the Carlsbad Airport was funded by the mafia? The more you know... You'll learn more than just trivia on this tour, you'll learn a lot about botany too.. Recommend, but understand that the tour is longer than an hour and small kids might get restless. - Feral Peacocks - A lot of photographers and people having professional pictures taken of themselves all around this property..(Annoying) read more

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This is a charming little spot tucked into a residential area in Carlsbad. My family and I have been doing exploring local sights due to COVID, and the LC Ranch was well worth the visit. It is 27 acres and a great place to breathe in fresh air and get your steps in. The resident peacocks are very fun to watch (there's an albino one that is gorgeous, unfortunately we weren't able to see him!) and there are a lot of peaceful spots for resting and picnicking. I had never heard of Leo Carrillo and was happy to learn about him and his family from the signs scattered around the property. I wish that I would be able to tour the inside of the buildings, but I don't think they are open to the public at the moment. Also, bonus for the cleanest public toilets in the land. Thank you to all of the employees/volunteers for keeping the LCR so well-kept. read more

We came here during the week and it was a nice little spot for us to walk through the place and see tons of peacocks. They're rather loud but they're beautiful. We were lucky to even see one open his wings. We kept walking and saw that there was an art class going on. The place is really pretty and peaceful with lots of lush trees and plants around. We even went in and saw the history of the place. read more

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Marissa was great, we saw a peacock AND a wedding. Really beautiful place glad we took a walk after school here

All the peacocks were gone *big sad* but it was definitely worth the stop. We stopped by the visitor center and they asked us if we'd like to watch a short film on the history of the location and I'd say it definitely helps you appreciate this landmark even more! read more

Beautiful grounds and facility. Definitely made the short list for my daughter's wedding and reception. Unfortunately it was closed due to rain the one day she and her fiancé were in town to view it. They ultimately went with Lake Tahoe which is closer to where they live. The wedding package deals make everything easy and they are very organized and prompt responding to all questions. They also give discounts for carlsbad residents and have ample parking. Your event takes place after hours so you have it all to yourself. I personally loved the rustic old California ranch vibe and took a lot of photos there. Will be back just to enjoy the grounds and take photos. A treasure right under our noses. read more

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I got married at Leo Carrillo on 6/29 and am still living on newlywed cloud 9. I might be slightly biased but I think that we had the best wedding ever and the most beautiful wedding ever. Leo Carrillo had a lot to do with the later. The space is so absolutely stunning that it doesn't need much embellishment at all. I would also like to mention that the twinkly lights everywhere somehow make the place even more magical at night, which from all my visits prior I had never had a chance to see before and was such a great surprise. We booked the venue well in advance, somewhere between a 18 months and year. So I had the opportunity to work with a few people within the company in that time, as people moved around in positions within the company. I was slightly nervous when a couple months in advance of the wedding a new person took on the lead planning role. However, all my fears were for nothing, because Kendra is amazing! She kept the day running smoothly and never made me feel like I was on a clock. Even my family and friends commented on how wonderful she was as a person and at her job. If you also would like the most beautiful wedding in the world, book Leo Carrillo. read more

Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Carlsbad, California

This place was awesome! Super easy to get to, easy parking, the entire place is free, and there are dozens of stunning peacocks roaming around. My first time here wasn't so great but it was my fault. As I was getting close to a peacock to take a picture, it screeched in my face! I got so scared, I dropped my phone and my screen cracked. My advice to all: Don't get too close! read more

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From the moment I met my wife, I knew it was meant to be. From the moment we walked onto the grounds of Leo Carrillo Ranch, we knew it was where we'd be married. Finally, from the first time we met Kendra and the team at Personal Touch Dining, we knew they'd help us create the night we'd always dreamed of, and they did! Kendra was the ultimate professional and made everything from the menu, decorating, and yes, even the billing, easy and painless in the year leading up to the big day. At the rehearsal and on the day itself, she and Darcie ensured everything went off without a hitch! It flew by in a joyous, love-filled haze for us, but that is certainly in part due to Kendra's flawless planning! Thank you, Kendra, Darcie, and the rest of the team at Personal Touch Dining! read more

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Loved the free roaming peacocks! There were so many of them! Pretty! Or should I say handsome? Lots of people were having a picnic there on the benches. Entrance is free. read more

Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Carlsbad, California

I love coming out here with my two young kids to go and see the peacocks. We try to come out at least once a month because it's an easy free activity for all of us to do and gets the kids out walking on some trails and getting some fresh air. The staff has always been friendly and the last time we were there we caught part of the museum tour of Leo Carrillos house. It was quite impressive to learn about his backstory. The grounds are very safe for young kids and we can't wait to go there again! read more

Beautiful!! We came on a Saturday and it was not very busy. Easy to find parking. We loved walking these beautiful grounds, learning about the history, and took some great pictures. We also got to watch a well made 15 minute movie on the history in the barn. One of the volunteers had just picked tangerines off a tree and shared with us. Yum! Highly recommend! Beautiful, historical, and FREE! read more

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Love this place! The park is amazing! No dogs allowed. Lots of peacocks roaming free. You can take lots of fab pix The grounds are beautiful There is a pool not for use just for show Great wedding venue. Hiking trail behind the park (2 miles loop) Relatively flat. Dogs allowed on trail behind park read more

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Leo Carrillo was the second venue we toured and literally booked it the next day. It's lush, beautiful (day AND night), has a great staff, and there is literally not a bad spot on the property. The entire team is wonderful. We had a few different points of contact through the process, but each person was able to keep up with our ideas and what we wanted for our wedding. They answered emails and questions so quickly and never forgot one detail. The wedding day itself went so perfectly. Our day of coordinator was Kendra. In the words of my mother, "Kendra is OUTSTANDING." The wedding day was so smooth. The whole day I never questioned or worried about anything going wrong or being crazy, Kendra had it all under control. Plus, she is like a magician. She would literally appear out of nowhere to grab us for whatever was happening (pictures, dance, cake cutting, etc) and then would be out of site when she wasn't needed. My mom was so happy and raved to me about Kendra dropping the gifts and cards into her car and returning the key to her purse without my mom ever having to leave the party. My husband and I wanted to do a private last dance at the very end of the night to enjoy the moment together. Kendra was able to round up all of our guests to get them lined up for our exit without them even knowing we were staying behind for a few minutes. She collected the items we told her we needed from the bridal suite, and had them on the golf cart waiting for us, then dropped us off with our ride. Literally every guest has told us it was the most fun wedding they've ever been to. It's been almost three months since our wedding and I look at pictures daily. I can't believe how well it came together and just how much more beautiful everything was from what I imagined. I'm so happy we got married at Leo Carrillo! read more

A beautiful park to walk around and see peacocks. Historic buildings and very knowledgeable staff. read more

Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park - Peacock - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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