Sphinx Ranch

The ranch was roughly outlined by Altadena Drive on the north and east, Allen Ave on the west and New York Ave as its southern boundary. Fruit and grape orchards were set amongst the native California Live Oak trees studding the gently sloped ranch. Of the 500 acres, grape varietals were most prevalent as William experimented to see what grew and produced the best flavors. They also grew stone fruits and barley and hay at the top of the property which was less manageable due to boulders and uneven ground - up above modern day altadena drive to pinecrest.

We will now transport you to before the days of suburban comforts and tidy tree lined streets and concrete driveways to a time one hundred and a half years ago when Altadena and the entire alluvial fan it rests upon, contained fewer than 50 homes.  You are heading back to 1890 and just 40 years after California has had a gold rush and become a state. It is a decade when the slopes of Altadena were peppered with a few residents trying to grow citrus fruits and grapes for wine and table and trying to stake a new life in a new land, the foothills of California at the top northeast corner of Los Angeles county.  It was the top or Northeastern portion of the San Pascual rancho of Spanish California days and this rancho covered a massive amount of area including Pasadena, Altadena, South Pasadena and East Pasadena - all of which was in 1880 filled with only 34,000 people (25% fewer than in just altadena today.)  Altadena in 1890 has only  Rural.

The land that once comprised the Sphinx Ranch of the William and Emily Allen family is where our stories are told and with a little imagination, let's head back to the days when her three boys and two girls played and toiled as you enjoy your walk.  This industrious and educated family from Great Britain via Egypt owned all of the land from present day Allen Avenue to Altadena Drive with present day New York drive defining the southern boundary of the orchards and vineyards of the Allen family.  These are the stories of their life and the footsteps trod on the land before our grandparents had been born...