Castro Adobe

Featured image description: Over the years, people have left their mark on the adobe walls — literally. Many carved their names into the mud brick walls, and this glimpse into the storied history of the adobe will be preserved on the “graffiti wall” located on the second story of the stairwell.

Gizmo partnered with The SIbbett Group to offer you a glimpse into the vibrant lives, history and stories of the early Californian Hispanic families that were a part of this historic two-story adobe hacienda, built in 1849

Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks undertook the restoration of the Castro Adobe.

“Located near Watsonville, this two-story adobe hacienda features a spacious fandango room on the second floor and an original cocina, one of the very few remaining original rancho cocinas in California. The original carreta (cart or wagon) road to the adobe is still in use, providing a tangible link to the history of the site.”

Friends led a 20-year restoration effort to preserve and interpret the Castro Adobe as the newest State Historic Park in California in partnership with California State Parks. When plans are completed, the park will be Santa Cruz County’s second State Historic Park and the first non-beach State Park in the Pajaro Valley.