An abundance of lemons

Well at least there used to be.  In 1875, 3,000 lemon trees were planted in the first commercial lemon orchard planting in California. Goleta's earliest commercial irrigation also took place on the ranch, and you can still visit 'Lake Los Carneros, the pond created by the Stows. Sherman Stow's son, state senator Edgar Whitney Stow, set up a research laboratory at the ranch and developed disease resistant lemon rootstock of great value to local growers.

The Stow House was once the headquarters of Rancho La Patera. In 1871, William Whitney Stow, a legal counsel for Southern Pacific Railroad in San Francisco, purchased 1,043 acres (4.22 km²) costing $28,677 for his son, Sherman P. Stow. Sherman Stow built a Carpenter Gothic Victorian style home on the site and moved into the house with his bride, Ida G. Hollister, in 1873. The family expanded the house in two major renovations in the 1880s and 1910s. The house was occupied by three generations of Stow descendants

The house museum displays family photographs and furniture, with stories of Sherman and Ida Stow and their many descendants.  


This gorgeous,  historic venue is available for daytime (until sunset) events. The property surrounding the home is quite charming.

this photo was copied from http://stowhouse.com/venue-rental/

 If ever in this area stop by this venue as it is well worth the time.