Rancho Camulos Museum
Piru, Santa Clara River Valley Wedding Location5164 East Telegraph Rd (Hwy 126)
Piru, Santa Clara River Valley, CA
Phone: 805/521-1501 or Hilary 805/896-6465
www.ranchocamulos.org
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Description
A drive to Camulos takes you past unspoiled hillsides and orchards ripe with citrus, and the feeling of traveling into California’s rural past is made stronger by the occasional fruit stand along the highway. Just when you think you’re in the middle of nowhere, a sign announces the turnoff for the Rancho Camulos Museum. A row of eucalyptus trees shelters a small adobe structure, embellished by an arbor entwined with wisteria. A bronze marker declares that Rancho Camulos is a National Historic Landmark. But you haven’t reached the Museum yet, and at any rate it’s not a museum in the conventional sense. Set in the middle of a vast working ranch, the Museum encompasses ten pastoral acres and historic buildings that have been preserved as a living testament to California’s diverse cultural and agricultural heritage.
The history of Rancho Camulos is really the history of two families. From 1839, when Antonio del Valle was awarded a Mexican land grant, to the 1920s, generations of the del Valle family lived off the land’s rich bounty and fertile vineyards. In 1884, author Helen Hunt Jackson chose Rancho Camulos as the setting for her famous love story, Ramona, and the Rancho became known as “The Home Of Ramona.” Four decades later, in 1924, the del Valle family sold the property to August Rubel, the son of Swiss immigrants, who sought to preserve Camulos’ historic character. Today, the Rubel Family offers the Museum’s lawns and gardens for weddings and other celebrations.
The stroll to this tranquil oasis is a trip back to simpler days. First you’ll pass the old winery, made of aged brick and river rock, which once housed the Rancho’s own vintages. Next is a rambling adobe hacienda, trimmed with verandas and rose bushes that make you think of bountiful summer days and happy family gatherings. Many of the surrounding trees were planted by the Rancho’s earliest settlers, and a giant Black Walnut boasts branches spanning nearly half an acre! In front of this arboreal beauty, a vibrant rose garden plays host to hummingbirds and butterflies.
Just beyond the hacienda is your first view of the event grounds, sprawling meadows cradled by orange groves and sagebrush-covered hills. A long white arbor covered in Mission grapevines stretches past an aviary alive with birdsong and the fluttering of wings. Most brides use the arbor as a wedding aisle, while the groom awaits her arrival at one of two locations: the steps of a quaint wooden Chapel, whose open double-doors reveal oaken prayer benches and antique candelabra that convey a sense of reverence; or beneath the dappled shade of a billowing maple tree, with the afternoon breeze softly whispering through the branches. Both are uniquely inspiring backdrops for your ceremony.
Afterwards, while the wedding party enjoys photo opportunities in a blooming flower garden, guests quaff refreshments by a fishpond, where a miniature waterfall flows into a pond ringed with ferns and lilies. To add more novelty to your cocktail hour, arrange for guests to take a guided tour of the Museum buildings and grounds.
As the sweet scent of lavender wafts across the grassy meadows, your friends and family dine and unwind at tables set in the great outdoors. Place a dance floor on the lawn, and couples can dip and sway until the sunset paints the horizon. A mix of nature and history, this Rancho Camulos landmark will not only expand everyone’s concept of a museum, it will weave a tapestry of rustic charms over your entire celebration.
Capacity
Ceremony |
Reception/Special Events |
Meetings |
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Max. Seated Indoors: Max. Seated Outdoors: 500 |
Max. Seated Indoors: 75 Max. Seated Outdoors: 500 Max. Standing Indoors: Max. Standing Outdoors: 500 |
Max. Seated: 75 |
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Fees & Deposits
A $500 nonrefundable deposit is required to reserve your date for weddings and corporate events. The balance is due 21 days prior to the event. Rental fees range $500–3,500 depending on day and time of event, area rented and guest count. There is an additional fee of $15/hour for museum staff supervision depending on the size of the event.
Availability
Year-round.
CateringBYOAlcoholBYOSites UsesCeremoniesWedding Receptions Special Events, Parties Business Functions/Meetings Rehearsal Dinners Services/AmenitiesCatering: BYOKitchen Facilities: yes Tables & Chairs: provided up to 100 guests Linens, Silver, etc.: BYO Restrooms: access limited Dance Floor: BYO Bride's Dressing Area: yes Meeting Equipment: BYO Parking: ample, complimentary parking Accommodations: no guestrooms Telephone: yes Outdoor Night Lighting: CBA Outdoor Cooking Facilities: CBA Cleanup: through caterer or renter View: garden, meadows, pond, mountains, orchards |
MusicOutdoorsWheelchair AccessAccess LimitedSite ViewsFountain/Water FeatureGarden Hills Lagoon/Pond Landscaped Grounds Meadow/Fields Mountains Waterfall RestrictionsAlcohol: BYO, licensed serverSmoking: outside only Music: amplified OK outdoors Wheelchair Access: limited Insurance: liability required Other: no rice, birdseed or confetti |
Wondering what CBA or BYO means?
805/521-1501 or Hilary 805/896-6465
www.ranchocamulos.org
Email or request a proposal for your event from Rancho Camulos Museum
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