Area description and history- Beauty, seclusion, tradition - these are the great ideals that have always defined Rancho Santa Fe. With an average residential lot size in excess of two acres Rancho Santa Fe is rural in nature and distinguished by its open spaces and rolling hills. A retreat that provides a serene outdoor lifestyle, Rancho Santa Fe is a place of understated elegance, where inspired architecture blends with secluded hills and graceful trees. Rancho Santa Fe has a delightful and charming village center with upscale shopping.

Before any development could take place, flooding in the the San Diequito Valley had to be resolved. With the cooperation of Colonel Ed Fletcher, a noted civic leader and developer, William G. Henshaw, who had acquired extensive riparian rights and reservoir sites, and W.E. Hodges, then vice president of the Santa Fe Railway, the agreements were made towards the construction of Lake Hodges Dam. The Santa Fe railway financed the project, Mr. Henshaw contributed the site and the dam opened the area for orchards and residential development.

The dam was completed in 1917 and soon thereafter, the Santa Fe Land Improvement Company began a carefully planned subdivision of its tract, using every source to preserve its beauty and historic traditions.

The name was changed to Rancho Santa Fe and construction of the new community started in 1922. Lilian Rice, a famous person around here, was chosen chief architect and together with L.G. Sinnard, project manager and kindred spirit, produced a landmark community. Sinnard purposely planned winding roads throughout the Ranch to slow down speeding drivers to ensure their enjoyment of breathtaking vistas around every turn.