Name: Carmel Valley
Item: Carmel Valley
Author: Marilyn

Pastoral hills, ranches, and vineyards of the Carmel River valley

Once you leave Highway 1 and turn onto Carmel Valley Road, you’re headed for a wonderful adventure. A mix of luxury resorts and rural ranches. Shaped by the native Esselen people, forever changed by the Spanish incursion, and continually evolving into a rural destination for ranching, nature, wine and golf.

Why we ♥ Carmel Valley

History: Carmel Valley was originally inhabited by Esselen tribes. They lived, hunted, fished, and gathered nuts and berries for sustenance for thousands of years. The first European to visit, Friar Vizcaino, was commissioned to map the local coastal area in 1602. One hundred and seventy years later, Gaspar de Portola and Father Junipero Serra established a mission in Monterey but later relocated it closer to the Carmel River.

In 1821, Mexico won independence from Spain and colonized Alta California. The mission system ended in 1833 and the lands were turned over to the Mexican government. Commanders from the Presidio in Monterey made land grants to their retired soldiers, including the 6,625 acre Laureles Ranch to Jose Boronda in 1839, encompassing what is now Holman Ranch.

By 1846 the US and Mexico were at war which ended with the surrender of Mexico in 1848 with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo and California became a state in 1850.

Water for Golf. In 1880, the Pacific Improvement Company (PIC) purchased surrounding lands in Carmel Valley, Monterey and Pebble Beach. In 1883 the San Clemente Dam was built so water could be piped into PICs Del Monte Hotel and Monterey. By the 1920s Del Monte Properties was founded and acquired property and valuable water rights. Another dam upstream was built and in 1927, and Robles Del Rio Lodge, with a 9-hole course, opened in Carmel Valley.

Carmel Valley Village. In 1946 the Carmel Valley Village was developed and included a general store, soda fountain, drug store and barber shop in the architectural style of a Mexican village.

Today, Carmel Valley is still rural with rolling hills, ranches, roadside farm stands and luxury destinations–best known for outdoor recreation, wine tasting, fine dining, art galleries, antique shopping and spas.

Carmel Valley

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