Hosted By Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks
Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks (Friends), a local non-profit supporting 32 state parks and beaches in Santa Cruz and San Mateo counties, along with California State Parks, will be opening Castro Adobe State Historic Park to the public on Saturday, Nov. 14 and Saturday, Dec. 5 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free; donations to support the park will be gratefully accepted.
Located in Larkin Valley, near Watsonville, the two-story Castro Adobe, built between 1848-49, is one of the finest examples of a rancho hacienda in the Monterey Bay area. Open House visitors will be able to tour the property including the restored cocina (kitchen) and the Potter-Church Garden. The garden is a unique outdoor space originally created by owners Elizabeth and David Potter from 1968 to 1972, in consultation with noted landscape architect Thomas Church.
State Park Interpretive Rangers and Friends’ volunteers will be on hand to offer a “sneak peak” into the restoration process and to assist visitors who would like to enjoy handmade tortillas cooked on the recently reconstructed brasero (stove).
The Castro Adobe is located at 184 Old Adobe Road, north of Watsonville. Parking is extremely limited, so carpooling is encouraged.
Friends is leading a multi-year restoration effort to preserve and interpret the site and is partnering with California State Parks to open the adobe as a State Historic Park. It is Santa Cruz County’s second State Historic Park and the first non-beach state park in the Pajaro Valley. The Castro Adobe is open on a limited basis for special events, such as Open House Days. To follow progress on the restoration effort, visit www.ThatsMyPark.org/projects/castro-adobe.
Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks is an entrepreneurial nonprofit that through an innovative partnership with California State Parks, and by leveraging local community support, has provided millions of dollars of funding for educational programs, visitor services and capital projects. Founded in 1976, Friends also operates six ParkStores. ParkStore locations include Natural Bridges, New Brighton, Santa Cruz Mission, Seacliff, Wilder Ranch and Online. Learn more at ThatsMyPark.org or via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and Pinterest.
