In 1769, a band of Franciscan missionaries and Spanish soldiers arrived in the area, where they established a fort—known as a presidio—as well as a church called the “Mission San Diego de Alcalá.” The land would remain under control of the Spanish colonial authorities for the next five decades, specifically the friars stationed at the mission. But while the Franciscans mainly spent their time interacting with the native Kumeyaay, they also engaged in educational pursuits that included the creation of the area’s first maps. Among the most prominent names to refer the locale within those documents was, “El Paraje O Cañada de San Bernardo,” which translates to mean, “the place or canyon of Saint Bernard.” The Franciscans lost their hold over the land when local officials confiscated it following the conclusion of the Mexican War of Independence in 1821. They subsequently carved up the erstwhile mission grounds into a sprawling estate 17,700 acres in length called the “Rancho San Bernardo.” The Mexican government eventually granted the Rancho San Bernardo to an English captain named Joseph Snook. In order to acquire his grant, Snook became both an official Roman Catholic and Mexican citizen, forgoing his previous identity to assume the title of “Jose Francisco de Sales Snook.” And while he eventually married into the prominent Alvarado family, he never had any children to whom he could pass on his estate. When Snook died in the early 1850s, his brother, John, inherited the Rancho San Bernardo.

John Snook did not possess the massive land grant for long either, as he died shortly after obtaining it. His own descendants then acquired the Ranch San Bernardo, but they held little desire to use it. They, thus, sold the entire estate to entrepreneur James McCoy through his agent, Thomas Fox, in 1867. McCoy immediately began to subdivide his newfound landholdings, selling most of it as plots to middle-class settlers who were interested in establishing their own homesteads. By this point, the large majority of migrants heading into the vicinity were Americans, as California had long since joined the Union. McCoy soon sold enough land that several hundred people resided in the locale by the early 1870s, with some eventually founding a small agricultural village. The community grew steadily for some time, hosting such business likes a general store, a blacksmith shop, and even a post office. The development of both the neighboring City of Escondido and the Lake Hodges Dam in the early 20th century led to the hamlet's abandonment. As such, most of the Rancho San Bernardo became a ghost town. Meanwhile, the San Diego Water Company purchased some 5,800 acres from Ed Fletcher and William Henshaw in the 1920s, which, in turn, leased the it to George Daley. Daley was a prominent rancher who intended to use the area for rearing livestock and growing grain. He eased the Rancho San Bernardo for many years, before purchasing it outright in the middle of World War II.

George Daley eventually passed away in 1957, leaving the 5,800-acre estate to his two nephews, Donald and Lawrence. Then, four years later, Donald and Lawrence formed a partnership with real estate developer Harry Summers and businessmen W.R. “Fritz” Hawn to construct a spectacular planned community upon the grounds of their uncle’s ranch. Together, they submitted blueprints to local officials through their joint company, “Rancho Bernardo, Inc.” Their plan envisioned the creation of countless beautiful homes supported by schools, community centers, and magnificent storefronts. At the center of town would reside its crown jewel—a brilliant boutique hotel that would epitomize the area’s grandeur. In 1962, the Daleys and their partners received permission to start building their planned town of Rancho Bernardo. Construction commenced right away and lasted the duration of the decade. Model homes soon appeared in the neighborhoods of Bernardo Greens, Bernardo Hills, and Seven Oaks. The first residents then followed, with some 1,300 people moving into the community in just the first year alone. The Rancho Bernardo Company also completed construction on its promised municipal buildings, as well as the Rancho Bernardo Inn by 1964. The new town of Rancho Bernardo was immensely popular among families living in the greater San Diego area, as thousands relocated to the settlement over the next several decades. By the 1980s, some 20,000 people called Rancho Bernardo home. Today, Rancho Bernardo continues to be one of southern California’s most vibrant places to live. It has also grown into an exciting holiday destination, thanks in large part to the prestigious Rancho Bernardo Inn.

Over the years, the Rancho Bernardo Inn has become famous for its amazing architectural features. Perhaps its most noteworthy characteristic are the 21 beautiful fountains that reside throughout the grounds. Many of the fountains have their own rituals, which guests can practice in hopes of improving both their mental and spiritual wellbeing. For instance, couples deeply in love may wish to toss a rose pedal into the fountain, “Dreams of Eternity,” while anxious guests can place a lavender stem into the “Tranquility Fountain.” But the inn’s greatest fountain is the gorgeous “La Fontana di Santiago.” Imported directly from Vicenza, Italy, it serves as the centerpiece for the inn’s celebrated Santiago Courtyard. Two magnificent figures of a Greco-Roman-inspired god and goddess are located on the fountain, with a beautiful shell resting on their volutes. Further below is the mask of a lion, which shoots a controlled jet of water from its mouth. Statues of fish also spout their own streams into a giant clamshell that overflows into a sprawling, classically inspired basin. The fountain itself promotes serenity and relaxation, while also anchoring the landscape of the surrounding gardens.

The Rancho Bernardo Inn itself features the brilliant architectural form known as “Mediterranean Revival.” Mediterranean Revival-style architecture itself is a gorgeous structural aesthetic. Initially popular among American architects at the height of the Roaring Twenties, the form would remain an attractive design theme for decades. While most Revivalist styles typically mimicked one or two earlier architectural forms, Mediterranean Revival style took its inspiration from several, including Italian Renaissance, Spanish Colonial, and French Beaux-Arts. The amalgamation of so many unique design principles into one singular form was born out of a desire to create exotic buildings that closely resembled the different kinds of historic palaces scattered throughout the Mediterranean basin. As the modern hospitality industry exploded in Florida and California in the 1920s and early 1930s, American architects—as well as the hoteliers who served as their clients—hoped that such an appearance would epitomize the tropical atmosphere of their respective states. Architects August Gieger and Addison Mizner were the two most prominent professionals to popularize the style in Florida, while the likes of Bertram Goodhue and Sumner Spaulding used it frequently in California. Mediterranean Revival-style typically relied on a regular, rectangular floorplan that featured grandiose, symmetrical façades. Stucco exterior walls and red-tile roofs were perhaps the greatest structural elements. American architects also incorporated wrought iron balconies into the overall design, as well as numerous keystones and arched windows with grilles.

Bob Hope, comedian and patron of the United Service Organization (USO). 

Bing Crosby, world-famous singer and actor known for his roles in Going My Way and The Bells of St. Mary’s.

Art Wall Jr., winner of 1 major golf championship—The Masters Tournament in 1956.

Sally Little, winner of 2 major golf championships, including the Women’s PGA Championship

Jimmy Connors, tennis player who won 8 majors and 17 Grand Prix Super Series titles, among many other records.

John McEnroe, tennis player who won 7 Grand Slam single titles and 9 Grand Slam doubles titles.

Björn Borg, tennis player who won 11 Grand Slam single titles and 16 Grand Prix Super Series titles.

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