History

The Little Temecula Rancho, purchased in 1844 by a Native American named Pablo Apis, was located on banks of the Temecula Creek and was centered at the crossroads of many trails which promised commercial trade.   



In the mid 1860’s an immigrant from Germany named Louis Wolf, noticed the profitable trading post and set up a store near Apis’ Rancho. Between 1868 and 1876, Louis Wolf purchased the Little Temecula Rancho piece by piece and Wolf’s store became the heart of the Temecula community, providing a saloon, livery stable, legal services, hotel, general store, stagecoach stop, post office, school and employment agency. In 1905 after his death, Wolf’s Temecula was purchased by Arizona cattle baron, Walter Vail, along with three other Ranchos totaling 87,500 acres.   The sprawling Vail Ranch spread from South of Highway 79 to South of Clinton Keith Road, East to Vail Lake Resort and West to Camp Pendleton, and continued operations through the late 1970’s when it sold for housing sub-divisions.   The remaining buildings that comprised the Vail Ranch Headquarters, several having been demolished, have sat mostly vacant since then awaiting their restoration and re-use.

Wolf Store


Built circa 1867, the Wolf Store Adobe is the oldest standing building in Temecula. In its many years, it has housed a saloon, livery stable, legal services, hotel, general store, a post office, school and employment agency.  

The Store was built and operated by Louis Wolf until his death in 1897. In 1905 it was sold to Walter Vail who used it for storage of livestock feed and seed.

On October 1, 1950 a brass plaque was added between the two front doors to commemorate the signing of a peace treaty in 1852 that was signed by the federal government and 29 American Native tribes.

Cookhouse


Built in stages from 1867 through approximately 1914, the “cookhouse” was used as the main residence of Louis Wolf and then as a cookhouse during the Vail Ranch era.  The building featured a kitchen, large pantry, and two walk-in refrigerator units. Two dining rooms were also in this building, one for the ranch hands and cowboys and one for the VIP’s.   The bunkhouse’s front porch entrance was for VIP’s and guests only, while the ranch hands used sinks outside to wash up and entered the dining room through a door in the back. There were also two bedrooms for the cook’s family and bookkeeper.

Bunkhouse

Built in approximately 1910, the bunkhouse provided housing for 24 cowboys and ranchers. The building had 12 two-man bedrooms, a sitting room with a wood stove on the west side, and a bathroom and laundry room on the east side.

Foreman’s House

Built in approximately 1910, the Foreman’s house was the primary residence for the Foreman and his family. The building featured four bedrooms and two bathrooms. Originally a portion of the building was adobe. The building has been moved from its original location.

Barn & Stables


Built in approximately 1910, the 4,800 square foot stable is one of many that housed the horses and mules used to power and transport men and non-motorized machines to work locations in the fields on the ranch. During the Vail Ranch era, a section of the red barn served as a ranch office. Employees would line up for their work assignments and to check out equipment or to get their paychecks.



The barn portion next to the office housed the blacksmith. The rest of the barn served as a machine shop and storage. In 1998, the barn was dismantled and moved to its current location.

Vail Ranch Today

Although the buildings are empty and most of the once famous Vail Ranch has been sold for new development, the red barn, bunkhouse, cookhouse, foreman’s house, and the Wolf Store adobe occupy a 4-acre site within the Redhawk Towne Center and are awaiting to one day be a part of the Temecula community once again.