Underneath the old western facade's, wood boardwalk and country western style clothing stores the township of Santa Ynez has a rich California history.

In 1881 Bishop Francis Mora received congressional approval to sell the College Ranch, land grated to the Catholic Church from the Mexican Government. Lots were sold for the bargain basement price of $6-$15 per acre.  To entice settlers to live closer to town, the Bishop offered one free acre to those who purchased another for $15.  

The new settlement was originally to be named “Sagunto”, in honor of Bishop Mora’s birthplace in Spain, and a town bearing the name of Santa Inés (Saint Agnes) was to be built around Old Mission Santa Inés. Because this latter development did not materialize, the new town founded east of the Mission came to be called “Santa Ynez.” The settlers did not know Spanish, so they spelled “Inés” as “Ynez.”

A combined Santa Ynez grammar and high school was built in 1884 on the site of today’s College grammar school. The school also served as a public gathering place until a meeting center, Greer’s hall, was opened. The original school burned down in 1908. A new grammar school was erected at the same site and the high school relocated just below town. In 1937, the high school moved to its present site halfway between Solvang and Santa Ynez.

Based on the hope that the Southern Pacific Railroad would come through the Valley via the Gaviota Pass, the Santa Ynez Valley Land and Development Company anticipated a population boom in Santa Ynez. As part of its promotion to sell lots in and around the Santa Ynez Township, the Company built the landmark College Hotel in 1889. The large and imposing hotel was located at the site of the present day “Santa Ynez Feed and Mill.” Many well-known entertainers of the day such as W. C. Fields and Charles Chaplin appeared at the College Hotel, as did some of the old-time medicine shows. The hotel burned to the ground in 1935, bringing an era to an end.

Santa Ynez did boom for a time in the 1880’s with a number of businesses in operation, ranging from saloons (some insist there were 11 at one time) and blacksmith shops to general mercantile stores, a pharmacy, a feed store, millinery and barber shops, and real estate agents. But when the Southern Pacific made its fateful decision, the town dropped back into a peaceful existence rather than the urban center it was hoped to become.(1)

The original settlers of Santa Ynez may well still recognize their small sleepy western town.  Not much has changed in down town Santa Ynez since those days.  Sagunto street is still the main street of town, the old western buildings are still there and there is still an old saloon.  There are a few changes though, instead of horse and buggy you can see modern day electric cars cruising Sagunto, the wooden planked sidewalks have been changed to concrete and town now extends beyond Sagunto and is home to quite a few more people. Despite all these changes, Santa Ynez still remains a small, sleepy western town and a fantastic place to visit and live for those seeking a slower paced lifestyle, reminiscent of the old west.

(1)Information and old picture of Sagunto from The Santa Ynez Chamber website https://santaynezchamber.org/history-of-santa-ynez/. Please visit for more information about the township of Santa Ynez.