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Stow House
updated: Feb 12, 2011, 8:45 AM

By the dedicated staff

Take a trip back in time to the early settlement days of Goleta with a visit to Rancho La Patera, and as a bonus enjoy the adjacent South Coast Railroad Museum and Lake Los Carneros.

Tucked away in a suburban neighborhood off Los Carneros (Exit Hwy 101, go toward the mountains, the house, lake and museum will be on your right after a half-mile drive.), these attractions are among Goleta's best-known for visitors.

The Victorian-style Stow House on the property was built in 1872 by William Stow, attorney for the Southern Pacific Railroad, and it was the heart of a 1043-acre ranch, Rancho La Patera, that included much of present-day Goleta.

Today, the property is home to skyscraping trees and casual gardens around the preserved home, which hosts the very popular Old Time Fiddlers Convention each year.

Here are our top 5 reasons to visit.

Goleta: Not just mini-malls. Goleta gets a bit of a bad rap next to its glamorous next door neighbor, Santa Barbara. You won't hear many visitors exclaim: "I'm going to Goleta!" unless their child is graduating from UCSB or they're headed for the airport. But these three attractions add real depth to Goleta's image, with history, nature, and trains all wrapped into a super-accessible (and free) experience. A small donation is requested if you visit the Railroad Museum.

Cool old stuff. If early California ranching and farming is of interest to you, there is plenty to see on the Rancho La Patera property, which was a lemon growing operation. (Today, there are still hundreds of acres of lemons grown in the Goleta foothills.) Behind the house itself is the George and Dale Cavaletto History Center, a gated ranch yard filled with old trucks, tractors, harvesting machines, bathtubs, a windmill, and much more. The History Center is open to the public on weekends. Within Stow House itself, the Goleta Historical Society presents a regularly changing exhibit about the local past. This month it chronicles the shelling of the nearby Ellwood oil fields during World War II. Not to be missed, the John F. More ranch bell was supposedly how early Goletians set their clocks, as it was rung regularly each day to summon the Stow ranch hands to chow time.

Pass by to jaunt around the lake.Lake Los Carneros' trail system is popular with neighborhood hikers, walkers and joggers, and completely circles the small lake. Around the way you'll see many types of birds, maybe turtles, and other small animals. Bobcats have been spotted at the lake from time to time. Near the north end of the trail, you'll cross over an elevated wooden pathway above the lake. Reeds grow high there, but look carefully beneath you, and you might catch a glimpse of some wildlife. Allow at least one hour to casually stroll the entire route. The lake is a natural and historic preserve under the oversight of the city of Goleta.

Take a train trip. The Goleta Short Line, a pint-sized train that's a favorite with young kids, is the number one draw here. The South Coast Railroad Museum is open Fridays to Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m., and the last train ride departs at 3:45 p.m. sharp, so be sure to plan accordingly. Price is $1.50 for one ride and $2.50 for two. (Full details and info here). The nine-minute ride goes a half mile around the depot property. Afterwards, head into the museum to view the displays about California railroad history.

Glimpsing the past. Whether it's the real estate prices (The 1,042 ranch was purchased by Stow for just over $28,000 in 1871), a simpler way of life, or the ideal of working agriculture, there are plenty of reasons to admire what Rancho La Patera stands for. You can read more about the Stow family and how the ranch passed between its members) at the link. The Goleta Valley Historical Society, a volunteer organization, works hard to preserve these memories and a little piece of property associated with them. It's worth a visit to honor their efforts.