Rancho Los Alamitos Historic Ranch and Gardens — Local services in Long Beach

Exploring a Hidden Historic Gem: Rancho Los Alamitos

Took advantage of a quiet Friday afternoon to visit one of Long Beach’s lesser-known historic sites- Rancho Los Alamitos.

Tucked inside the gated Bixby Hill community right next to Cal State Long Beach, this spot feels worlds away from the city. At the entrance, just let the security guard know you’re visiting the Rancho, and you’ll receive a temporary parking pass. Parking inside is limited, but the area is calm and peaceful, making it a pleasant escape.

The visit begins at the Rancho Center, where friendly staff asked for an email sign-in and recommend watching a short introductory film. The film gives an overview of the land’s long and layered history, along with stories of the Bixby family who once lived here.

The history of Rancho Los Alamitos stretches across centuries: ▶️ Indigenous Era: Thousands of years ago, this area was home to Tongva villages. ▶️ Spanish Era (1784): The Spanish government granted this vast piece of land to Manuel Nieto - one of the largest land grants in Southern California, covering today’s Long Beach, Whittier, and Norwalk areas. ▶️ Mexican Era (1834): Rancho Los Alamitos was originally part of Rancho Los Cerritos, which spanned over 300,000 acres. Over time, as land was divided and reduced, only about 7.5 acres remain today. ▶️ American Era (after 1846): Following California’s statehood, the land changed ownership several times before the Bixby family turned it into a large-scale cattle ranch. ▶️ 20th Century (1968): The Bixby family eventually donated the property to the City of Long Beach, transforming it into a public historic site and museum. Today, the grounds include historic buildings, gardens, barns, and a preserved ranch area — a window into the region’s early ranching days.

After the film, visitors can explore an exhibit hall featuring a large floor map that shows the original Rancho land divisions, a fascinating visual of how the ranch system shaped Southern California’s development.

Walking through the grounds feels both serene and educational: • Rose Garden: Compact but beautifully maintained, filled with vibrant blooms. • Cactus Garden: Lush with succulents and tall cacti, evoking a true Southwestern vibe. • Barn Area: Currently closed to the public, but still interesting to view from outside.

We were lucky to meet a volunteer named Patti, who enthusiastically shared stories about the ranch and suggested joining a guided tour. Fortunately, staff member Nancy was available and kindly took us through the main ranch house, a space open only by reservation. Inside, the original adobe structure and the family’s living quarters are preserved (no photography allowed), offering an intimate look at early California ranch life. The contrast between the cozy indoor rooms and the open-air gardens outside is striking.

Overall, Rancho Los Alamitos beautifully weaves together Native, Spanish, Mexican, and American histories — all within a small but well-preserved space. It’s a tranquil destination that offers both reflection and discovery, perfect for anyone interested in history, architecture, or gardening.

Visiting Tips: • Open Wednesday–Sunday, 1 PM – 5 PM • Free admission — reservations recommended for the adobe house tour • No photography allowed inside the main house • Limited parking — arrive early or visit during quieter hours • There’s a small gift shop, and the site occasionally hosts special events including a charming Christmas display each winter 🎄 • You can easily pair this visit with CSULB’s Japanese Garden or a trip to Downtown Long Beach for a well-rounded half- or full-day itinerary.

📍 Rancho Los Alamitos Historic Ranch and Gardens 6400 E Bixby Hill Rd, Long...

I drove from Los Angeles for an event at Long Beach, and was looking for things to do around here. I’ve heard a lot about the ranch and wanted to give it a try. The experience was absolutely amazing, I wish I came with kids or friends. When I arrived, there was plenty of parking. When you enter the range, they give you a parking pass because the ranch is located on the university campus it seems and unauthorized parking is not permitted. When you enter through the Bixby gate you go straight then turn left and the entrance to the historic ranch is going to be on your right. There is a little museum and the gift shop where you can buy things or sign up for tour. They do walking tours pretty much every hour or as soon as they have a group. I was kind of on a time crunch and they didn’t have any other people to do a tour with. They were amazingly nice and offered to do the tour just for me! Stan was my guide, and he told me so much about the ranch, the history of it, all the owners, and especially the Bixby family who built up the historic ranch house and lived there through the 20th century. The tour took more than an hour he took me through the entire house, told me some stories And I can’t wait to be back. The Bixby family went all out for Christmas with a 18 feet tree that wouldn’t fit and had to be trimmed in a music room, they keep the spirit for the holidays to honor the traditions and I want to come back first week of December for that. The tour was free. The ranch has horses, chickens,...

😃Great place to spend the day. The tour is worth the wait, and the staff is very friendly. I was surprised something like this existed right in the middle of Long Beach. They have something for everyone. If you like history, you’ll be thrilled. If you like walking through beautiful gardens, they have several for you to spend the day walking through. They usually have horses although they weren’t there on the days I toured unfortunately. He house itself is quite interesting and beautiful, however you have to go in a tour with a group. No matter what you like I think you will have a great day if you tour this ranch. ⚠️Only one caution ⚠️ They have a volunteer named Barbara who is not mentally stable in my opinion. If by chance you come across her ask for someone else or just avoid direct contact !!!⚠️ They should consider turning her away as a volunteer before she hurts someone, or creates a huge problem for...