Subdivision by the West Coast Land Company

The West Coast Land Company, founded in 1886 and managed by Chauney Hatch Phillips, acquired a number of Spanish Land Grant Ranchos in the Central California area, including the Rancho Santa Ysabel. The Land Company had the Rancho surveyed and subdivided into 143 smaller parcels (most ranging from 50 to 500 acres) to be sold as farm lots to individuals ready to settle in the area being opened up by the arrival of the railroad and the establishment of the town of Templeton. Templeton (originally called Crocker) itself was created by the West Coast Land Co. by subdividing two of their original Rancho Paso Robles lots (18 and 19) into 50 by 150 feet town lots.

The West Coast Land Company sales brochure from 1887 describes the County, Templeton and the Santa Ysabel Ranch in some detail, touts the area as “Heaven on Earth, anything will grow, plentiful water is available by digging only 10 – 40 feet deep, grow three crops per year.” The lots of the Rancho Santa Ysabel subdivision were sold at an average price of $25 per acre – one third cash; balance in 4 equal payments, at 2, 3, 4, and 5 years; interest 6 per cent per annum. A deposit of $25 was required to cover sale expenses.

The Rancho Santa Ysabel plot map, surveyed by E. E. Harris in 1886, is recorded in San Luis Obispo County Book A of Maps, page 29. The below reference depicts the southern half of that map, including lot 97, later to become the Spanish Lakes Development.

Chauncy Phillips, Manager of the West Coast Land Company, built the first residence (1887) in Templeton and lived there with his family for four years to show that it was indeed possible to raise a family in this remote territory. That residence is now the Country House Inn B&B at 91 Main Street.

The West Coast Land Company also opened up a sales office in the building that now houses a Beauty Salon on 321 Main Street. It is reported that land sales from this office exceeded $500,000 in the first 6 months of operation.