A Blend of History, Panorama

Historic George Key Ranch in Placentia helped put the orange in Orange County and is one of the few places where O.J. still mainly stands for orange juice. Nearby in Fullerton, you can enjoy the area’s native plants and a panoramic view. It all happens along Bastanchury Road.

11:30 to 11:45 a.m.: Vista Park is billed as the first California native-plant landscape park. Start at the bottom of the hill. That way you won’t miss the flowers at the base of the switchback ramp; they’re sort of like sunflowers, only with yellow middles and six large, white, wrinkly, crinkly petals--they’re matilija poppies. Hundreds of pink Mexican evening primrose blanket other spots.

On the slope, the park is kept very natural, complete with weeds. Mosey on up past various manzanitas, chaparral broom and dwarf coyote brush, and some working Union Oil derricks, till the aromas from the Summit House kitchen mingle with those of the native plants.

At the summit are beautiful lawns, non-native plants, a 270-degree panorama and the restaurant.

11:45 to 12:45: Inside the Tudor-style Summit House hang oil paintings and tapestries depicting pastoral and hunt scenes, and tapestry-like patterns everywhere else.

If you sit by a picture window, you can feast on that panorama while you eat.

Among specialties are Maryland crab cakes in three-mustard sauce ($11.95) and roasted prime ribs of beef in three cuts: English ($12.95), cottage ($14.95) and summit ($16.95).

Sandwiches ($8.95) include the “Californian” with turkey breast and avocado, and roast sirloin “dip” with English Cheddar. A “Combo” ($9.50) gets you a bowl of cabbage, leek and potato soup with Stilton cheese, choice of one of four salads, and some great bread.

12:45 to 2:30: George Key Ranch is still a working citrus ranch, though less than two planted acres remain of the original 12. The ranch home dates to 1898; three of the 135 Valencia trees still producing were planted in 1893.

George Benn Key first came to the area as superintendent of the Semi-Tropical Fruit Co., replacing his brother-in-law, Richard Gillman (visitors now park on Gillman Circle).

Although Malta Bloods, St. Michaels and Mediterranean Sweets were initially grown in Orange County, the Key Ranch gradually helped shift orange production to Valencias.

Growing oranges was apparently no picnic. Pests included cottony-cushion scale. Early control measures included fumigation with cyanide gas, but ladybugs proved a gentler measure.

Key’s son, George G. Key, who died in 1989, turned the property into a place people could visit. Tours meet at the driveway entrance. I tagged along with a Brownie troupe.

Inside the house, the guide asked the girls, “What do you have in your house that you don’t see in this room?”

“TV?” one asked.

“Right, no TV. No radio, no stereo, no CDs, no video games.”

“Umm, how did they live like that?” she asked in wonderment.

Farm implements on display include the two-horse disc cultivator and the spring tooth harrow--and in case you’re wondering what that is, the vintage Sears, Roebuck & Co. ad reprinted in the ranch brochure says, “These harrows are too well-known to need description.”

In the tiny museum and gift shop are displays of sizing rings, tree bark scrapers and orange crate labels, some (among them Miracle, Queen Esther and King David) with a biblical bent. Our guide traced the development from the original smoke-belching, frost-fighting smudge pots to smokeless pots. In Key’s workshop are World Almanacs starting at 1919, a squirrel and gopher smoker, and a bear trap.

The verse garden, begun by George the younger, is now a collection of specimen trees incorporating placards of his poetry, which in most cases are more like proverbs. Examples: “There is no end to a circle, or a true friendship” and “There must be a dark night before there can be a sunrise.”

Botany isn’t the focus here. “What kind of flowers are those?” I asked Ranger Mike Miniaci. “Oh, those--those are the pink ones!” he answered with a chuckle.

Ivy in the shape of a heart provides a backdrop for weddings.

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3-HOUR TOUR

1. Vista Park

Corner of Bastanchury Road and State College Boulevard

Fullerton

(714) 738-6575

No posted hours.

*

2. Summit House

2000 E. Bastanchury Road

Fullerton

(714) 671-4111

Open for lunch Tuesday through Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and for dinner nightly from 5 p.m.

*

3. George Key Ranch Park

625 W. Bastanchury Road

Placentia

(714) 528-4260

Group tours by appointment. Adult tours usually Friday at 1 p.m.; call to get on waiting list.