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Down the road from
Las Ventanas is the quaint, historic village
of Arroyo Grande. Overflowing with local heritage
and artful charm, it is committed to preservation
and tradition.
Branch Street, named after Francis Ziba Branch,
an Arroyo Grande Valley pioneer, is a throwback
to the 1890s, filled with historic architecture,
antique shops and wooden facades. Locals congregate
at the Farmers Market on Saturday mornings,
buying fresh vegetables, fruit and flowers
while enjoying the music and creations of local
artists. In the fall Arroyo Grande hosts its
annual Harvest Festival, one of the city’s
most widely anticipated events.
Numerous historic sites designate Arroyo Grande
as a history buff’s mecca. The Paulding
House (1889), home of the city’s first
resident medical doctor was occupied by his
daughter until 1985; the Swinging Bridge (1875),
originally built from rope, provided access
to land that was divided by the Arroyo Grande
Creek; the Santa Manuela Schoolhouse (1901)
is the county’s last remaining one room
school. El Rincon Adobe (1863) was built by
the Branch family and was the home of Ramon
Branch, his wife and twelve children for decades.
This beautiful landmark became Talley Vineyards’ first
tasting room in 1988 and now serves as the
Las Ventanas sales office. |
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