- About Us
The Rileys first moved to Oak Glen in 1978 when “Pa” Riley (Dennis) decided it was time to get his wife and 3 sons out of the city. They bought 12 acres from “Blackie” Wilshire, son of Oak Glen pioneer Joe Wilshire, who first settled in Oak Glen in 1871. Soon the Rileys were learning how to care for the several hundred ancient apple trees on the property as well as building a log home for the family. After a couple of years, the Rileys thought it would be great to open the orchard to the public and let folks experience orchard life, first hand. Soon, visitors were pouring into the small orchard by the hundreds and eager to participate in all that the Rileys planned, including old fashioned hoedown dances, pressing cider by hand, and picking several varieties of apples.- In 1987, the adjoining 200 + acres, also originally owned by the Wilshire family, were purchased by Ray and Bea Riley, Dennis’ parents, and soon Grandson Devon and his wife Shelli were operating the expanded Rileys venture on that property and renovating an 1887 apple packing shed for dinner dances, starting school tour programs and hosting several special events each year. During this time the Riley clan grew as the kids married and had children of their own. In 2002, Devon and Shelli decided to use their talents to develop their own property and thus began “Rileys Frontier Events.”
- History
Los Rios was first begun in 1906 when Howard L. Rivers, a grower, packer, and shipper from the Pasadena area purchased property from the Wilshires, over 300 acres, to expand his operation to include apples. He planted the largest apple orchards in all of Southern California, many of which are still in production today. Los Rios Ranch soon became known as the place to get truckloads of quality mile-high grown apples. Fruit from the ranch has been shipped locally and globally over the years. The operation expanded as the shift from wholesale packing/shipping to retailing took hold in the 1950’s. Soon a sales barn and bakery were built, picnic areas developed and cider operations enhanced to make the most of the growing numbers of visitors, eager for mountain fresh apples and the things made from them.- In 1995, The Wildlands Conservancy purchased the ranch from the descendents of the Rivers in an effort to save it from certain development and to retain the rich history and landscape for generations to come. They worked diligently to return some of the land to native habitat, develop and expand trails for visitors and begin an outdoor education program that focuses on the wildland and animal life unique to California and Oak Glen.
- In the Winter/Spring of 2004, The Wildlands Conservancy and Devon Riley began negotiations to join forces that would enable the Conservancy to focus its efforts on preservation, development of trails, and education while leasing the business operations and the bulk of the orchards to the Rileys to continue the tradition of apple growing and historic entertainment.
- FAQ
- This section is under construction. Please return soon.
- Map and Directions
From the San Bernardino Freeway (IS-10), exit at Live Oak Canyon/Oak Glen Rd. and go north 8 miles, through Oak Glen.- Contact Us
- 39611 Oak Glen Rd. #13, Oak Glen, California, 92399
- Office phone: (909) 797-1005
- FAX:(909) 797-2207
- E-mail:
- Links
Riley's Log Cabin Farm
http://www.rileysapplefarm.com
Hearthstone Log Homes & Timber Frame Homes
http://hearthstonehomes.com-
Holiday Inn Express, Beaumont - Oak Valley
http://www.hiexpress.com/beaumontca
Huck Finn's Jubilee
http://www.huckfinn.com
Oak Glen Apple Growers' Association
http://www.oakglen.net
Southwest Bluegrass Association
http://www.s-w-b-a.com
The Wildlands Conservancy
http://www.wildlandsconservancy.org
Wimberley Bluegrass Band
http://wimberleybluegrassband.googlepages.com/home-
Member
The Southern California Equestrian Directory
EDUCATORS' RESOURCES
The following sites may be helpful for additional apple ideas, lesson plans, recipes, games and puzzles:
The U.S. Apple Association Educational Materials
http://www.usapple.org/educators/applestore/index.cfm
New York State Apple Country Teacher Kits
www.nyapplecountry.com/teacherkits.htm
University of Illinois Apples and More – Apple Education (includes Spanish version)
http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/apples/intro.html
Apple Farming for Kids Video/DVD
www.farmkidvid.com/aplfrmkds.php
California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom
www.cfaitc.org
California Curriculum Guidelines for Agriculture Literacy Awareness
http://www.cfaitc.org/CCGALA/index.htm
The following sites are great resources for learning about pioneer life:
Autry Museum (they have great artifact boxes that you can rent!)
www.autrynationalcenter.org
Arabia Steamboat Museum (The largest collection of artifacts from the
1850s. These items were excavated from a steamboat that sank in 1856.)
www.1856.com
The National Archives online exhibits (The online exhibits change frequently – you may want to save the information for use in lesson plans)
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/
Westward Expansion
http://edtech.kennesaw.edu/web/westward.html
School in the 1800s
http://www.iptv.org/IowaPathways/myPath.cfm?ounid=ob_000254

© 2007 Rileys at Los Rios Rancho