Rancho del Cielo was the Reagan's small (688 acres) ranch near Santa Barbara.  The Reagans purchased the ranch in 1974, near the end of his second term as California Governor.  It was used frequently during the Reagan administration as a vacation home.  The ranch is very informal and has no central heating. The ranch was run by a very small staff keeping it in working order for President Reagan and his visits.

The President enjoyed working outdoors at the ranch whenever he visited.  A few cows, some dogs and horses roamed freely there.  The property also has a small lake where President and Mrs. Reagan canoed. The animals from the ranch and most of the Reagan family pets are buried at Rancho del Cielo. The ranch was sold in 1998 to the Young America's Foundation. In 2002 it was dedicated as a California State Landmark by the Native Sons of the Golden West.

horseback riding at ranch
President Reagan riding his horse "El Alamein" at Rancho Del Cielo. 07/02/1983. NAID: 75852911

Horses at the Rancho del Cielo

President Reagan stabled seven horses at the ranch during his presidency:
Quarter Horses: No Strings and Dormita
Peruvian Pasos: El Primero Teniente (First Lieutenant)
Arabians: Gwalianko, Catalina, El Saraff (Alfie), and El Alamein (El Alamiein was given to President Reagan prior to his inauguration by former Mexican President Lopez Portillo.  El Alamein was trained for dressage, a style of riding in which the rider signals the horse into complex maneuvers while barely moving his legs, hands and weight.)

Dogs at Rancho del Cielo

Golden Retriever: Victory
Irish Setter/Labrador mix: Millie
Husky: Taca
Bouvier des Flanders: Lucky (Originally kept at the White House until 1985)
The President's daughter, Patti Davis, also kept her dog, Free Bo, at Rancho del Cielo.

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President Reagan playing with his dog "Victory" outside of the Marine One helicopter at Rancho Del Cielo, California. 08/06/1981. NAID: 75854775

Trips of President Reagan to Rancho del Cielo, 1981-1988

1981

  • February 19-22
  • May 22-26
  • June 26-28
  • August 6-17
  • August 22-29
  • November 23-30
  • December 29
President Reagan signing the Economic Recovery Tax Act and Budget Bill on August 13, 1981 (No Audio)

1982

  • March 4 - 8
  • May 26-30
  • July 1-5
  • July 7-11
  • August 21-23
  • August 25-September 7
  • October 8-11
  • November 23-29
President Reagan and Nancy Reagan at Rancho Del Cielo on September 1, 1982. NAID: 68885735

1983

  • February 28 - March 3
  • March 31-April 3
  • May 6-9
  • June 30-July 5
  • August 15-21
  • August 26-September 2
  • November 23-27
President Ronald Reagan's Radio Address to the Nation on Independence Day from Rancho Del Cielo, Santa Barbara, California. NAID: 74627910

1984

  • February 7-12
  • April 19-22
  • July 28-August 12
  • November 7-11
  • November 17-25
President Reagan having Lunch with Archbishop Pio Laghi at Rancho Del Cielo on August 1, 1984. NAID: 75502488

1985

  • February 13-17
  • April 5-14
  • August 11-20
  • August 23-September 2
  • November 26-December 1
President Reagan meeting with George Bush at Rancho Del Cielo on August 14, 1985. NAID: 49043757

1986

  • February 12-15
  • March 27-April 6
  • June 25-June 30
  • August 16-August 26
  • August 29-September 7
  • November 1-3
  • November 26-30
President Reagan's Radio Address on Labor Day on August 30, 1986. NAID: 75502140

1987

  • April 11-20
  • August 13-25
  • August 29-September 6
  • November 24-29
President Reagan's Radio Address on Federal Role in Scientific Research on April 2, 1988. NAID: 81145482

1988

  • February 13-17
  • April 1-10
  • July 17-24
  • August 16-23
  • August 27-September 6
  • October 28-October 30
  • November 21-27
President Reagan Horseback Riding at Rancho Del Cielo on September 3, 1988. NAID: 117700541

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Rancho del Cielo Reference Material

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Reagan Ranch (Rancho del Cielo)

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Rancho del Cielo Videos

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From the National Archives at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum