Winnetka Ranch was founded in 1890 in San Diego's east county, by Louis & Clara Harvey. It is named "Winnetka" after the Chicago suburb in which Louis was born, before his family moved to California. Both houses were built with an adobe core, wooden additions being built as needed; the smaller house was originally built for the valley's schoolteacher. The ranch at one time encompassed some 1600 acres, with orchards, vinyards, cattle, swine, poultry, & gardens, but is now 81 acres used for horse boarding, poultry, sheep, and some fruit trees & gardens. In addition, it is available for a photo or film location site.