Last page update February 2002

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Authors:  Bob Jones & Todd Gatesh.  Site published with permission from Duane Meling

   On September 10, 2001, Todd & I landed here for the first time.  We were immediately picked up by Duane Meling, who drove us across the creek to the ranch.  The ranch had been closed for two years, but was reopened a year ago last June and is ready for business. Duane is trying to bring the rancho back to it's original condition, one step at a time, but really needs more clients. We told her that we would help by publishing this site. 

Contact Information: 
Duane Meling, Meling Ranch 
PO BOX 189003
PMB-129
Coronado, CA  92178-9003

Duane's Cell: 011-52-617-94106              Reservations:  Andrea 011-52-617 75897 Before 10:00AM & After 7:30PM

Click here to be connected to the Punta San Francisquito site.

           
We were treated to a fine breakfast of eggs, potatoes, apple sauce, tortillas, beans, coffee and more. The milk was fresh from the cow that morning. ( I am 51 years old and this was the first time that I had ever had milk straight from the cow!) There is a very large dining hall with a table about 15 feet long and many rooms. They have horses for rent now and hope to have the pool replastered and filled before too long. The ranch is in a beautiful setting!  I can imagine how beautiful it must be in the spring when the grass is green. 

Article by Todd Gatesh

On our return trip last week from Baja, I asked Bob Jones if he wouldn't
mind diverting the plane to a new location for a late breakfast after we
had left Bahia Tortugas. I've always wanted to see Meling Ranch or
"Rancho San Jose". It is a ten thousand acre ranch located in the
foothills of the Sierra San Pedro Martir mountain range (over 10
thousand feet high) in northern Baja. I was very much surprised to
find this oasis in the mountains. Meling Ranch is isolated in a
canyon and completely self sufficient.

We found a gem. After landing, we were picked up in a car for a ride
across a beautiful creek that runs through the central property. Rustic
and perfectly quiet, I found myself not wanting to leave. This place
is the ultimate hideout. We were told that we were the 8th plane to
arrive in the previous year and a half!

Bob and I ate breakfast consisting of fresh eggs right from the
chickens, fresh milk that was milked from the cow only hours before we
arrived and home made apple sauce made from the orchard of Rancho
Meling. They had just shot a deer and wanted to know if we wanted a
venison breakfast steak! The best part about Rancho Meling is the
solitude. The air is perfectly quiet except for the occasional
"whinney" from a horse or "cluck-cluck" from a chicken. The ambiance
is that of a horse ranch in the mountains of Arizona in the year 1905.

They have a generator and a well. However, each of the ranch's rooms
are heated by wood burning pot belly stoves. There is a huge fireplace
in the central dinning room that guests can relax in front of during the
winter months. They have a pool which they keep empty until guests
arrive. Then, they throw a fire hose into the creek and pump the water
into the pool for swimming! After a couple of days, they empty the pool
with the pump in order to water the grass! Saves money on chemicals;
none needed.

After the winter rains in February-April, the wild flowers come alive.
We were told that this is one of the best times to come. It is very
green at that time. The ranch has horses to rent for a whopping $5
per hour! If you want, you can hunt mountain lion, deer and quail.
Trust me, we are going back! 

Todd