 1894 – Ferdinand
Keifhaber purchased 2,000 acre farm that was part
of an old Spanish land grant known as Rancho Santiago
de Santa Ana.- 1911 The Kiefhaber family sells
much of the land to C.C. Chapman, Dr. Randell, Mervin
Monnette and Frank Mead Sr.
- 1928 Frank Mead Jr. and Monnette
formed the Orange Park Acres Corporation to develop
640 acres of what is today called Orange Park Acres.
One acre of land could be purchased for less than
$1,000, or you could buy 8 acres of less desirable
land for $800.
- 1928 Frank
Mead Jr. and Monnette formed the Orange Park
Acres Corporation to develop 640 acres of what
is today called Orange Park Acres. One
acre of land could be purchased for less than
$1,000, or you could buy 8 acres of less desirable
land for $800.
- 1928 the land
company drilled wells and formed the Orange Park
Acres Mutual Water Company.
- The area saw little population
growth until after World War II, and was primarily
orange, lemon and avocado groves as well as egg ranching.
- 1953 the Orange
Park Property Owners Association was formed to meet
the threat of annexation into the City of Orange.
- 1960 the present
Orange Park Association group was formed. Approximately
150 families lived in the area
- 1972 Grovewood
was developed adding 35 more homes, and Deerfield
adding 80 homes.
- 1974 The Wilderness
gated community was developed with horse facilities
adding 100 more homes.
- 1975 Saddlehill
was developed into 36 one-acre equestrian home-sites.
- 1976 Was a big
development year with the addition of:
- Broadmoor developing 202 homes with equestrian
facilities and a lake
- Pheasant Run with horse facilities adding 48
more residences
- Ridgeline adding 38 one-acre equestrian sites
- 1978 Saw the development
of:
- Kennymead Merkel Development adding 24 equestrian
homes
- Orange Hill adding 83 homes
- Lazy Creek Development
- 1979 High Horse
Trails added 140 homes and an equestrian facility.
- 1983 Bob & Jeans
Café was torn down to make room for the
first commercial development in Orange Park Acres.
- 1984 The Orange
Canyon Center opened in the early part of the year.
- 1992 Saw
the last gated community built in Orange Park
Acres with the development of one-half acre lots
in the gated community The Reserve.
- Today you have to look long
and hard to find an empty lot in Orange Park
Acres, and that same acre you could have bought
for $1,000 in 1928 would cost $500,000 to $1,500,000,
depending on the view.
-
2003 Citizens in OPA along with others
in the county were successful in the preservation
of the 506-acre Barham Ranch parcel that
was slated for 600 homes. Barham
Ranch is now part of the regional park
system with great trails and wonderful
habitat for all to enjoy.
Today, Orange Park Acres has one
of the finest multi-purpose trail systems in the
state of California, which is used by residents and
visitors on a daily basis. Domestic animals
abound in our area, reflecting the heavy emphasis
on the rural lifestyle that is the community’s
most distinguishing feature and its most effective
unifying force. On any given day, you can see
equestrians, bicyclists, joggers, runners, walkers
with dogs, goats, a calf or even a lady with a duck
in a wagon enjoying the tranquil atmosphere of Orange
Park Acres.
We have a strong 4-H group in which
most of the young people in the community are engaged
in animal projects, homemaking, technical activities
and a computer group. These young people have
been successful competing at the Orange County Fair
as well as state and national competitions. They
also lend their expertise at our monthly horse shows
and gymkhanas and operate the food stand at the horse
shows/gymkhanas. These are very busy young
people who are extremely active in their community.
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