Starting in 1860 horrible floods wrecked the state and the Conejo. Following the continued floods, drought and disease parched and desiccated the land in the 1870’s. This was the death blow to the age of Spanish Rancho’s in the area.
Don de La Guerra had passed away before these calamities in 1858 and the affairs of his empire became mismanaged and the heirs incapable of facing the extremely difficult times ahead.
The unrelenting nature of the area forced the two Spanish families, Rodriguez and de La Guerra, to begin selling off all their interests in the sprawling rancho El Conejo.
How will beautiful Westlake Village ever get a chance to thrive in this brutal landscape?
PHOTO OF THE HOWARD RANCH IN THE 1880S. THE HOWARD RESIDENCE WAS NEAR WHERE TRIUNFO PARK IS TODAY IN WESTLAKE VILLAGE. (COURTESY OF CONEJO THROUGH THE LENS COLLECTION; THOUSAND OAKS LIBRARY SPECIAL COLLECTIONS.)