Celio Ranch Transports Visitors to a Bygone Era

It doesn’t take long to immerse yourself into the history of the Celio Ranch as you walk through the fields and old farm buildings. Spread over 100 acres at the base of Echo Summit near South Lake Tahoe, the Celio Ranch shows what it was like in years gone by.

If you can tune out the sound of an occasional car engine or airplane you can imagine what these early settlers found as they farmed and created a large family business 150 years ago.

The public is invited to experience the ranch and its history on August 25 as the Celio family opens up buildings and grounds for a Lake Tahoe Historical Society fundraiser in celebration of the ranch’s 150th anniversary. Tour farm buildings and listen to family members dressed in period costume as they unfold history at your feet. Enjoy a BBQ while sitting on hay bales with great views of Echo Summit and Mt. Tallac. Visit the ranch for the first time and hear what it was like to arrive in the Lake Valley area with very few belongings and build it into a huge operation with over 4000 acres of land and four branches of a family business: lumber, dairy, cattle and the town. (The Celios once owned the town of Meyers.)

Carlo Celio

Carlo Guiseppe Celio ended up in the Placerville with his brother after leaving his native Switzerland in search of gold. He took his earnings and bought a dairy farm in the area and then came into Lake Tahoe and homesteaded in Lake Valley in 1857. He and his wife Maria raised their 5 sons in both Lake Tahoe and Placerville. C. G. Celio and Sons were once the largest employer on the south shore of Lake Tahoe. They took their small beginning as a dairy farm and developed it into a very large business. Their four branches kept many busy as well honoring contracts to keep the roads plowed and running electricity to the area. The Celios were even responsible for laying the stone mile markers along Highway 50 from Placerville to South Lake Tahoe (two of these are still on display in South Lake Tahoe). The family would stay at the ranch from spring to fall, each journey with the dairy cattle and their belongings.

Dairy Farming

The Celio Dairy’s butter was very well known in California and beyond. Orders had to be placed a year in advance! The butter was in demand because of its great flavor and high protein attributed to the nutrients found in the grazing grasses of Lake and Hope Valleys.

Celio Ranch Today

Tom and Chris Celio are now living at the ranch, having taken over operations from cousin Shirley Taylor. Tom is retired from EL Dorado County and Chris is a retired high school teacher. If one spends any amount of time with this couple it will be easy to be excited about the region’s history and the important part the Celio Ranch played during the 1800s and 1900s. On a recent afternoon at their kitchen table, Chris shared her passion for history. “Tahoe has much to be proud of,” Chris said. “History is important and its not just about dates, its about relationships.” This is why she and Tom and the rest of the family are so excited to open up their home to the public this weekend.

150th Anniversary

In honor of Carlo’s arrival in the basin there will be 150th anniversary celebration on August 24 and 25 at the Celio Ranch on South Upper Truckee Road. There is a lot of history that can be learned from the Celio family. The family, including Shirley Taylor who lived at the ranch over the last 20 years and is responsible for the great condition it is in today, will all be on hand to share their experiencing and what life was like on the ranch. The celebration includes an old fashioned BBQ, a tour of the buildings with family members and a commemorative book which all comes with admission. On Saturday the tours will be from 10:30 am to 1 pm and 1:30 p m to 4 pm. On Sunday, the tours are from 10 am to 1 pm and 1:30 pm to 4 pm. Tickets are available at the Lake Tahoe Historical Museum at 3058 Lake Tahoe Blvd through Friday. The cost is $40 for the general public, $35 for Historical Society members. They are open for business from 11 am to 4 pm but will be closed Saturday and Sunday this week. (Some non-BBQ tickets may be available at the gate)

There will also be a Cowboy Church service open free of charge to the public on Sunday morning from 8:30 am to 9:30 am. Dress is casual for the service and bring your beach chairs.