VIEWS
OF THE PAST
By John Hibble
A Brief Overview of the
History of Aptos
Official Opening of the Aptos
Bridge
Circa 1929
EARLY TIMES
Aptos was named by the American
Indians who lived here for thousands of years before Mission
Santa Cruz was completed by the Spanish in 1794. In 1833 the
government of Mexico granted Aptos Rancho to Rafael Castro.
The Rancho would eventually total almost 6,686 acres. Initially
Castro raised cattle for their hides, but after California
became a state in 1850, Castro leased his
land to Yankees for industrial developments.
A wharf, general store, and lumber mill were built. The original
town was located where Aptos Village Square is now. In 1853
a leather tannery was built, and the main building is now
the Apple Lane Bed & Breakfast Inn.
"The Palo Alto" Cement
Ship
APTOS-The Resort
After Spreckels' death, Seacliff
Park and Rio Del Mar Country Club were developed in the late
1920's. Rio Del Mar Country Club included a clubhouse, a grand
hotel on the bluffs, a beach club, a polo field, and a golf
course. The estuary was filled in, and Aptos tanker made of
cement and converted it into
an amusement pier with restaurants, swimming pool, and a dance
pavilion. Both Rio Del Mar and Seacliff were popular during
prohibition
as drinking and gambling were discretely available. These
amusements were interrupted by the great depression and World
War II.
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The stately Bayview Hotel has participated
in the life of Aptos since the turn of the century
Claus Spreckels
By 1872 Claus Spreckels, the sugar
millionaire, began buying the land from Castro. He built a
hotel near the beach. Spreckels Drive was the private entrance
road. He also built a summer mansion and ranch with a racetrack
for his horses. A large area was fenced and stocked with deer
for hunting, and that area became known as "The Deer
Park." Spreckels also helped finance the Santa Cruz Railroad
which opened in 1876.
The original steam engine "Jupiter" is now in the
Smithsonian. With the coming of the railroad, the town moved
to the other side of Aptos Creek. Spreckels brother-in-law
Claus Mangels built himself a mansion, and Rafael Castro's
son-in-law Joseph Arano built the Bayview Hotel. Both are
now Bed & Breakfast Inns.
The Old Cement Ship at Seacliff Beach
Circa 1921
THE LOGGING ERA
From 1880 to 1920 Redwood timber
harvesting became the major industry, and Aptos became a boom
town. The Loma Prieta Lumber Company logged all of what is
now Nisene Marks State Park. The Valencia Mill logged everything
to the east. Valencia Hall was the community center of this
mill town. Within 40 years the hills were bare, and apples
became the next industry. Village Fair Antiques is now located
in the old apple packing plant.
A
RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY
In the early 1960's Aptos
began a period of rapid development. Cabrillo College opened
in our strategic location halfway between Watsonville and
Santa Cruz. Rancho Del Mar Shopping Center and the Seascape
development soon followed...
and the rest is history!
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