Our Story

Bautista Creek Ranches is a family-run farm with deep roots and a long history of adapting, growing, and cultivating good things— both from the soil and within our community.

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Our story begins in 1930, when Ken’s grandfather, Gerald, purchased the property. At the time, the water table was high enough that he dug a well by hand! Gerald had been farming in Corona but decided to leave after the city installed its first traffic light— it was just too busy for his liking.

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In 1933, he planted our very first orchard of white grapefruit. In fact, one of those original trees is still standing and producing fruit to this day.

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Ken’s father, David Kelley, and his brother later expanded the orchards with pink grapefruit, laying the groundwork for what would become a lasting family legacy.

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In 1985, Bautista Creek Ranches was officially born when we launched our citrus tree nursery, which we proudly operated for the next thirty years. Ken returned to the ranch in 1991 to carry the tradition forward.

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In recent years, due to the spread of citrus disease in Southern California, we made the difficult decision to close the nursery. But as farmers do, we adapted— shifting our focus to growing a variety of fruits and vegetables, first selling at local farmers markets, then partnering with Stater Bros. Markets for a fruitful ten-year collaboration.

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Today, we’re entering another exciting chapter. With the launch of our new produce stand, we’re continuing to reinforce connecting with our local community and sharing what we grow in new ways— still guided by the same values: hard work, resilience, and a love for the land.

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Whether you’ve been with us from the beginning or just discovered us, we’re grateful you’re here!