Rancho San Justo History: The San Justo Rancho was one of three rancheros attached to Mission San Juan Bautista. It covered 28,000 acres. After the Decree of Secularization in 1832, when Mission lands and cattle were confiscated by the Mexican government and the Padres exiled, Mexico gave Rancho San Gusto to General Jose Castro. Francisco Pacheco bought the Rancho from General Castro. In October 1855, Pacheco sold the Rancho to Flint, Bixby and Company. From 1869 to 1877 Flint, Bixby and Company operated the Coast Line Stage Company between San Jose and San Diego. For 40 years this ranch was the headquarters of the Company. After Llewellyn Bixby’s death in 1896, the Company was dissolved and the properties separated, the Flints retaining the lands to the north and the Bixby heirs in the south. Due to some bad investments the property dwindled to 2400 acres, which the Flints sold to Mme. Leila Butler-Hedges in 1922. Hedges lived at the ranch until 1941 and World War II. In 1947 the Franciscan Friars of California bought 73 acres of Rancho San Justo, including the large ranch house and cottages.

St. Francis Retreat Center History: 1947 marked the second coming of the Franciscans to San Juan Bautista. 150 years earlier, Franciscan Padres founded the Old Mission. This time they came to create a retreat house out of the beautiful and historic Rancho San Justo. The first retreat was conducted in February 1948. In the first 10 years two major additions were completed. St. Francis Court, the 16 unit motel wing, was built in 1952. The St. Paschal Chapel, the Fireside Lounge and 42 additional rooms were completed in 1957. Renovations to the Casita across the lake brought capacity to its present 130. St. Francis Retreat Center is the second of seven major retreat centers started by the Franciscans on the west coast. Serra Retreat in Malibu was begun in 1942. Groups that have consistently used St. Francis Retreat Center over the years include: Engaged Encounter, Marriage Encounter, Catholic and Protestant clergy, twelve-step groups, and many other religious, educations and nonprofit organizations.