state park Archives - Aptos Community News

The Castro Adobe State Historic Park is located just outside of Aptos, in Larkin Valley. It’s one of the very oldest structures in Santa Cruz county, and one of only four adobe structures left standing within the county. It’s also one of the few remaining two-story adobe homes anywhere in California. The Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks is working with the State of California to open the site as a California Historic Park.

Although the Castro Adobe is located outside of the limits of Aptos proper, it is historically important to Aptos and the Pajaro Valley region. The Castro family was one of California’s earliest and most prominent Spanish families, having arrived with the Spanish explorer Anza in 1775. The Castro Adobe was built between 1848 and 1850.

The structure was badly damaged in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, and has been undergoing renovations ever since. A lot of progress has been made, but there’s much work to be done before the site can officially open as a California state park. It is presently open to the public only on special occasions, however it can be visited by schools on field trips and organized community groups by special arrangement. If you would like to arrange a special visit by your group, please contact the California State Park Interpreter: Joseph Carr Ritchie, 831-226-9669 or joseph.ritchie@parks.ca.gov