About Jensen-Alvarado
Built by retired sea-captain Cornelius Jensen and his wife Mercedes Alvarado in the early 1870s, today this historic ranch preserves the rhythm of farm life from a time before even citrus was king. Now just 30-acres of what was once an expansive ranch, Riverside County has set aside an oasis of historic farmland in the ever-growing city of Jurupa Valley. Visitors to our site can wander through our orchards, feed our resident farm animals, or just walk through the historic ranch house.
Cornelius Jensen—a retired sea captain-turned businessman-turned rancher—moved to southern California to marry into the prominent Alvarado family. The Alvarados had lived in what is now California since the 1770s, and when Cornelius met friends of the family in Sacramento (where he was operating a store during the gold rush) he saw an opportunity to integrate into the local Californio, or Hispanic, society. Shortly after marrying Mercedes Alvarado in 1854, Cornelius became a prominent member of the community then known as La Placita de los Trujillos, or Agua Mansa just north of today’s Riverside. After a flood in the early 1860s washed the community away, Cornelius and his wife decided to move farther down river. After purchasing property from landowner Louis Rubidoux, Cornelius built the only non-adobe house in the area and moved his family to his new ranch in 1870.
For the next 100 years, members of the Jensen-Alvarado family farmed the land. In the late 1970s, Riverside County acquired the property from descendants and restored the decaying ranch buildings to their former glory. Today, visitors can tour the brick ranch house, outbuildings and large winery, which is now used as an interpretive center.
Location
4307 Briggs Street Jurupa Valley, CA 92509
(951) 369-6055 or (800) 234-PARK (7275)
Site Hours
General Hours
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.┃Daily |
By appointment only, please call 951-369-6055 in advance.
Activities ONLY
11 a.m. to 3 p.m.┃Daily
Site Fees
House and Museum Tour
$6 per adult
$3 per child (under 12 years of age)
Group Tours
Prices vary
By appointment only, please call 951-369-6055 in advance.
School Tours
$15 per student
Please note: plan your date in advance, we book the entire school year by October.
General Site Rules
RULES APPLICABLE TO DISTRICT REGIONAL PARKS
The following rules apply to all regional parks in Riverside County Regional Park and Open-Space
District. For rules specific to each park, please refer to the corresponding section for each park.
1. All local, state, and federal laws shall be enforced in all District Regional Parks. County of
Riverside Ordinance 328 shall be enforced in all District Regional Parks.
2. The posted speed limit shall be observed.
3. Vehicles must remain on park roads and/or designated parking spaces.
4. Child/youth is defined as age 12 and under, children under the age of 2 are granted free
entry into the parks.
5. All pet fees are per animal. Maximum three (3) dogs/horses total.
6. Service dogs are exempt from the pet fee and the maximum limit of three (3) dogs/horses.
7. Dogs must be controlled and on a leash at all times no longer than six (6) feet in length.
8. Never leave pets unattended. Pets must be kept inside RV or tent overnight.
9. Pet owners are responsible for cleaning up waste generated from their pet(s).
10. Hunting and use of firearms is prohibited in the park.
11. Never disturb or attempt to handle wildlife.
12. Fireworks are prohibited.
13. No off-road vehicles allowed. Street legal vehicles only.
14. Remote controlled flying objects, drones, bow and arrows/archery are not permitted unless
authorized in advance by Director or his/her Designee.
15. Do not remove or damage flowers, rocks, plants, animals, artifacts, and other park features.
16. No attaching, tying, nailing, or screwing of items to the trees. Tampering with these items is a
violation of County Ordinance 328.
17. Amplified music is not permitted unless authorized in advance by the District. Small radios are
permitted except during hours 10pm – 6am so long as the noise does not disturb the peace and
quiet of the campground or neighboring sites.
18. Know before you go! Guests are encouraged to check the website or call the park in advance of
their visit to see if there are temporary rules in place (i.e. campfire restrictions, water
conservation and water use restrictions due to statewide drought, etc.)
19. Notify Park Ranger immediately of any emergency, damage, or other problems arise
