Dellaganna Ranch: The End of an Era

By Camille DeVaul

Century-old family ranch sells to Moonstone Hotel properties

an Luis Obispo County is one of those areas where we have families who have been here for generations, dating back to the 1800s. The Dellaganna family is just one of those generational families, whose red barn seen from Highway 46 West stands out as a county landmark.

But the remaining members of the Dellaganna family are closing their chapter on the Central Coast and relocating east. "It was the hardest decision we've ever had to make in our lives," said Georgia Dellaganna Bollinger, the fifth of six siblings.

The property was sold to Moonstone Hotel Properties, which owns several historic hotel properties, including Cambria Pines Lodge, Sea Otter Inn in Cambria, and the Monterey Hotel. Georgia said the company has a great vision for the ranch, with plans to maintain the property's historical value.

The Dellaganna story begins with Alberico Dellaganna, who was born in 1873 in Switzerland. Around the turn of the 20th century, Alberico eventually made his voyage to the Central Coast and started mining before purchasing the 600 acres that would become the family home for generations.

In 1902, Alberico married another Swiss descendant, Josephine Carmine, who was born in Cayucos in 1881. After purchasing the ranch, they transitioned from mining to dairy farming — a popular occupancy for Swiss families on the Central Coast at the time. The family would take their cream by horse and wagon to Harmony, the creamery capital for the area at the time.

While Georgia isn't sure when her family got its first truck, her father continued the family dairy business, expanding into other agriculture enterprises.

Georgia's father, Theodore Ellis Dellaganna, was born in 1915 in the ranch's original home — then only a two- or three-room home. It wasn't until the home's renovation in 1935 that they had electricity and indoor toilets on the ranch.

World War II called two of Georgia's uncles to enlist, but her father was able to stay home and carry on the dairy business and expand the farm with more cattle, horses, and grain farming. Later on, he even served as a deputy county sheriff.

Each day was filled with hard work maintaining the farm, but Theodore always made some time for fun at local brandings and rodeos with his horse named Pat. It was at one of those functions that he met his eventual wife, Nancie Bragg, and the two married on August 4, 1948.

Theodore and Nancie would go on to raise their six children in the original ranch house: Nancie (Dellaganna) is a medical missionary who has been stationed in Bangladesh since 1977, Mary Dellaganna-Brunner now lives in Utah, Betty Dellaganna-Oxborrow married her high school sweetheart Roger, who was formerly the airport manager in Paso Robles, Theodore (Ted) Ellis Jr. took on the ranch responsibilities, Georgia Dellaganna-Bollinger married high school sweetheart Kurt, who also enjoyed farming on the ranch and working for Miller Drilling Company for 49 years, and Kathleen Thompson lives in Washington state with her family.

Growing up on the farm was about what you could expect. Georgia and her siblings rode horses after their chores were done. They had laying hens, cows, and were constantly canning. "It was the best life a child could have," said Georgia, "It was a wonderful childhood — I wouldn't have changed anything."

Theodore passed away in 1985 at the age of 69, and Nancie passed a few short years later in 1989 of what Georgia called a broken heart.

Georgia and her siblings continued to have family reunions at the ranch with children and grandchildren, spending summers there doing the same things they did as kids.

But now, the siblings have decided together that it is time to close their chapter at the Dellaganna Ranch. This summer, all six siblings came together at the ranch to say their goodbyes.

While the Dellagannas may not live or own the ranch anymore, the red barn will always be a reminder of the Dellaganna family and their mark made on San Luis Obispo County.

Ted Sr. and his wife Nancie Dellaganna ride horses at the ranch.