What began as a windswept mesa north of San Diego became one of the region’s most iconic estates, thanks to the vision and perseverance of the Scripps family. In the 1890s, E.W. Scripps and his half-sister Ellen Browning Scripps transformed this overlooked patch of land into Miramar Ranch—a piece of paradise that reflected their values, ambitions, and global inspirations. Their early investments not only reshaped the landscape, but also laid the foundation for what would become the vibrant Scripps Ranch neighborhood, a lasting legacy that continues to bear their name.

Establishing Miramar: A Scripps Family Legacy Begins

In the early 1890s, a remote mesa north of San Diego caught the eye of E.W. Scripps, a Midwestern newspaper magnate looking for a place to restore his health and escape the pressures of his growing publishing empire. Initially dismissive of San Diego as a “busted, broken down boom town,” Scripps reconsidered when he encountered the open land east of La Jolla. The climate and landscape reminded him of North Africa, one of the few places where he had found relief from chronic illnesses.

In 1890, Scripps purchased 400 acres on the mesa for about $5,000. He reserved 30 acres for his personal residence and allocated the remainder to his half-sister and close confidante, Ellen Browning Scripps. Inspired by his travels and the land’s distant view of the Pacific Ocean, he named the estate “Miramar,” after the Miramare Castle in Trieste, Italy. Despite local skepticism—residents mocked the land as “stony, treeless, waterless, hopeless”—Scripps envisioned Miramar as a thriving estate where the Scripps family could live, work, and support one another in a self-sustaining compound. Over the following years, he expanded his holdings to over 2,100 acres, determined to prove the skeptics wrong.

Development of what would become Miramar Ranch began in earnest in 1891, when E.W.’s brother Fred Scripps arrived to assist with the work. Together they cleared brush, constructed small dams for irrigation, and laid the groundwork for what Scripps intended as both a family retreat and a self-sustaining compound. The heart of the property was a Miramar Ranch Estate, a sprawling mansion inspired by Mediterranean and North African villas. By 1898, the first wing of the house—an adobe east wing—was completed, and the estate began to take shape.

The final structure was a 47-room mansion with three wings forming a U-shaped courtyard, later closed in with a fourth wing. Its design featured turreted corners, arcaded walkways, and a central fountain—elements that recalled European castles and reflected the Scripps family’s international travels. Miramar Ranch Estate was a home that blended personal ambition with architectural grandeur.

The Enduring Footprint of the Scripps Family at Miramar Ranch

Miramar Ranch was more than a family residence; it functioned as a bustling, semi-autonomous community. At its peak, around 100 employees lived and worked on the ranch, tending to agriculture, construction, and household operations. The property boasted a bunkhouse, barns, an aviary, and extensive gardens. E.W. also helped build roads through the property and served on the county Highway Commission to improve access to the region.

One of the Scripps family’s most lasting legacies of the early ranch years at Miramar was the planting of eucalyptus groves. Hoping to harvest the wood for railroad ties, Scripps’ gardener Chauncey Jerabek oversaw the planting of hundreds of fast-growing trees. Although the timber proved unsuitable for rail use, the trees thrived, transforming the landscape. Some of these groves still stand today in the Scripps Ranch neighborhood.

Despite challenges with water access and failed agricultural experiments like a lemon orchard, the Scripps family’s early investment in Miramar laid the foundation for one of San Diego’s most iconic estates. What began as a bold experiment on a barren mesa would, in time, grow into a vibrant ranch—and eventually, a thriving community that still bears the Scripps name.

Sources:

• McClain, Steven. “The Scripps Family’s San Diego Experiment.” The Journal of San Diego History, vol. 56, no. 1, Winter/Spring 2010. San Diego History Center.
• Hidden San Diego. “Scripps Castle.” Hidden San Diego.
• Fine Homes and Living. “The History of Scripps Ranch – The Beginning.” Fine Homes and Living.
• United States Marine Corps, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. “Detailed History of Miramar.” Integrated Cultural Resources Management Plan, Appendix B. MCAS Miramar.
• Ohio University Libraries. “View of Miramar Ranch, San Diego, California.” Scripps Collection. Ohio University Libraries Digital Archives.