(San Juan Capistrano, Calif.,) ~ Ensenada’s Horsepower Ranch, one of the most iconic adventure destinations in Baja, Mexico, has gotten another lease on life thanks to a Southern California-based investment group. Led by former Horsepower Ranch Founding Partner Todd Clement and construction entrepreneur Adrian Hoyle, the new partnership today announced the acquisition of the historic 100-acre facility.
In addition to Clement and Hoyle, the new Horsepower Ranch ownership group includes longtime off-road enthusiast Rodrigo Ampudia, Don Digby, Matt Taylor and Justin Hoyle.
“Purchasing and restructuring the ownership of Horsepower Ranch has been in the works for some time, and was very much needed,” stated Clement. “Our group felt strongly that keeping Horsepower Ranch not only alive, but in a position to thrive, was the right move from both a cultural and business perspective. The place has a special magic. We want to insure that legacy continues for generations to come.”
Located five miles east of the seaside city of Ensenada and two hours south of downtown San Diego, in the past decade Horsepower Ranch has evolved into the cultural epicenter of Baja’s ever-vibrant off-road and racing community. Tens of thousands of guests have enjoyed the hacienda-style ranch that includes 50 guest rooms, a heated pool, an authentic great room and the famous, vintage racing-themed “Carrera Cantina.” Home of the largest and most significant celebrations in off-road history, the ranch will continue to serve as a logistal and spiritual hub for all things off-road and adventure related well into the future.
Originally a private facility, in recent years Horsepower Ranch has been available for individual tourist and adventure groups, and has become popular with the local community as a special events destination for weddings, parties and quinceañeras.
Considered as somewhat remote a few years ago, the ranch is positioned within the region’s soon-to-be-completed “wine corridor” that includes nearby Guadalupe Valley that is exploding on the international vintner and culinary scene. A new highway will be completed within the next year that connects that destination to Baja’s Highway 3 near Horsepower Ranch. This will provide ranch guests a faster and more relaxing trip south of the border to the facility’s welcoming front gate.
The purchase of Horsepower Ranch represents but the first step in a far more ambitious plan to transform the property into a full-service destination resort for tourists and the all-important Baja off-road community. Not ready to disclose the entire set of development plans yet, the group has committed to completing a number of improvements before November’s world-famous SCORE Baja 1000.
“My expertise is in building large commercial projects, so this is a totally new adventure in the best sense,” concluded Adrian Hoyle, who founded Parkco Building Company located in Costa Mesa, California. “The future business opportunities in Baja are certainly exciting for our group, but our passion for the ranch’s history and continuing that legacy is our primary objective for now. Our challenge today is to initiate improvements without compromising the authentic Mexican experience that is Horsepower Ranch.”
THE STORY OF HORSEPOWER RANCH
The history of this amazing property goes back long before today’s modern off-road machines – back to a time when the Hollywood crowd of the 60’s and 70’s came to Baja to indulge in the allure of Mexico. The original name of Horsepower Ranch was “Rancho San Juanito” and it was built as an oasis resort. Americans and wealthy Mexicans spent their weekends lounging by the swimming pool, singing along with the piano player, and carousing in nearby Ensenada.
Throughout the 1980’s and 90’s, the ranch exchanged ownership before laying dormant; waiting for an opportunity to emerge with a new identity. Having been restored to its former glory, today Horsepower Ranch has its roots firmly planted within the racing community and also hosts weddings, parties, and other social events throughout the year. The pool and palapas are favorites during the summer months with an open-air bar and the sweet smell of mesquite.
In recent years Hollywood and racing celebrities have returned to Horsepower Ranch, a list that includes Paul Newman, Sandra Bullock, Patrick Dempsey, Jesse James, Chip Foose along with many professional Indycar and international sports car racers.