The Fountain House Hotel on the old Sykes Ranch

By Kenneth Lafler 

The old foundations of the Hotel and the old Lake area.

 The foundations of the Hotel 

Located on Jefferson Ave. and near the intersection of Cal Oaks is the Old Syke's Ranch. The Syke's Ranch was the center of the city of Murrieta. 

Along with being the local hotel establishment , the ranch was also the social center of the town. Several of the dams may still be seen in the more isolated parts of what remains of the ranch. At one time Grapes and Alfalfa were grown here.

The ranch is one of the most interesting  archaeological site's in the Murrieta area.

The old lake area

The entire area of the Ranch, The Hotel was off to the right and lake to the left of the shot.