In a small valley just 19 kilometers (12 miles) inland from Avalon, El Rancho Escondido feels a world apart from the busy streets of the town. The Wrigley family started the ranch as a home for the island’s wild horses, and ended up breeding champion Arabian horses there. Today the land is devoted to a pet project begun here in TK by Geoff and Alison Rusack (Alison is a Wrigley family member): Rusack Vineyards, which produces chardonnay, pinot noir and zinfandel grapes by sustainable methods. (The Rusacks also operate a winery in Santa Barbara County.) A visit to the island’s interior is a great way to experience the special ecosystem that the Catalina Island Conservancy is working hard to protect.
