Since 1843, when the Alisal first became a cattle ranch, things haven’t changed much. Here, in the lush Santa Ynez Valley, a thousand head leisurely graze like they did 150 years ago. Tony Thompson grew up in the area and like Jake Copass, is a bonafide California cowboy. "California has been prime grazing land for hundreds of years," Tony points out, "Anything north of Ventura, that’s cow country."

Today, an abiding love of people, horses, and the land keeps folks like Tony and Jake at the Alisal. Jake’s been here for close to fifty years, and has made his living not only as a wrangler, but as a "cowboy poet" and movie star, playing bit parts in films and commercials. He recently appeared in the TV movie "Of Mice and Men" and has published a couple of books of humorous cowboy poetry.

(For trivia fans, Jake is the cousin of the country crooner "Cowboy" Copass, who lost his life with the legendary Patsy Cline in an early ‘60s plane crash.)

When he’s not hitting the trail with guests, you’ll find Jake taking in the scenery, reflecting on a lifestyle that despite the odds, continues to thrive in California.

In the mid-1940s, the Alisal became a high-end guest ranch. Bunkhouses were turned into comfortable bungalows, complete with wood-burning fireplaces. And since it’s fairly close to Los Angeles, this makes a good place for stargazing. In 1949, Clark Gable was married here, and Roy Rogers found the Alisal fit him to a tee.

Nowadays, folks come for golf, along with fly-fishing and boating on its 100-acre lake. There are games of horseshoes and, of course, plenty of roping and riding.

For small children, a petting zoo doubles as a "learning center" where kids gently interact with a wide range of farm animals and even gather eggs in the henhouse.

A stay at the Alisal includes a full breakfast and dinner, along with a chance to experience the old west, California-style. For information, call the Alisal in Solvang at (800) 4-ALISAL, or visit their website at www.alisal.com.

If you have questions or comments about this story, please E-mail Executive Producer Corita Gravitt at corita.gravitt@mailexcite.com.