Hidden Lake Ranch property is 8.5 acres nestled along the mountainous west side of Del Dios (Escondido, San Diego County) overlooking picturesque Lake Hodges. The estate is only a short eighteen minute drive down the scenic Del Dios Highway to the beach.  

In 1922 an original homestead claim on 300 acres was filed by Louis Marquette RIchard (aka Mark). The following year Mr. Richard was described as having constructed a three room and "substantial" house.

In 1926, the Escondido Times-Advocate reported that an eight room house was under construction to be the "Spanish type" architecture that would have "numerous features proper to that style."  It is believed that this was an add-on to the original three room home.  

In the 1980s and 1990s, owner James Dunn added a three bedroom wing for his three daughters and added a guest house above the garage. He also replaced all the windows and doors due to dry rot. Mr. Dunn took great care to quality and detail to maintain the Historic nature and feel of the ranch. 

The original owner was Louis Marquette Richard, a well-known geologist and engineer who specialized in finding clay deposits primarily for manufacturing.   He was also involved in gold, silver, copper and other mineral ventures. He worked in Los Angeles for the famed tile production company, Gladding McBean (GMB), of which Stanford University’s original red roof tiles originate. GMD tiles from 1926 are still part of the house today.  

Mr. Richard went on to start La Luz pottery in New Mexico in the early 1930s. He reopened several gold and copper mines and was formally recognized for his efforts in developing ceramic explosives during WWll.   Richard also had an interest in water distribution, and was an acquaintance of “Colonel” Ed Fletcher.  During the ranch years, Richard, his wife Florence and son appeared in numerous society articles in SD and LA. 

Louis Marquette Richard Jr. (called Marquette and later used Marque) was their only son. He worked for Bing Crosby and was the first Turf Club manager for the Del Mar Racetrack. He had numerous social parties at Hidden Lake Ranch, which were well documented in the society pages. At the end of WWll he was the liaison for General MacArthur to the Japanese Royal family. In the early 1950s he opened the Japanese Cultural Center with support from the Japanese royal family. He was mentioned in many gossip and society columns.  As a well-known bachelor at society events, Marque escorted a number of movie stars and debutants. He escorted Hedda Hopper (actress and famous syndicated gossip columnist) to a number of parties. He is rumored to have had a relationship with Barbara Hutton (Woolworth heiress) and you can find dozens of newspaper accounts in the LM Richards Archive. You will find Marque having a conversation with Bob Hope and attending Jimmy Stewart’s Christmas party and so many more in the archive.

In February 1941, Florence and Louis M. Richard, formerly married, sold the ranch to  Clara Huntington,  the daughter of Henry Huntington of Huntington Library and Huntington Beach fame and the niece of Colin Huntington.  Several years later, Clara gifted the property to her daughter Jane Huntington Kuska, said to have been a wedding gift for Jane’s second marriage.  Clara Huntington’s visits and exchanges with her daughter Jane at the ranch are mentioned in SF society pages. You can view those articles and more in the Huntington/Kuska archive.  The (Jane Huntington) Kuskas were known art collectors and involved in the raising and breeding of show dogs at the highest levels. 

In 1946, Mr. and Mrs. Web Beebe owned the ranch then on 597 acres.   In the 1950s, they traded 300 acres and the house to Otto and Lilian Berk in exchange for several ocean front lots in Del Mar. The Beebes soon missed the Del Dios area and built another adobe on the 297 acres they still owned. This house is still there on the hill to the west of Hidden Lake Ranch 

In the late 1940s/50s, owner Otto Berk, a contractor from New York, and builder in Del Mar and Solana Beach subdivided and sold much of the original acreage He even sold a lot to Elizabeth Taylor the actress who had visited the ranch.   Over the years, he also developed the gardens on the remaining 8.5 acres into significant botanical assets of the ranch. Berk also raised thoroughbred horses and was a founding board member of the Olivenhain Water District.

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