Origins of the Ranch
Rancho La Puerta, founded by Edmond and Deborah Szekely in 1940, is the original destination fitness resort and spa. It has always been at this location, and always family-owned and operated.
Scroll to take the Rancho Origin Journey
Deborah Szekely at age 100: a life of multiple lifestyles and careers
Deborah Szekely and her late husband Edmond Szekely (1905-1979) started “the Ranch” as a “health camp,” and welcomed their first guests to the same location that Rancho La Puerta occupies today. Eighty-two years of operation have seen the once-primitive camp, set in a sweeping valley that flanks a mountain considered sacred by the Kumeyaay, evolve into a luxurious, but also unpretentious, resort. Rancho La Puerta today consistently wins “World’s Best” spa-category accolades from Travel+Leisure magazine and other top travel magazines.
Read Deborah Szekely at age 100
Origins of the Ranch, Part I
Rancho La Puerta, founded by Edmond and Deborah Szekely in 1940, is the original destination fitness resort and spa. It has always been at this location, and always family-owned and operated.
Early in the year 1934 two expeditions left Europe for the South Sea Islands.
After two weeks
of treatment I felt much better
than I had for many years.
Read Origins of the Ranch, Part II
Origins of the Ranch, Part III
The daytime was devoted to the physical part of the cure, while the evenings were set aside for the mental development and activity.
Read Origins of the Ranch, Part III
We were encouraged to solve problems as they arose; to analyze them, do what we could about them, and then put them out of our mind
Detailed attention was given to put the mind in good order.
Read Origins of the Ranch, Part IVWe experienced many unpleasant things when we were getting rid of our ailments, but these symptoms varied according to the nature of the disease we had.
Read Origins of the Ranch, Part V
Origins of the Ranch, Part XII
Because of war conditions in Europe, Szekely could not return to the continent, and lacking a visa to enter the United States (despite already being in the U.S!), could not settle there.
He knew that Tecate, Baja California, Mexico, had a wonderful climate with maximum sun and would be conducive to healthy living. He journeyed there on June 4, 1940.
Several interpretations have been
proposed for the word Kuchamaa
..."the ones that cure"
Read Origins of the Ranch, Part XIII
Origins of the Ranch, Part XIV
Kuchumaa is a sacred mountain where only shamans and their initiates were allowed.
Read Origins of the Ranch, Part XIV
The mountain played an important role in the acquisition of healing skills. Delfina Cuero, a Baja California Kumeyaay, relates a story about a relative who after becoming a healer traveled to Kuchumaa.
He spent five days there receiving his healing songs, probably through the dream experience.
Read Origins of the Ranch, Part XVOur commitment to Kuchumaa is to protect its symphony of life, its voice, its teachings, and its dreams...
Read Origins of the Ranch, Part XVI
Origins of the Ranch, Part XVII
Origins of the Ranch, Part XIX
Origins of the Ranch, Part XX
Origins of the Ranch, Part XXI
Origins of the Ranch, Part XXII
Origins of the Ranch, Part XXIII
Origins of the Ranch, Part XXV
Origins of the Ranch, Part XXVI
Origins of the Ranch, Part XXVII
Origins of the Ranch, Part XXIX
Origins of the Ranch, Part XXX
Origins of the Ranch, Part XXXI
Origins of the Ranch, Part XXXIII
One should understand that any illness is the result of past deviations from the law of nature.
From the day of arrival at Rancho La Puerta, one begins to replace these deviations by harmonious cooperation with the law.
Tecate is located high enough
to escape fog and humidity,
yet close enough to the ocean...
Read Origins of the Ranch, Part XXXIV
Origins of the Ranch, Part XXXV
“All of us involved with the creation of Kuchumaa Passage at Rancho La Puerta trust that those who pause at the threshold will choose to stay awhile...”
Read Origins of the Ranch, Part XXXV
More so than the natural setting, perhaps, is the effect of taking a week-long pause to reflect
Memories of friends, families, travels, tragedies, and triumphs bubble back to the surface. And so we write. We observe...
Read Origins of the Ranch, Part XXXVIWord about us spread. Health nuts knew about us. They came from New York City, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.
Read Origins of the Ranch, Part XXXVII
Origins of the Ranch, Part XXXVIII
Origins of the Ranch, Part XXXIX
Origins of the Ranch, Part XL
Origins of the Ranch, XLI
Origins of the Ranch, XLII
Origins of the Ranch, part XLIII
Origins of the Ranch Part XLIX
Origins of the Ranch Part L
Origins of The Ranch Part LI
Origins of the Ranch Part LII
Origins of the Ranch, Part LIII
