Laguna Seca Ranch

Macedonio Vela settled here in 1867 and soon transformed over 4,000 acres of wild brush land into prosperous Laguna Seca (Dry Lake) Ranch. In 1871, his daughter, Carlota, grew the first orange trees in Hidalgo County from the seeds of a fruit given her by a traveling priest. This is now an important citrus-producing area. The ranch had grown to 80,000 acres when a school was built here in 1892. Delfina post office, named for another one of Vela's daughters, was opened in 1893 and a Catholic church in 1894. Laguna Seca Ranch is still owned by the Vela family. (1975)

Laguna Seca Ranch is a historical marker in Linn, Hidalgo County, dedicated in 1975. It is one of 138 historical markers documented in Hidalgo County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 236 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 26.4904, -98.1930 near Linn. The nearest cataloged historic site is Laguna Seca (cemetery), about 0.2 miles away. Others within a short drive include El Desierto Ranch, Nino Jesus De Praga, and Null Ranch.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5215003010. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.