Sunrise Farm

Highlighted Aerial Map of Sunrise Farm Area (1993) Hi-Res Aerial Photo of Sunrise Farm (2005)

Sunrise Farm is located on several acres with frontage at 2411 East 8th Street. The Chiles Mansion used to sit on the site until in burned down in 1972. Since that time the property has been left in its same state as a memorial to those that died in that fire, which were the wishes of the heir-owner, Mary Bado Simmons.

In the 1990's, Rodney Robinson began residing on the property as a caretaker and dutifully maintained the land in an undeveloped state, at the behest of its owner. He dubbed it Sunrise Farm, adding his touches of art and organization to the land. The large barn became an active stable for the horses of Davis residents, and corrals and pastures sprang up. The Davis Fire Crew used the property for over 10 years as an organizing point for their dispatches. Bohemian gatherings would happen on occasion, and sometimes leave behind a reveler or two as longer-term guests.

With the passing of Mrs. Simmons, who died in February 2006 at age 98, the property is now subject to the Simmons Estate Concept Plan.

Hidden by the frontage treeline, most people have no idea that the land extends past the visible vacant lot all the way to the Davis Cemetery, and to the back of houses on Regis Drive. A creek used to run through the property- it is somewhat filled in now, but the depression is apparent. The path of the creek can be clearly seen in the two pictures below:

Aerial Map of Sunrise Farm Area (1937) showing creek path GIS Map of Sunrise Farm Area showing creek path

Below are some snapshots of Sunrise Farm taken in November 2005:

Sunrise on the fence Front of the big barn Inside the barn Side of the barn with corrals Huge oak trees Small barn Another small barn Yet another small barn Two-story backhouse Fountain in the circle Old bus and other cars One of the outbuildings Mailbox on East 8th Street Cousin of Jagged Tree? A flag circle where Chiles Mansion once stood The original sidewalk around the house

Comments:

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2007-06-25 09:46:53   Cool things you find while browsing the wiki. I ride past this nearly every day on the way to Slide Hill Park and always see the Fire Crew trucks parked there, but never once thought there was more than the small vacant lot. Nice pics! —KevinChin

2007-09-04 16:34:59   I have fond memories of climbing under the fence between Simmons ranch and the Cemetery and exploring the creek and lands beyond....before Mace Ranch was built. As a kid it was our wilderness. I hope they don't plan another boring housing development here. I also enjoyed petting the horses that were stabled there when I would walk the dog or play games in the back area. —JamesSchwab

2007-09-05 15:09:37   It would be very bad if they destroyed the barn. Poltergeist bad. —KyleDoherty