About Us
About Us
Canadian-born Hiram Corey constructed the stunning Rancho Las Palmas for his family between 1889 and 1891, at a cost of $4,000. A prominent businessman and farmer, Mr. Corey sought elegance and refinement in every detail of his family’s home. While traveling through Europe in 1889, Mrs. Rose Frost Corey was inspired by the splendor of Château de Versailles and dreamed of bringing that same grace to the Salinas Valley. Upon their return, Hiram Corey commissioned his relative, Salinas architect Carlton Bassett, to design and build a magnificent Queen Anne–style mansion, blending European charm with Californian craftsmanship. Mrs. Corey adorned the home with fine antiques, ornate furnishings, and curated artwork, reflecting the timeless beauty of French design.
In 1918, two bags of gold coins exchanged hands when Joe Violini, a Swiss immigrant, purchased the Rancho Las Palmas Victorian estate along with the 1,600-acre Las Palmas Ranch. The Violini family operated the ranch as a self-sufficient dairy farm, raising livestock, curing their own meats, and cultivating fruits and grapes. Family traditions ran deep — Mrs. Violini baked fresh bread while her children joyfully crushed grapes from their vines with their bare feet.
By 1979, the property was sold to the Las Palmas Ranch Venture, which began plans to subdivide the estate for development. In 1988, ownership passed to the Las Palmas Property Development Company, which completed the community and temporarily used the Corey House as its sales office.
Today, more than a century later, this elegant Victorian estate — now known as Chateau Coralini — proudly stands as a beloved community landmark and the welcoming gateway to the River Road Wine Trail. The mansion remains a testament to Salinas Valley’s rich agricultural and architectural heritage, honoring both the Corey and Violini families who shaped its history.
Much of our historical research was sourced through the Corey Family Society, whose archives continue to preserve the legacy of Hiram Corey and the Rancho Las Palmas estate.
To learn more about the rich history of Rancho Las Palmas and the legacy of Hiram Corey, you may explore these external resources:
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