Landmark 16 km south of Casas Grandes
The abandoned estate of tycoon Luis Terrazas on the road to Mata Ortiz; revolutionaries regrouped here in 1911.
The Hacienda de San Diego is a grand, abandoned estate on the road from Casas Grandes to Mata Ortiz. It belonged to Luis Terrazas, the cattle baron who was the richest man in Chihuahua at the turn of the 20th century and whose family held vast lands across the state.
Terrazas had barely finished the house when the Mexican Revolution broke out and he fled. The buildings were never really lived in as intended, and they have been left without care for more than a century. Even so, they are surprisingly well preserved, and his initials can still be seen on the facade.
The hacienda also has a place in revolutionary history. In March 1911, after their defeat in the battle of Casas Grandes, revolutionary forces regrouped here, and the hacienda is remembered as the place where they named Francisco I. Madero provisional president. Today it is a quiet, slightly eerie stop among the fields, best combined with a visit to Mata Ortiz.
What to see and do
Look for Luis Terrazas's initials on the facade.
Walk around the outside of the main house and outbuildings.
Picture the revolutionaries regrouping here after the 1911 battle of Casas Grandes.
Stop on the way to or from the potters of Mata Ortiz.
Getting there
The hacienda stands beside the road from Casas Grandes to Mata Ortiz, roughly 15 to 20 kilometers south of Casas Grandes, about 20 minutes by car. There are no services or formal visiting hours; the buildings are neglected, so view them with care and do not climb on the walls.
16 km south of Casas Grandes
Directions from Casas Grandes on Google Maps
Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.
Plan your trip
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Weather mild
Hacienda de San Diego shares the climate of Casas Grandes, 16 km away. The best months to visit are Apr, May, Oct, Nov.
Make Casas Grandes your base
Hacienda de San Diego is an easy trip from Casas Grandes, a Pueblo Mágico with places to stay, food, and more to see.
More around Casas Grandes
-
Colonia Juárez
· Town · 15 km away
A green orchard town settled by Mormon pioneers in the 1880s, with brick homes and the bilingual Academia Juárez school. -
Mata Ortiz
· Town · 23 km away
The pottery village that revived Paquimé ceramics: hundreds of families paint fine pots by hand and sell them from their homes. -
Cueva de la Olla
· Archaeological site · 43 km away
Cliff dwellings in a canyon cave with a giant pot-shaped adobe granary, an INAH site in the Valle de las Cuevas; free entry.
Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.