The land now occupied by Rancho Solano was once an open ranch area, devoted primarily to cattle grazing. Part of the Rancho Suisun Land Grant, passing from Mexico to the United States in 1850. The first American owner was Aline Pierce and her property was initially called the Pierce Ranch. The property then passed to Bill and Sally Smith and referred to as the Smith Ranch. In the mid-1980s planning and development of Rancho Solano began--a residential community of 1,200 homes, situated around a public golf course, surrounded by oak-laden hills. A primary feature of the area would be the Clubhouse and the attached sports club, featuring tennis courts, a swimming pool, and a variety of family-oriented sports activities. The area would be built in various neighborhood subdivisions, each with gate-controlled access. Land was also set aside for a public school, a residential retirement home, and a private children's day-care facility.
The first housing development to be built was Rancho Solano Unit 1, or today commonly referred to as the Westfield neighborhood; built by Miller-Sorg, Inc., it included 110 single-family homes. This first housing project was completed in 1987. This coincided with the incorporation of the homeowners' association [Rancho Solano Master Association].
Over the next two decades additional neighborhoods were built by various builders, including Sterling Homes, Standard-Pacific Homes, and Emerald Homes. The last subdivision to be completed was the Andalucía neighborhood in 2011; this area includes 217 single-family homes as well as a park for the enjoyment by the entire Rancho Solano community.
In addition to single-family homes, there are two unique neighborhoods in Rancho Solano with their own sub-associations: Vistara at Rancho Solano consists of 67 condominium townhouses; and, Tuscany Hills which consists of 26 attached single-family homes (duplexes). Tuscany Hills is classified as a 'senior community' where owners/residents must be 62 years of age or older. Tucked between some of the subdivisions in Rancho Solano are streets and areas that include custom-built homes.
Today, Rancho Solano is an active community, consisting of families, retirees, and many single adults. With proximity to Travis Air Force Base and David Grant Medical Center, many active duty, reservists, and retired military personnel make Rancho Solano their home. B. Gale Wilson K-8 School sits at the entrance to the community. The sports club is owned and managed by In-Shape Sports Clubs, and the 18-hole public golf course is owned by the City of Fairfield and maintained and managed by Touchstone Golf. The Association maintains an information kiosk at the entrance to Rancho Solano which aids in directing guests and monitoring entrance to and egress from the community. The 600+ acres of open land, ponds, and hills that surround Rancho Solano offer pleasant views for residents and guests alike.
