Photo By: Michael Armijo
I Love Lucy star, Desi Arnaz, once owned this home on Citrus Ave. in Eastvale.

By K.P. Sander Eastvale – There is a beautiful home, nestled behind a forest of Mexican and California palm trees, located on Citrus Street in Eastvale. You’ve probably driven past it dozens of times without paying it much attention, or even knowing that the home once belonged to Desi Arnaz, of I Love Lucy fame. And until recently, the property at Granja Vista del Rio was well cared for, with horses and cattle grazing in lush green fields. The immense 365 acre property was once the home of Bert Altfillisch, a construction company owner and breeder and trainer of thoroughbred horses, who passed away in 2006. In 1984, he was hired to demolish and grade a property in Corona to make way for a factory, but there was a perfectly good Spanish-style home still standing. Due to the history surrounding this house, Altfillisch made arrangements to move the home across the Santa Ana Riverbed to his property in Eastvale. Bil VanLeeuwen, a neighbor of Altfillisch, can remember when the house first came to rest on the property. “It took a lot of work for Bert to restore it and bring it back to life”, he says. The house was refurbished to its former dignity and has been a handsome landmark for over 30 years. Desi Arnaz, perhaps better known as Ricky Ricardo, also dabbled in horse breeding back in the 1960s. After he and Lucille Ball divorced, Arnaz became the owner of the Corona Breeding Farm located near Lincoln Avenue and Rincon Street. There he designed and built a 4,400 square-foot dream home reminiscent of his Cuban childhood. The breeding business was dissolved and the farm sold about ten years later, but the beautiful home is still intact on the Altfillisch property at Granja Vista del Rio. On March 24, 2012, The Press Enterprise printed a great story about the property and the magical environment it provided for Desi Arnaz and his children back in the day. Desi Arnaz, Jr. was reported as saying, “It’s a great house. I had horses and go-karts. Back then we were the only people out there. It used to be all horses and cattle farms. It was fun”. Arnaz also said of his father, “He loved animals and he loved nature. One of the great things my father gave to me is an appreciation of nature. He’d look at a sunset and say, “God really outdid himself.” Bert Altfillisch’s son, Steve, who inherited the home, wanted the Desi Arnaz house to remain a part of Eastvale and Corona’s (and his father’s) history. The Press Enterprise article said, “It was my father’s wish to keep it intact. And that’s my wish. I want to do something special with it”. Steve envisioned making the home a wedding destination and meeting/event venue. Much of the surrounding property has already been sold off for development. Toward that end, Richard Welch, Director of Parks and Community Affairs for Jurupa Community Services District, states that JCSD is in the process of purchasing the home along with some land around it, including a completed trail to connect Riverwalk Park and Community Park. While the primary interest of the area is the need to continue the Eastvale Trail to the eastern city limits, JCSD is interested in discussing the possibility of protecting the site. The Desi House will be explored as a wedding destination/meeting venue, among other options. Planning meetings will be scheduled in the near future. Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball’s I Love Lucy is a charming part of Americana. Let’s hope a part of Mr. Arnaz is able to stay in the history of Eastvale.