Fortunately, the El Rancho was only slightly damaged in the 2008 earthquake that destroyed
all the other historic buildings in town. Built in 1949, it was a steel framed structure which is
probably what saved it. Sometime before the earthquake, some guy had in mind to "restore"
some of the old buildings in town. He was able to add the Porte-cochere structure to the hotel
and a phony sign to the Bulls Head bar before he died. A couple years ago there was talk of re-
opening the hotel but I don't know if it ever happened. I hope they remove the add-on.