Neff Park

The inspiration

Neff Park preserves the headquarters of Windermere Ranch, the 19th-century spread that Andrew McNally, the Chicago printer and mapmaker behind Rand McNally, carved out of Rancho Los Coyotes in 1888^1,2 . In 1953 the Neff family sold most of the ranch but kept the 10 acres around their house, and that land became the city park you see today¹ . Three acres of the site, including its historic buildings, were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 .

Who's behind it

Bill Neff, a nature lover, stocked the property with ducks, chickens and geese and built ponds along La Mirada Creek for migrating birds³ . Today the City of La Mirada owns the park .

What to order

• George House: the caretaker's cottage from 1888, with a second-floor bay window and Eastlake detailing on its veranda .¹
• Neff Barn: displays an extensive collection of historic memorabilia and hosts meetings, day camps and special events .¹
• The grounds: a gazebo, basketball and tennis courts, horseshoe pits, a playground and picnic areas .⁴

Why you should try it

Guided tours of the estate, run by the La Mirada Historical Preservation Advisory Council, walk you through buildings that mark the founding of La Mirada itself^3,5 .