Over one hundred years ago in the Temecula Valley, Early Temecula the Vail family and their cattle ranch operation covered over 100,000 acres of grazing and farming land in this beautiful little town with perfect weather. The Butterfield Stagecoach had a stop through this town and even President Ronald Reagan owned property on the Santa Rosa Plateau at one time. Eventually the ranch was sold off for development in the mid 1960s; however, the unique combination of western history and location remained and made this sleepy little cow town into a destination for families, homeowners, horseman and travelers far and wide. Now known for its unique combination of history, antique shopping, famous wineries, horse ranches and trails, balloon festivals, casino, and golf courses, Temecula has grown from a population of around 200 to over 100,000 people.
Much has changed the landscape of Temecula. A six-lane highway cuts through the center of where cattle once roamed. The bunkhouse and ranch headquarters are still there but surrounded and lost behind Kohls and Wal-Mart. The mill and granite quarry are long gone. Where once open farm and grazing land dominated the landscape, now there is nothing but one row crop farm left which still operates on 165 acres. It is here, along with the farming operation, that Big Horse Feed and Mercantile has combined the charm of old fashioned service and rural lifestyle without sacrificing the demands of modern retail.