The Los Poblanos land was originally inhabited by Anasazi (Ancestral Pueblo Indians) in the 14th century. Around 1716, it was deeded to Elena Gallegos de Gurule as part of the Elena Gallegos land grant. Many of the original Mexican settlers in this area were thought to have come from the state of Puebla whose citizens are known as "Poblanos", thus the land's name.

Ambrosio and Juan Cristobal Armijo owned the 500-acre Los Poblanos Ranch through the 19th century, which was reassembled by Albert and Ruth Simms (see below) in the 1930s.

Upon returning to New Mexico in 1934, Albert and Ruth reunited much of the original land and hired famous architect John Gaw Meem, the "Father of Santa Fe Style," to design the remodel of the ranch house (now the Inn) and to design La Quinta. Holstein cattle were bred and grazed on the Ranch, the original site of the Creamland Dairies complex and various experimental crops were cultivated.