How it got its name...

Juan Fustero is one of Piru’s most renowned Indigenous figures, born in 1841 on the Temescal Ranch near the mouth of Piru Canyon. A member of the Piru Indian Tribe—originally known as the Pi’idhuku, named after the reed they used for basket weaving—Fustero’s people were known for their temescals, or sweat houses, which attracted coastal Indigenous communities seeking their reputed healing properties. In 1885, Juan Jose Fustero was granted a U.S. land patent for his homestead in Piru Canyon, a significant achievement that enabled him to apply for U.S. citizenship and secure his right to vote, marking an important moment in the history of Indigenous rights in the region.