Citrus Heights Sentinel Logo

One-acre Citrus Heights ranch with checkered past now pending sale

1-acre Citrus Heights ranch with checkered past was listed for sale and is now listed as pending
1-acre Citrus Heights ranch with checkered past was listed for sale and is now listed as pending // CH Sentinel

By Sara Beth Williams–
A nearly one-acre property where a recently shut-down horse vaulting club operated is now pending sale, according to real estate site Trulia. The large lot located on Cook Avenue near Mariposa Avenue was listed on April 29 for $599,000.

According to the listing, the property includes two homes, a spacious barn, and a mechanic’s shop. The main house is 1,933 square feet and features four bedrooms and two baths, while the second home on the property features two bedrooms and two baths and a private entrance.

The home hit the market just over two weeks ago, shortly after the Solorzano family was embroiled in a police investigation when Cruz Solorzano was arrested on March 7 on suspicion of sexual assault of a minor.

Darcie Stratton with Stratton and Taffy Real Estate told The Sentinel earlier in May that scheduled showings have been “through the roof” for a home that’s been on the market for such a short time. The home needs a new roof and updated flooring, Stratton acknowledged, also adding that there’s great potential in such a large property.

The Solorzano family previously operated a horse vaulting club and has trained multiple teams of youth in trick riding, silks aerial feats, horse vaulting, and dance, according to an interview with business owner Michelle Solorzano. The Nu Balance team of trick riders performed for CR Circle, Nu Balance, Olympius Dream Team, Imperial Crown, and T-N-B Trick Riders, which all at one point had Facebook pages. Only two of the five Facebook pages have shown any recent activity.

The Nu Balance Vaulting team, along with several other teams of trick riders and aerialists associated with the ranch, including the Olympius Dream Team, Turn N Burn Trick Riders, and Capital City Equestrian Aerialists, performed at the California State Fair’s Cavalcade of Horses in 2024. The California Exposition & State Fair recently announced at the end of March the suspension of live thoroughbred horse racing for the 2025 California State Fair.

According to a March 8 press release from the Citrus Heights Police Department, detectives served a search warrant at the same residence on Cook Avenue on Thursday, March 6, in relation to an allegation of a sexual assault incident involving an underage victim.

23-year-old Solorzano, a coach at the horse vaulting club, was arrested Friday, March 7, following the execution of the search warrant on March 6. Solorzano was released but faces several sexual assault charges.

The Citrus Heights Community Development Department and Code Enforcement confirmed in March via email that the horse vaulting academy did not have a current business license and has also not held any prior business license under other names used in the past, including C R Circle Ranch or Nu Balance Vaulting Club. Both have Facebook pages, but neither Facebook page lists any business contact information. The business was shut down on March 6 without any prior warnings, according to the city.

The business owner allegedly denied that the horse vaulting club was shut down in Facebook posts shared with The Sentinel.

The real estate listing for the Cook Avenue property does not list any sales history and shows that the home was built in 1949.