POST Acquires 3,681-Acre Ranch In La Honda for $21 Million
February 5, 2002
Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) announced today that it has purchased Driscoll Ranch, one of the largest and most visible properties along the Skyline Ridge.
The vast, 3,681-acre ranch rises up dramatically just northwest of the town of La Honda, stretching roughly two miles across from east to west and three miles from north to south. The property features picturesque rolling hills, redwood forests, oak woodlands, and winding creeks.
POST agreed to acquire the ranch from the current owner, Rudy Driscoll, Jr., for $21 million over the next three years. It is one of the major properties that will be permanently protected as open space in POST's $200 million campaign, "Saving the Endangered Coast."
"Driscoll Ranch dominates the landscape in the La Honda area," said Audrey Rust, POST President. "This massive property represents a very significant acquisition for conservation purposes because of its scenic beauty, important wildlife habitat and abundant public recreation opportunities.
"Despite its obvious development potential, the property has been beautifully cared for and left undeveloped due to the family's commitment to being good stewards of the land. Their interest in maintaining the natural character of the land has made it possible for us to protect something very precious for future generations."
The 5 3/4-square mile Driscoll Ranch is visible from the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District's La Honda Open Space Preserve and the Djerassi Resident Artists Program property, which form its northern border, as well as from points along two and a half miles on Highway 84. The La Honda Elementary School sits at the property's southeastern entrance.
The late Rudy Driscoll, Sr., purchased the original, 1,638-acre ranch in 1968. In the mid-1990s, the Driscoll family acquired adjacent properties to the north and south, formerly known as Wool Ranch and Folger Ranch, to form the current property. The ranch was used for logging until the early 1900s, when wheat farming and grazing began. During the 1950s and '60s, the southwestern area of the property was used for oil drilling and exploration. Since 1980, the main activity on the property has been cattle grazing.
Under terms of the purchase agreement, Rudy Driscoll, Jr. will hold a lifetime right for grazing, pedestrian and equestrian activities on the land subject to a resource management plan. He will retain 300 acres consisting of an apple orchard, residence, ranch office and event center for equestrian performance events.
"In preserving this property, POST will maintain the historic uses of the land and protect vital natural resources, including abundant wildlife habitat, diverse vegetation and valuable watershed," Rust said. "Through trail connections with existing open lands, Driscoll Ranch will create wonderful opportunities for public recreation."
The property has two broad, grassy ridges lying on both sides of a steep-sided valley and large stands of second-growth redwoods, oak and buckeye. Near the center of the ranch, Ray's Peak affords scenic ocean views.
The ranch provides ideal habitat for mountain lions, as well as the endangered tiger salamander and San Francisco garter snake. Deer, bobcat, American badger, fox and coyote all have been identified on the property, and numerous raptors can be seen flying overhead, including golden eagles. With three creeks, eight ponds and more than 35 springs and wells, the property supports steelhead trout populations and is home to the Southwestern pond turtle and federally-threatened California red-legged frog.
The resource management plan for the ranch will protect the biodiversity of the property, maintain cattle grazing, and facilitate low-impact recreational activities such as hiking, biking, and equestrian use, Rust said.
"We're really pleased we have the opportunity to work with Rudy Driscoll to advance the concept of conservation grazing, which will continue a grazing operation on the property that is compatible with our resource preservation goals," she said.
Eventually POST hopes to transfer the property to the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District or another public agency, she said.
"We are working with the District to seek state funding to cover up to half of the cost of the land," Rust said. "That funding could come from Proposition 40. However, we're going to have to pay for Driscoll Ranch with private donations before any public funding takes place. If we succeed at a later date in obtaining public grants to cover some of the cost, our donor gifts will be available once again for other important land acquisition projects."
A leading private land trust dedicated to preserving the beauty and character of the Peninsula's natural resources, POST has been responsible for saving nearly 50,000 acres as permanent open space or parkland in San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties.
Windy Hill, the Phleger Estate, and the Djerassi Resident Artists Program property are among the organization's other successful projects in the Skyline area.