POST Acquires 340-Acre Lobitos Ridge, Critical Piece of Future Skyline-to-Sea Trail
April 12, 2004
Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) has acquired 340 acres of picturesque ridge land south of Half Moon Bay that one day may help create an unbroken network of trails from the redwoods to the ocean shore.
The property, known as Lobitos Ridge, lies between Purisima and Lobitos creeks in a scenic canyon four miles southeast of the city of Half Moon Bay. It was purchased from private owners for $3 million.
"We're really thrilled that we were able to protect this piece of land," said POST President Audrey Rust. "It is such a picturesque valley, and the views from the ridgeline are stunning and inspirational.
"Strategically, this is an important acquisition for POST. Lobitos Ridge is a keystone of the scenic corridor that runs from the Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve down to Purisima Farms and South Cowell Ranch at the Pacific Ocean. We view this as our best opportunity to create a Skyline-to-sea trail in San Mateo County."
The Lobitos Ridge property, characterized by pastoral green meadows with some isolated eucalyptus groves, has been used primarily for dairy and cattle grazing since the 1800s. The flatland near Purisima Creek contains prime agricultural land. The Lobitos Creek watershed provides important steelhead habitat and spawning areas.
The land was sold to POST by Clyde Beffa, Jr., his sister, Chris Glynn, and his mother's Lydia Beffa Trust. The transaction closed today.
The Beffa family's ownership of Lobitos Ridge dates back to 1952, when Clyde's grandfather, Charlie, purchased the ranch to raise stock for his growing dairy farming business.
Charlie Beffa passed the ranch onto his son, Clyde, Sr., who raised beef cattle and farmed hay and artichokes on the property until he died in 2000. In recent years, the Beffas have leased portions of the property to tenants for cattle grazing and flower farming, activities that will continue under POST's ownership.
"We didn't want to see the land developed," Clyde Beffa, Jr. said. "We could have made a lot more money if we'd developed it, but we want it to stay the way it is. It's such a beautiful ranch, and we knew POST would take good care of it."
"Working with the Beffa family has been a great experience," Rust said. "They're caring people, both about the land and the people with whom they've worked over the years. Thanks to their interest in preserving the natural character of the property, we were able to purchase and protect something invaluable for future generations to enjoy."
Eventually POST hopes to transfer the property to the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District or another public agency.
"Once this land has been transferred to public ownership, you'll be able to take a long walk along the ridgeline, enjoying spectacular views all the way down to the coast," she said.