Description:

SALE PENDING..Seldom does the "Best of the Best" come on the market. This is it...one of the best of the original Squaw Valley ranches. It truly is one of the finest pieces of foothill ranchland in all of California. A rare blend of great terrain, excellent water, and outstanding hunting, this ranch has something to offer everyone. Located at an ideal 2,400 foot elevation, the property enjoys 25-30 inch seasonal rainfalls that produce excellent range grasses. The land is a great combination of broad, open, and nearly level flats with some beautiful hidden valley areas surrounded by tree-covered ridges. It is home to the actual "Ruth Hill" and is a large portion of the orignial Piercy Ranch. The old ranch house, circa 1930, still stands next to the old barn and corrals. Truly a step back to times past when the pace of life was a whole lot slower.

Read on and you will learn what a unique purchase opportunity this is.

The ranch is located in Squaw Valley about 30 miles east of Fresno. It is the ideal location...200 miles from Los Angeles and 200 miles from the Bay Area with an international airport in Fresno and a private airport in Reedley (20 miles from the ranch). The main access into Squaw Valley, and Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks, is Highway 180. Freeway 180 is currently being extended east of Fresno which will significantly increase access to the area. Even with its proximity to Fresno, Squaw Valley remains one of the last unspoiled areas in California. One of the state's earliest cattle ranching regions, this is still a very rural area little touched by commercialization yet it is very accessible to the "big city". It is one of the most picturesque places you will ever see and it is a place where time slows down a little. There are no gangs, no graffiti, and no traffic signals. The only real traffic problem will come when someone is moving their cattle. This is an area that enjoys four real seasons and they are all beautiful. We are above the fog line and below the snowline...the perfect elevation. We do get occasional winter snows but it is usually gone in a day or so. Being above the fog line means our winter days are really nice...oftentimes it's sunny shirtsleeve temps here when it's a damp and chilly 40 degrees down in the valley fog. Like even bigger outdoors? We are only a few, short miles from Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks.

The ranch consists of four contiguous parcels ranging in size from 154 acres to 424 acres, all in the Williamson Act which provides a great tax benefit.

(Actually there is a 5th parcel of 3.76 acres that is not contiguous to the ranch. This parcel abuts a series of 7 old mining claims surrounded by government land. The history of this parcel has been lost in time. It is landlocked and in very steep terrain. Locating it would be difficult at best, if not darn near impossible. Our best guess is that it did have some relationship to the old mining claims. At any rate, it goes with the deal.)

Ruth Hill Road, originally called Squaw Valley Road, travels through the ranch and the ranch has over 1.5 miles of road frontage on the north side and a little over a half of a mile of road frontage on the south side.

The largest of the parcels, the 424 acres, has the best terrain and the old ranch headquarters is located on it. The actual hill named Ruth Hill is on this parcel. The parcel also has a large pond of about 6 acres when full. At present (late summer), it is about 4 acres. If you like fishing, you're gonna love this pond. If you always wanted your own swimming hole, you can build a raft and play Huck Finn. We have a pond on our ranch and some of my fondest childhood memories are of fishing and swimming off our raft. Now I get to watch my grandchildren enjoy doing the same. The last 8 pictures are a panoramic view taken from the pond and shows most of the 424 acres except for Ruth Hill. The road winding around Ruth Hill is part of the original wagon trail up to the mountains and travelers knew that once they got past it, they would hit the broad flats of the Piercy Ranch where they could water the horses. As you can see from the pics, this is mostly wide open land with nearly level terrain. How good of terrain are we talking? There is an airstrip of over 1/2 mile in length in the center of the 424 acres that was professionally built by a general engineering contractor. While construction was finished, a Conditional Use Permit for the airstrip was never completed to allow for its operation. Now a bit overgrown, you can still see the airstrip from aerial photos. Just imagine this area as the centerpiece of your new cattle ranch or thoroghbred horse farm with a new ranch home by the lake. Absolutely sensational land...this truly is the "Best of the Best". Most of this parcel is located on the south side of Ruth Hill Road.

The other three major parcels are all located on the north side of Ruth Hill Road. The terrain of these properties is more traditional foothill with a combination of open valley flats, hillsides, and several ridgetops. This area is much more tree covered. It is excellent rangeland and it has some truly outstanding hunting. It retains the primitive aura of the 1800's when this area was settled. Here you will find the ultimate in seclusion and privacy. It feels like you have stepped into the past... not a single sign of settlement as far as you can see. This is just you and the land... nature at her very best.

Let's talk about the animals. The ranch is home to a multitude of California Blacktail deer, wild turkey, and wild boar. It also abounds with quail and dove. The best hunting areas are on these north side parcels. This area is exceedingly private and is bounded by other large ranch parcels. It's an area where animals have never been pressured by humanity. Some of the largest Blacktail deer ever taken in California have come from this ranch. Of course, there's a whole bunch of other wildlife, too. Critters like red and grey fox, bobcats, raccoons, possums, weasels, many species of hawks, golden and bald eagles, road runners, and, on very rare occasions, bear and mountain lion. And, even more rarely, the badger. Now there's a "look but don't touch" critter.

With a $3,000,000 price tag, this isn't for everyone. But, then, this isn't your every day piece of land... it's that once in a lifetime opportunity for the person with the dream, and money, of owning something very special. It's the type of property that you can be proud to hand off to generations to come. Too dramatic a statement? Once you see it, you will understand. If anything, it's an understatement. It is a property where you can have both a showcase operation and native untouched lands, complete with privacy, great hunting, and natural beauty. Speaking of beauty, all of the pictures were taken in early September. You are seeing summer in Squaw Valley and it is gorgeous. But, it gets even better. Soon the winter rains will come and the transformation of golden brown to green begins. From November to June, the land turns a rich and vibrant green and spring will bring hillsides full of wildflowers. Find that in the smog filled, people choked cities.

As always we tell you about any negatives. The old ranch home is in a significant state of disrepair. It has not been lived in for many years. But, it definitely is repairable and it is in a beautiful setting. The outbuildings, barns, and corrals are old but functional and they definitely serve to transport you into the past. As I previously said, the road into the property from Hwy 180, Ruth Hill, is one of the original wagon roads into the mountains. It's about 6 miles in from the highway and the last 2 miles are a climb. Climbing wagon roads weren't straight and Ruth Hill is no exception. It is paved and very travelable (the school buses use it) but it isn't straight and you won't be speeding on it. That's it for negatives.

I have endeavored to paint a picture of a singularly exceptional and unique property. Fortuneately, I had a great canvas to work with. This property truly deserves to have an owner who can appreciate and preserve its special character and beauty. This ranch is part of our area's history and now it is ready for its next chapter. Are you the one? Give us a call or send an e-mail. A word of caution...be prepared to fall in love, because you will.

Obviously, showings are by pre-arranged appointment only. Showings will only be made to buyers who have presented documentation demonstrating their ability to complete a purchase.

Finally, this is ranch property. Please plan to dress accordingly. Long pants and boots are a must.

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