Cheda Ranch: Cultural Landscapes Inventory, Point Reyes National Seashore

Regions 8, 9, 10, & 12 Park Cultural Landscapes Program

Inventory Unit Description: The Cheda Ranch is an approximately 920-acre ranching property that is located on the northeastern side of the Olema Valley. The ranch is situated primarily within the North District of Golden Gate National Recreation Area, but a small western portion is located in Point Reyes National Seashore, west of Highway 1. Per a management agreement, the property is managed by Point Reyes National Seashore. The ranch encompasses the west and east facing slopes of Bolinas Ridge down to Lagunitas Creek at the eastern property boundary and is bordered by Gallagher Ranch on the north and Rogers and McIsaac Ranches on the south. The ranch core, made up of a cluster of buildings, sits on one of the few flat areas of the property, surrounded by steep slopes leading to grazing lands on the rolling hillsides. The ranch historically supported a dairy operation, but the Grade A Dairy, Old Milking Barns and pastures are still being used by neighbor Ted McIasaac for his cattle operation. Cheda Ranch is one of 19 ranches within the Olema Valley/Lagunitas Loop Ranches Historic District that were collectively determined eligible for the National Register of Historic Places in 2008. The Historic District was determined significant at a local-level under Criteria A and C with a period of significance from 1856 to 1961. Under Criterion A, the district is significant for its small and medium-sized family owned farms and ranches, most of which emphasized dairy production. Under Criterion C, the district is significant for its excellent examples of local rural vernacular architecture, especially dairy building types. The period of significance covers roughly a century, beginning with the initial American settlement of the area in 1856 and extending to 1961 when the federal government authorized the creation of Point Reyes National Seashore. This period encompasses the major development of the roads, buildings, structures, fence lines, and delineation of pastures within the district. Cheda Ranch operated without interruption as a dairy ranch for over eighty-six years until its conversion to a cattle ranch in 1971, appears today much as it did during the period of significance and retains its historical integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and association. The Cheda Ranch complex contains six contributing buildings, which include: the Main House, Garage, East Old Milking Barn, West Milking Barn, Calf Shed, and the Grade A Dairy. Other contributing resources include the concrete pads located around the Grade A Dairy and milking barns, concrete walkways within the ranch core, ranch roads, concrete water troughs, a drainage channel, and culverts. The ranching character of the Cheda Ranch is still evident in the following landscape characteristics: natural systems and features, spatial organization, land use, vegetation, circulation, buildings and structures, and small scale features. Based on the evaluation of these characteristics, the cultural landscape at Cheda Ranch was found to exhibit key patterns, relationships, and features that convey the historical significance of the district. Overall, the landscape is in poor condition.

Cheda Ranch: Cultural Landscapes Inventory, Point Reyes National Seashore

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