Hollister Ranch owner Jackson Browne enthralled with some of his greatest songs when the Hollister Ranch Owners’ Association recently held a fundraising event to counter the state’s misguided efforts to turn the Hollister Ranch Shoreline Preserve into a ruinous recreational playground. Attending HROA members provided personal financial assistance to protect the natural environment preserved  for over 50 years along the 8.5 miles of natural and wild beach frontage.

In addition to support by our neighbor, the Dangermond Preserve, speakers for the Point Conception Institute outlined the groundwork required to save, and ideally enhance, what remains. Environmental attorney, Mark Massara is leading the charge on behalf of the HROA’s efforts to defend the natural California coastline noting Dangermond and the Hollister Ranch were at the forefront of achieving that goal.

 The winter season is upon us, and California’s west coast offers some of the finest sunset vistas over the Pacific Ocean. However, over-ocean sunrises are very difficult to find. The south facing coastline of Santa Barbara County is one of the places where such an uplifting event can be experienced.

The geographic bend in the shoreline on the south coast of Santa Barbara County offers that opportunity for several months. In the late fall, winter and early springtime, the number of days offering an over-ocean sunrise at Hollister Ranch is greater than anywhere else on the entire west coast mainland.

Winter may yield fewer daylight hours, but the addition of an exquisite over-ocean sunup along with a stunning sunset over the same sea, provides for a more stunningly colorful experience than at any other time of the year.

 The Hollister Ranch Shoreline Preserve stands as a rare example of what the California coast once was—unspoiled and biodiverse. Ranch owners, acting as stewards of this coastal treasure, are determined to protect the land from encroaching state policies that threaten to undermine its ecological integrity. As battles over coastal access and land use continue, Hollister Ranch residents emphasize sustainable stewardship over bureaucratic interference.

Summer is over and autumn has come in with a calm, yet moist, entrance. We’ve already had some measurable rainfall, and shoots of green grass are sprouting along the roadside.

Hollister Ranch is the only remaining place where one can live and experience the Southern California coast as it was over 100 years ago. Only the adjacent Dangemond Preserve is as well preserved and protected, and property there isn’t for sale. 

The perennial ambient (and noisier) sound encountered on the other side of the Hollister Ranch entrance is completely absent here at the Ranch. For instance, the songs, tweets and calls of native songbirds that are drowned out in urban and suburban environments, vibrate through the air at full volume without the cacophony noise interference from the developed world. 

This Memorial Day weekend at Hollister Ranch, property owners enjoyed rare sunshine and ideal surf conditions, escaping the marine layer that blanketed much of Southern California’s coastline. A clean southwest swell delighted surfers, continuing what has been a standout year for wave activity in 2025. Meanwhile, ranch life thrived as the 2025/26 calf crop moved on and bulls resumed their seasonal cycle. With full water reservoirs, golden range grass, and abundant wildlife, Hollister Ranch remains a unique and thriving natural habitat.

The Hollister Ranch Shoreline Preserve stands as a rare example of what the California coast once was—unspoiled and biodiverse. Ranch owners, acting as stewards of this coastal treasure, are determined to protect the land from encroaching state policies that threaten to undermine its ecological integrity. As battles over coastal access and land use continue, Hollister Ranch residents emphasize sustainable stewardship over bureaucratic interference.

Discover the serenity of Hollister Ranch, where 8.5 miles of protected shoreline and over 14,000 acres of wildlife habitat offer an unparalleled escape from the chaos of modern life. With minimal human presence, the ranch allows wildlife to roam freely, offering a unique opportunity to observe their natural behavior. Experience a profound sense of peace and silence as the tranquil environment transports you away from the noise of the outside world, promoting mental clarity and emotional well-being. Hollister Ranch is a sanctuary for those seeking solitude and a break from the demands of society.

Tajiguas is located south of Hollister Ranch. Tajiguas was a Native American village of the Chumash people. Tajiguas probably means 'the basket.’ The village was situated on the Pacific coast, at the site of the current Tajiguas Beach, 2 miles west of Refugio State Beach.

There has been some movement in Hollister Ranch real estate lately. Most dramatically is the several million-dollar price adjustment for the Hollister Ranch Realty listing of James Cameron’s Parcel 89. The 50% interest in Parcel 109 has gone into escrow with a sale pending. Hollister Ranch Realty has put the 1/12 interest in Parcel 2 into escrow. Jesse Wooten closed escrow on the 1/12 interest on Parcel 7. Please remember that the seller of the main house building rights interest on Parcel 48 will consider seller financing. Please call to discuss that possibility.

Over the weekend, Hollister Ranch Owners were pleased to invite The Nature Conservancy to explain their plans for our next-door neighbor, the Jack and Laura Dangermond Preserve. The one-time Jalama Ranch and Cojo (Bixby) Ranch together comprise over 37 square miles of the land around Point Conception. The land is host to a variety of wildlife species, as it touches two major terrestrial and two major marine biomes.

The students at De Las Cruces School (just outside Hollister Ranch) are very fortunate to have that opportunity. The ratio of students per teacher is 12:1 (with a state average of 22:1).

As summer draws to a close and the kids go back to school, there has been more real estate activity here at the Ranch.

It all begins with an idea.