COMMISSION

Three guest speakers from the park’s on-going oral history project, “Olden Days Chat”
series, included Ann Marie Sayers, Indian Canyon Chairperson; Glenn Harris, son of
previous land owner Howard Harris; and Dan Dungy, previous Hollister Hills District
Superintendent. The speakers highlighted much of the region’s history.
In addition, there were vintage dirt bikes and classic military Jeeps ® on display. These
vehicles were commonly seen during the early years of Hollister Hills SVRA. The success
of this event was a team effort and highlighted how the public, clubs, associations,
community, and volunteers collaborate to make Hollister Hills SVRA such a fantastic park.
Park History
The Ohlone Indians, a Native American people of the central California coast, once
inhabited the lands of Hollister Hills. Descendants of these Indians are still living in this
area and evidence of their past residence has been found and documented at various
archaeological sites within the SVRA.
Mudstone Ranch – Non-Motorized Recreation Trail System
Mudstone Ranch, a non-motorized, multi-use trail system in lands set aside as buffer
zones for neighboring properties around the park, held its Grand Opening in June 2016.
Mudstone Ranch provides an excellent opportunity to open previously closed public lands
to a community in need of outdoor recreation
opportunities. The trail system features casual,
exciting, and challenging trails for hikers, mountain
bikers, and equestrians through grasslands,
chaparral, and deep wooded canyons that are
otherwise in very limited supply in San Benito
County. Additionally, a pump track, designed for
cyclists to build momentum over various rollers
and jumps, will be constructed in the near future. Mudstone Ranch will also have multiple
interpretive and educational components describing the cultural and geologic history of the
land and current rangeland management practices.
The buffer lands that comprise Mudstone Ranch were acquired with the purchase of the
Renz and Hudner Ranches in the late 1980s. A sizeable portion of both the Renz and Hudner
Ranches were set aside as buffers and excluded from motorized use. Park management
determined that the most appropriate use of this land was to open it for non-motorized use.
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California State Parks, Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Commission