COMMISSION

During the late 1700s, Spain established control of the region and built the nearby Mission
San Juan Bautista. The Mexican government later divided the San Juan Bautista lands into
two land grants—Rancho San Justo and Rancho Cienega del Gabilan. Today, Hollister Hills
SVRA is located on portions of both of these former land grants.
When the land grants were divided and sold, Jesse Whitton obtained the property and
created a family ranch. Jesse was a civilian surveyor for the John C. Fremont expedition
that traveled through the area in 1846. After the expedition, Jessee returned to the area
and purchased 600 acres for $50 per acre. Upon his death, the land passed on through the
family and was eventually inherited by Howard Harris in 1959.
Mr. Harris used the land for a multitude of activities including ranching, hunting, and mining.
Evidence of the mining that occurred here can be seen at the quarry in the Upper Ranch.
Dolomite and limestone were the primary mineral deposits mined from this location. The
remnants of ranching can be seen at the Lower Ranch. Other cultural resources available
for the public to visit include the Vineyard School, a one-room historic schoolhouse at the
Upper Ranch, and the historic Olive and Walnut Orchards located in the Lower Ranch.
These resources provide insight to the culture and lifestyle of time past.
The park store, located in Lodge Campground, was once the location of the Bird Creek
Hunting Lodge. In 1948, when the Bird Creek Hunting Club was organized, OHVs were
introduced on the ranch. Jeeps ® , motorcycles, and “tote-goats” were used for transportation
around the ranch and to control trespassing. As OHVs became more popular, Mr. Harris
began to allow motorcycle events, including track races and hill climb competitions.
Eventually, Mr. Harris built the majority of existing park trails and began operating the
ranch as a motorcycle park called the Howard Harris Motorcycle Playground. He continued
to manage the ranch until October 1, 1975, when the land, purchased 110 years earlier
by Mr. Harris’ great-grandfather, was sold to the State and became Hollister Hills SVRA,
California’s first SVRA.
2017 Program Report 205