- What and where is Tejon Ranch?
- Tejon Ranch is a 270,000-acre working ranch located about 60 miles north of Los Angeles and 30 miles south of Bakersfield on Interstate 5. At 422 square miles, the Ranch is the largest contiguous piece of private property in California, and is about 40% the size of the state of Rhode Island. Ranchos el Tejon , as it was called in the 1860s, was created when historic California figure General Edward Fitzgerald Beale purchased four land grants that had been issued in 1843 by the then-Mexican governor of Alta California. Tejon Ranch is now home to ranching and farming operations, oil production, mining , recreational activities and limited real estate development.
- Who owns Tejon Ranch?
- Tejon Ranch is the principal asset of the Tejon Ranch Company, a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange. The trading symbol for the company is TRC.
- What about the future of Tejon Ranch?
- In 2008, the Ranch announced it had reached agreement with the nation’s largest and most respected environmental organizations on a ranch-wide conservation and land use plan. The Agreement – an outgrowth of the Tejon Ranch Vision of conservation, continued ranching and farming and limited real estate development – will result in the permanent conservation of up to 90% of the Ranch’s land. The environmental organizations have also committed not to oppose Tejon Ranch’s development plans.
- What are the specific plans for real estate development?
- The Ranch’s plans are focused on the western edge of the Ranch along Interstate 5:
- 1.Centennial, a master-planned sustainable new town community on about 11,700 acres at the southern end of the ranch in Los Angeles County. Nearly half of the community will be preserved as open space.
- 2. Tejon Mountain Village, an exceptional environmentally sensitive mountain resort community.
- 3. Tejon Ranch Commerce Center,a 1,450-acre commercial/industrial center located on busy I-5 near its junction with Highway 99.
- What progress is being made with plans for future conservation?
- As a result of the historic land conservation agreement announced in 2008, up to 240,000 acres of Tejon Ranch are slated for permanent conservation. The new Tejon Ranch Conservancy will hold conservation easements on the land and will work with Tejon Ranch Company to oversee all the conserved lands, promoting long-term, science-based stewardship of this historic property to provide for public enjoyment through educational programs and public access. Public access is central to the public benefit of this agreement, beginning with a commitment by the environmental resource organizations and Tejon Ranch Company to work with the Conservancy and California State Parks Department toward creation of a state park within the conserved lands. Those efforts have been slowed by the budget situation in California government.
Californians will enjoy an outstanding example of their state’s natural legacy through a well-managed public access program for the conserved lands. Providing outdoor opportunities for people living in underserved communities is an important part of the Conservancy’s access program. In addition, the Agreement provides an easement of up to 10,000 acres for the realignment of 37 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail through Tejon Ranch.
- As a result of the historic land conservation agreement announced in 2008, up to 240,000 acres of Tejon Ranch are slated for permanent conservation. The new Tejon Ranch Conservancy will hold conservation easements on the land and will work with Tejon Ranch Company to oversee all the conserved lands, promoting long-term, science-based stewardship of this historic property to provide for public enjoyment through educational programs and public access. Public access is central to the public benefit of this agreement, beginning with a commitment by the environmental resource organizations and Tejon Ranch Company to work with the Conservancy and California State Parks Department toward creation of a state park within the conserved lands. Those efforts have been slowed by the budget situation in California government.
- Is Tejon Ranch working with environmental groups on the conservation plan?
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Yes. Those environmental resource organizations include the Sierra Club, Natural Resources Defense Council, Audubon California, the Planning and Conservation League and the Endangered Habitats League.
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- Will hunting continue on the ranch?
- Yes, Tejon Ranch’s wildlife management program is an important part of maintaining a healthy balance of wildlife on the ranch.
- I heard there were concerns that future plans for the Ranch might impact nearby military operations.
- Tejon Ranch strongly supports our military. Ranch leaders and military officials have resolved any issues involving flight patterns and training missions with the understanding that the Ranch’s plans for the future can successfully coexist with the needs of the military.
- What is the timeline for Centennial and Tejon Mountain Village?
- There is no specific timeline for the start of development of these two communities, with the commencement of construction being dependent on the length of the entitlement process and the condition of the real estate market. Both communities are long-range developments, with build-out expected to take between 15 to 25 years respectively.
- Where can I obtain more information about Tejon Ranch?
- Please visit Contact Us if you have a specific question or to sign up to receive regular Ranch updates.
