Welcome to Episode Seven of the Tejon Ranch History Podcast. Listen how Tejon Ranch’s founder Edward Fitzgerald Beale returned to the Ranch amidst a movement to construct a wagon road from the eastern U.S. —eventually passed by Congress. And, since Beale had experience in exploring the Southwest, he was considered the ideal choice to survey the new route. The introduction of camels to Tejon Ranch in 1857—and the reaction of Beale and the soldiers—also played an important role. Listen in to learn more!

Welcome to Episode Six of the Tejon Ranch History Podcast. This episode focuses on the waning years of the California gold rush, its positive (and not-so-positive) effects on California, as well as Ranch founder General E.F. Beale’s continuing relationship with local tribes and sometimes tenuous relationship with the Federal government. The big news though: Beale convinces the U.S. Army to establish a military presence in the Tejon region to “keep the peace” between settlers and native Americans and guard a major road though Grapevine Canyon. This will lead to Tejon becoming the third largest settlement in Southern California and set the stage for years to come. Listen in to find out what happens next! 

 

 

Welcome to Episode Five of the Tejon Ranch History Podcast. This episode focuses on the continuing gold rush and Tejon Ranch’s legacy. The main roads that led to the gold fields cut through Tejon Ranch.  The roads could be dangerous as California was still wild and there were skirmishes between settlers and the various tribes in California. Ranch founder Edward Fitzgerald Beale was brought it to broker peace, and because of his relationship with the tribes, which was based on mutual respect, he was successful. However, the federal government didn’t take too kindly to Beale’s and the local population’s relationship. This relationship ultimately held ramifications for Beale, the local Indians and what was to come next.

 

TEJON RANCH, California, October 30, 2017 – Tejon Ranch Co. (NYSE: TRC) announced today that, based on the preliminary results of its just concluded rights offering, it anticipates raising $90 million, the maximum gross proceeds possible.  The rights offering concluded on October 27, 2017 and was extremely well received and oversubscribed with demand for shares more than doubling the total rights shares available through the offering.  Tejon previously offered transferable rights to purchase 4,173,067 shares of its common stock at a purchase price of $18.00 per share to stockholders of record as of October 4, 2017.  In addition, Tejon has the option to issue an additional 833,333 shares to honor over-subscription requests.  The $90 million of capital that is anticipated being raised will include the release of 826,933 over-allotment shares and, as a result of the offering, the Company will issue 5,000,000 new shares of common stock.  A total of 25,873,235 shares of common stock will be outstanding once all new shares have been delivered.

“The Company and its Board of Directors are appreciative of the continued support of our current and new shareholders,” said Gregory S. Bielli, President and CEO.  “Investing the maximum amount possible and, in fact, subscribing for more than twice the shares available, is evidence of their confidence in Tejon Ranch Co.  These new capital proceeds will help us maintain our strong balance sheet as we move forward with the completion of our entitlement and land development activities.”

 

The net proceeds of the offering will be used to provide additional working capital for general corporate purposes, including to fund general infrastructure costs and the development of buildings at Tejon Ranch Commerce Center, to continue forward with entitlement and permitting programs for the Centennial at Tejon Ranch and Grapevine at Tejon Ranch communities and costs related to the preparation of the development of Mountain Village at Tejon Ranch.

About Tejon Ranch Co.

Tejon Ranch Co. is a diversified real estate development and agribusiness company, whose principal asset is its 270,000-acre land holding located approximately 60 miles north of Los Angeles and 30 miles south of Bakersfield.

 

More information about Tejon Ranch Co. can be found online at http://www.tejonranch.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This communication contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.  These include, without limitation, our statements contained above regarding the proposed rights offering, and other statements that are not historical facts.  These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and events to differ materially, including the possibility that the rights offering may be cancelled before it closes.  For a discussion of further risks and uncertainties related to Tejon’s business, please refer to our public company reports and the Risk Factors enumerated therein, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 and subsequent reports, filed with the SEC.  Tejon undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statement to reflect any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are based.

Episode three of our newly launched history podcast is up! Sharing excerpts from the book, Tejon Ranch: Preserving the Legacy of a California Treasure, this episode explores dragoons, San Diego, Californios, San Pasquel, and a battle that wasn’t expected. One name that stands out in this episode? Edward Fitzgerald Beale, the founder of Tejon Ranch. Listen, learn and enjoy!

 

Welcome to episode two of our new podcast series about the land and legacy of Tejon Ranch. In this episode, Barry Zoeller explores the early beginnings of the Ranch, including Spanish explorers, native Americans, and the natural beauty of the land that played a role in the settling of the Tejon Ranch.

Hope you enjoy this podcast about the legacy of Tejon Ranch as it’s tied to the history California.

 

Episodes are excerpts from the book, Tejon Ranch: Preserving the Legacy of a California Treasure.

The California gold rush is often tied to the history of San Francisco and its legacy and development, and rightly so. But I wanted to share a little-known (but fun) piece of California history regarding the gold rush, and that’s the crucial role the founder of Tejon Ranch played in the gold rush, the state’s population boom, and the birth and growth of California as we know it today.

But first, let’s step back before the days of the gold rush and take a look at the history of the land that one day would become Tejon Ranch.

What’s in a name?
Tejon Ranch got its name from Lt. Francisco Ruiz who called the region El Tejon, Spanish for badger, after his soldiers found a dead badger at the mouth of the canyon. Ruiz also named the canyon Cãnada de las Uvas (Grapevine Canyon), because of the abundance of grapevines found there. From there, word got out about the natural beauty and available bounty, like beaver, and the exodus was on.

Trappers, explorers … and war
Soon, trappers, traders and explorers flooded into the Tehachapi Mountain area, led by Jedediah Strong Smith. Tejon Ranch had some famous visitors, too. Kit Carson, one of the West’s most noted figures, rode the ranges of Tejon, scouting and trapping beaver in the early 1800s.

In 1843, Tejon Ranch was officially established as a Mexican land grant, and all the while Col. John C. Fremont, Kit Carson and Alex Godey, another frontiersman, explored the region.

By the mid-1800s, war was brewing between the U.S. and Mexico and in 1846, the Mexican American War broke out. During the war, Lt. Edward Fitzgerald Beale, the eventual owner of Tejon Ranch, arrived in California as a naval officer, and served with Fremont, ultimately being recognized as a war hero for his role in the battle of San Pasqual, 30 miles north of San Diego.

‘There’s gold in them thar hills!’
With the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848, the Spanish-Mexican rule ended in California. The other big news that year?  Gold!  News of the discovery was confined to California until Beale made the perilous journey across Mexico on horseback, eventually boarding a ship in Vera Cruz, sailing to the Southeastern U.S., then made his way by stagecoach to the east coast, becoming the first person to carry the news to Washington, DC of the discovery of gold in California. Though it’s been widely reported that Kit Carson was the first Californian to bring the news about the discovery of gold to the Army, Beale beat him by two months.

The legacy lives on

The news of gold eventually brought hundreds of thousands of people to California from the rest of the U.S. and abroad.  In 1850, California became one of the few American states to go directly to statehood without first being a territory.

Today, at 422 square miles, Tejon Ranch is the largest single expanse of private property in the state.  It’s also the next great opportunity in California with existing and future real estate developments strategically located along Interstate 5—the main artery that connects northern and southern California.  It also boasts thousands of acres of orchards and vineyards, bountiful wildlife, and vast stretches of land that will remain in their natural state, protected by California’s largest and most significant private conservation agreement. We’re proud of the history of the Ranch and the future it offers to California and beyond. 

By Barry Zoeller

Zoeller is vice president, corporate communications & investor relations at Tejon Ranch.

The people of Tejon Ranch take great pride in the careful and responsible management of the land entrusted to them.

In 2008, an agreement with five major environmental groups was forged to form partnerships ensuring continued stewardship that is already embedded the ranch’s culture.  90% of the land will remain undeveloped for future generations to enjoy. The agreement is an outgrowth of the vision for its land that Tejon Ranch has been articulating for years, a vision that includes extensive conservation.

This podcast offers an inside look into the culture of stewardship that permeates every aspect of Tejon, its programs and future development.  It’s why the land is so breathtaking.

Barry Zoeller and Mike Campeau talk about stewardship and what it means to Tejon Ranch, its future residents and generations who will be able to enjoy the ranch for years to come because of this unprecedented effort.

Pro tips from Mike Campeau. Mike Campeau has been associated with Tejon Ranch for over 40 years in various outdoor programs.

Mike Campeau

Hiking Tejon Ranch is a great way to get exercise, get outside, and explore all that we have to offer. If you belong to our Explorer Membership you’ll have access to thousands of acres of our stunning hills and valleys, from sunrise to sunset. But, before you lace up your shoes boots and put on a backpack and come hiking, we have some tips to make your hike fun and engaging.

  1. Prepare for the elements. Tejon Ranch can be chilly in the morning then blazing hot during the day, or sunny one moment and rainy the next. Bring extra water, food, and a hydration system. Wear boots with strong ankle support to handle the different trails at Tejon Ranch. We have wildlife trails, cattle trails, and meandering dirt roads or jeep trails each with their own varying degree of walkability. A walking stick might be helpful as well.
  2. Bring a headlight and first-aid kit. Just in case you get injured or get stuck out on the trails after the sun goes down, each of these will come in handy. (Remember, there’s no overnight camping on the Ranch – you’ll need to get back to your campsite anyhow.)
  3. Bring a GPS unit or SPOT device. Cell service can be limited in certain areas of the Ranch so bring a device that works without cell service. SPOT tracking provides a GPS trail of your route so you can be tracked if you get lost. Remember, we’re an actual working ranch and we have more than 25,000 acres to explore. We encourage wandering but not getting lost.
  4. Bring your smartphone or digital camera. Even without cell service you can still use your phone’s camera. And trust us, you’ll need it. From rugged mountains, steep canyons, oak-covered rolling hills, and broad valleys, to an assortment of wildlife, there’s a lot to take in and capture with a camera.
  5. Hike in the morning or late afternoon. These are the best times when the Tejon Ranch resident wildlife really put on a show. You might see California mule deer, black bear, Rocky Mountain Elk, and red-tail hawks soaring through the sky. It’s breathtaking to see a golden eagle get swept up in the wind currents. And as the sun goes down, stargazing at the Ranch is out of this world.

Tejon Ranch offers beginner and seasoned hikers an amazing backdrop to explore our legacy and heritage. We want to stress that you should be prepared before coming out and visiting us. Dress right, bring food and water and bug spray, sunscreen and a hat. But most of all? Have a great time exploring!

For more information on joining our Explorer Membership and getting access to the ranch to hike (as well as biking, camping, photography and other fun activities) contact Christine Hollis at (661) 663-4284 or chollis@tejonranch.com

 

 

 

 

JUST IN TIME FOR SPRING TEJON RANCH LAUNCHES 2017 EXPLORER MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM

Exclusive membership gives members access to more than 25,000 acres of breathtaking landscapes and extensive outdoor activities

TEJON RANCH, Calif. (March 20, 2017)– Tejon Ranch Co. (NYSE: TRC), a fully diversified integrated real estate company and agribusiness whose principal asset is California’s historic Tejon Ranch, today announced the spring launch of its Explorer Membership Program for 2017.  For the second year in a row, members will have year-round exclusive access to thousands of acres of pristine land and a wide range of outdoor activities.

The Ranch is home to the largest and most significant private conservation agreement in California, covering 240,000 acres. Deep agricultural roots at the Ranch abound, with more than 1,400 acres devoted to vineyards in two locations and more than 3,000 acres dedicated to almond and pistachio trees. Diverse business operations include a thriving commercial real estate development, the Tejon Ranch Commerce Center, and the popular Outlets at Tejon. Several large-scale mixed use residential communities are also planned for the property, including Mountain Village at Tejon Ranch. Located about an hour from the Los Angeles metropolitan area, this residential/resort community is intended to be an upscale and close-by retreat from urban living.

Tejon Ranch spans 270,000 acres and is the largest single piece of private property in California.  At 422 square miles, it is just about as large as the City of Los Angeles and about 40 percent the size of Rhode Island.

“Spring is the perfect time to officially launch the Explorer Program, opening our gates so visitors can enjoy what Tejon Ranch has to offer,” said Barry Zoeller, vice president of corporate communications and investor relations at Tejon Ranch. “With winter gone and spring here, Tejon Ranch is bursting with wildflowers, new wildlife, and a chance for visitors to explore and experience our rolling hills and pristine valleys, all the while enjoying a wealth of outdoor activities.”

The Explorer Membership Package will provide access to more than 25,000 acres on the southern portion of the ranch, an area featuring spectacular landscapes and breathtaking views; vibrant wildflower fields, oak-studded hillsides, steep canyons and broad valleys. Members will be able to enjoy mountain biking, hiking, picnicking, wildlife and landscape photography and viewing, SUV trail driving, fishing, star-gazing and horseback riding. Members who want to spend more than a day at the ranch will have access to overnight accommodations at three cabins within the Explorer area as well as RV and trailer dry camping at the Crane Canyon Campground.

The annual fee to join is $3,500 per member. This fee includes spouse and dependents under 30 years of age with member present, as well as 10 guest passes each valid for 24 hours, or five passes each valid for 48 hours. Up to five additional 24 hour or 48-hour guest passes can be purchased per year.

For more information regarding the Explorer Membership Program, visit the Tejon Ranch website.

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About Tejon Ranch Co.

Tejon Ranch Co. (NYSE: TRC), is a diversified real estate development and agribusiness company, whose principal asset is its 270,000-acre land holding located approximately 60 miles north of Los Angeles and 30 miles south of Bakersfield.   More information about Tejon Ranch Co. can be found online at http://www.tejonranch.com.

Forward Looking Statements:

The statements contained herein, which are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements based on economic forecasts, strategic plans and other factors, which by their nature involve risk and uncertainties.  In particular, some of the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are the following: business conditions and the general economy, future changes to primary home and secondary home markets, future changes to development costs, the ability to obtain various governmental permits, interest rates, and other risks inherent in real estate businesses.  For further information on factors that could affect the company, readers should refer to the company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Tejon Ranch Media Contact:

Christine Rombouts, crombouts@newgroundco.com, 949-631-1557 / Photos available upon request.