Supreme Court Ruling Uncovered Secret Land Grab at a Santa Cruz Park

SFGate ^ | June 13, 2024 | Eric Brooks

[nickcarraway]

While Russia and Santa Cruz aren’t often mentioned in the same breath, when it comes to Wilder Ranch State Park, a shared history features betrayal and a land grab.

The sprawling 7,000-acre park just 4 miles west of the Santa Cruz Boardwalk is filled with coastal views, but on a recent morning, I found myself entranced by a local historical tale involving a husband accused of forging documents to remove his wife and her family from the deed.

When hiking through this part of the California coastline — where sandy beaches, marine life and a magical sea cave coalesce — it’s easy to understand what prompted someone to abandon all morals to try to claim it.

The park’s 35-mile network of trails extends past the ocean and beyond busy Highway 1 into the gorgeous Ben Lomond Mountain. It offers hiking, biking and equestrian trails, with scenes of wave-cut terraces, marshlands, thick prairie grass up to your waist, tiny wildflowers and coastal redwoods.

“It’s a pretty popular park,” Joe Connors, supervising ranger for California State Parks’ Santa Cruz District, told me. “It has been for quite some time.”

[nickcarraway]

Wilder Ranch is a great place, and I know other Freepers go there. You can have a flat walk along the bluffs over the ocean, or even go down to the beach. On the other side, there are hiking/biking trails that can be quite strenuous. There are open areas, and areas under think redwoods, with creeks. You can actually hike into Henry Cowell State Park, or UCSC, if you want to. There is a historical village, and a horse riding area. There are docents, often in historically accurate outfits there at times, and they have a great 4th of July event. There are also private farms surrounded by the park, which grow a significant percentage of the nation's Brussel sprouts.

[nickcarraway]

[nickcarraway]

Ping

[No name given]

Beautiful photo.

[rottndog]

Okay...after reading the article a couple of times, the Supreme Court ruling was from 1870, not the current court. Very misleading title to the article, given the proximity to the current daily release of SCOTUS decisions.

[ComputerGuy]

When I was a boy, my mother made me eat Brussel sprouts...

[Lazamataz]

I’m against this.

[nickcarraway]

If I said you had a beautiful park, would you hold it against me.

[sauropod]

Ping

[Nifster]

Against what? History?

[martin_fierro]

While Russia and Santa Cruz aren’t often mentioned in the same breath

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What the what now?

[nickcarraway]

Hiking & History

[1FreeAmerican]

We have a Ben Lomond Mountain here in Utah as well.

Per Wiki both named after a Scottish Ben Lomond (Mountain).

The usage of the word Ben means Mount so saying Ben Lomond Mountain is saying mountain twice.

[no-s]

I love that section of coast north of Santa Cruz into San Mateo County.

Davenport Landing has a spot where the full moon rises out of the sea in the fall and illuminates pumpkin vines (when planted, heheh): https://maps.app.goo.gl/TXNpLqwnB3eDkuwk9

You can also get a fantastic view near Pigeon Point - I’ve seen grey whales wandering down in the cove below...: https://maps.app.goo.gl/13miwKBPLaCNKyja9

I’ve biked the coast trails several times in the fall and it’s a beautiful trip. The last time I had to go to San Francisco I went the Friday before and stayed the weekend at Davenport Roadhouse before my appointments on Monday...