Lawrence Halprin, Sea Ranch Ecoscore showing land-shaping forces through time on this particular stretch of the Sonoma Coast, c. 1968. Courtesy of the Lawrence Halprin Collection, the Architectural Archives, University of Pennsylvania.

Abalone Bay is an oceanfront home located in The Sea Ranch, a unique community association of private homes, sited with careful attention to the natural landscape along a 10-mile stretch of the Sonoma County coast in Northern California. The Sea Ranch is internationally known for its distinctive architecture, the sensitivity of its land planning, and community-based stewardship of the natural environment.

The Sea Ranch history began in 1964 or 1965, depending on the criteria used for its birth. The developer of The Sea Ranch, Oceanic Properties, filed the project with Sonoma County in 1964. The real estate office – now our post office – and Condo One were completed in 1965. So why limit ourselves to one arguable date or another?

To understand not only what our Sea Ranch history journey has been, but more importantly, where we will steer The Sea Ranch in the coming years, Memorial Day Weekend of 2014 through Memorial Day Weekend of 2015 has been designated as our 50^th Birthday. We need a full year . There will be events, projects, workshops, and parties, enough to keep all of us busy on behalf of bettering our shared cause, our dear home, The Sea Ranch.

Guests who stay at Abalone Bay are invited to participate in any of the activities planned throughout the course of the year:

50th Birthday Year-At-A-Glance Events Calendar(one page summary)

Just what is our history?

Below taken from the story that originally ran in Sonoma Magazine is the timeline of our history.

1846: Ernest Rufus receives 17,580-acre Mexican land grant from Gualala River to Ocean Cove and sends Frederick Hugal to make improvements to what becomes “Rancho de Hermann.”

1860: After changing hands several times, the land is turned over to Chris Stengel and Adam Knipp, who raise cattle and log timber, shipping from what they call Walhhzala Ranch, or Gualala.

1904: William and George Bender buy the 5,200-acre Knipp Stengel Ranch and create the Rancho del Mar settlement that would eventually become The Sea Ranch.

1910: Their Del Mar Mill burns, residents disperse, and the land is eventually purchased by Walter P. Frick. He raises sheep and plants cypress hedgerows.

1941: The Ohlson family of Annapolis buys Del Mar Ranch at auction after Frick dies and the land is seized for back taxes.

1963: Oceanic Properties, a subsidiary of Hawaiian developers Castle & Cooke, pays an estimated $2.7 million for the Ohlson ranch with plans to develop a “high quality second home colony.” Landscape architect Lawrence Halprin is hired to design a plan that would minimally disrupt the natural landscape.

1964: Sonoma County OKs plans for the southern edge of Sea Ranch. Ground is broken on three demonstration projects designed by a team of young Bay Area architects.

1965: The guiding principles of The Sea Ranch, contained in 111 pages of rules, are filed May 10, considered by many the official “birthday” of the development.

1966: The design world begins to recognize Sea Ranch with the first of many awards, including The Governor’s Design Award for planned communities. Controversy stirs over public access to Sea Ranch beaches.

1968: Petaluma veterinarian Bill Kortum leads citizens’ fight for public access to Sea Ranch. Measure B, which would have required new coastal development in Sonoma County to provide public-access corridors, is defeated.

1972: Coast Alliance takes the case to statewide voters who approved Proposition 20, setting up the California Coastal Commission to oversee coastal development and ensure public access.

1973: The Coastal Commission, concerned about access issues and population projections of 15,000 people at buildout in The Sea Ranch, begins denying permits, leading to a virtual building moratorium. A protracted legal fight begins between the state and regional commissions and The Sea Ranch Association. Many lot owners are in limbo and the community divides deeply.

1980s: The Bane Bill is approved by the Legislature, settling the fight. Coastal authorities win on most points, including requiring five public-access trails from the highway to the beach, but relinquish permitting powers over The Sea Ranch. A financially battered Oceanic focuses on premium lots and development of the north end in a way many felt was less in the spirit of Halprin’s original design.

2014: Plans are announced for a yearlong 50th birthday celebration of The Sea Ranch.

To learn more about the past half-century at The Sea Ranch visit these other links:

The Guide To The Sea Ranch 50th Birthday Events

Before The Sea Ranch- Panel Discussion

The Once and Future Sea Ranch: An Architectural Forum : 8 videos

Order Form: T-shirts only
50th Birthday T-shirt (still available)

Now that you are versed in The Sea Ranch’s history book your stay at Abalone Bay and participate in the many activities planned too!

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Just what is our history?

Now that you are versed in The Sea Ranch’s history book your stay at Abalone Bay and participate in the many activities planned too!

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