Sea Ranch is an unincorporated community in Sonoma County, California, United States that was developed as planned community beginning in the 1960s. It is known for its distinctive timber-frame structures designed by several noted American architects. The first unit built at Sea Ranch, Condominium 1, was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005. The community's development played a role in the establishment of the California Coastal Commission. The population was 1,305 at the 2010 census. For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined Sea Ranch as a census-designated place (CDP). [1]
GenealogyOnline: About
the Town The Sea Ranch.
. . Link
Surnames: Aune,
Hadley, Martin, Miller, Sawyer, Van Duyn
LDS genealogy.com: The Sea Ranch. . . Link
Roadside Thoughts: The Sea Ranch
California . . . Link
Sonoma County Genealogical Society . . . Link
The first people known to live in the area were Pomos, who gathered kelp and shellfish from the beaches. In 1846, Ernest Rufus received the Rancho German Mexican land grant, which extended along the coastline from the Gualala River to Ocean Cove. The land was later divided. In the early 1900s, Walter P. Frick bought up the pieces to create Del Mar Ranch, which was leased out for raising sheep. In 1941, the land was sold to Margaret Ohlson and her family. [1]
Architect and planner Al Boeke envisioned a community that would preserve the area's natural beauty. Boeke first surveyed the land in 1962. In 1963, Oceanic California Inc., a division of Castle and Cooke Inc., purchased the land from the Ohlsons and assembled a design team. A progressive residential community was envisioned that would be built in a way that was not only in tune with nature, but driven by nature. Principal designers who were recruited by Boeke included American architects Charles Moore, Joseph Esherick, William Turnbull Jr., Donlyn Lyndon, Richard Whitaker and landscape architect Lawrence Halprin. Halprin created the master plan for Sea Ranch, which encompass 10 miles (16 km) of the Sonoma County coastline. The principal photographer for the project was the architectural photographer Morley Baer, a friend and colleague of both Turnbull and Halprin. Marion Conrad was hired to manage the public relations for The Sea Ranch. The logo for The Sea Ranch was designed by Barbara Stauffacher Solomon along with the Supergraphics. [1]
American Towns . . . Link
Cluster House Area . . . Link
The Cluster House area is one of the historic areas of The Sea Ranch. Early on the design team determined that the clustering of houses would be the ideal configuration for this location as well as others. It symbolizes the ideal of the forward thinking creative design team in the late 60’s and early 70’s.
Forgetting Qowíšal: History and Memory at Sea Ranch [A Thesis by Jocelyn B Hunter] . . . PDF
History - From Early Inhabitants to Today in The Sea Ranch . . . Link
History of Sea Ranch- Remembering When [Audio Recordings] . . . Link
"LALH Place Studies: The Sea Ranch" [Article] . . . Link
Preserving Sea Ranch History: A historical journey on our trails [PDF] . . . Link
"Push/Pull: The History of Sea Ranch" [Article] . . . Link
Society of Architectural Historians: The Sea Ranch . . . Link
Sonoma County Life Opens Up: The Sea Ranch . . . Link
The Sea Ranch Today [Niche] (has a map of location) . . . Link
The Sea RanchWikipedia Page . . . Link
The Sea Ranch Historical Society . . . Link
Visit
Sonoma Coast: The Sea Ranch . . Link
WikiVoyage: The Sea Ranch . . . Link
Check Sonoma Historian (SCHS) for articles about the town. . . . Link
Sonoma Historian 2014, no. 2. Pg. 7: Sea Ranch Turns 50 - It's a Yearlong Celebration . . . Link
Adam Knipp . . . Link
Adam Knipp and Bihler’s nephew, Christian Stengel, who had sailed to California in 1858, managed Bihler’s livestock operation. Beginning in the 1860s, they gradually bought the 3,220-acre ranch from Bihler. The Knipp-Stengel operation flourished. In the early 1880s, the partners built the landmark Sea Ranch barn that is now in the National Register of Historic Buildings. In 1903, Knipp and Stengel began selling off their land to Bender Brothers Mill and Lumber Co., which also acquired the Rutherford ranch.
Al and Diana Edgerton . . . Audio Interview
They bought property here in 1965 and still own the house they built on that lot. Al looks back when he recalls his and Diana’s fatefull decision to take Highway 1 up the coast from Alameda on their way to Elk.
Alfred
Anton "Al" Boeke [1960's]
. . . Link
Architect and planner Al Boeke envisioned a community that would preserve the area's natural beauty.[3][4] Boeke first surveyed the land in 1962.[3] In 1963, Oceanic California Inc., a division of Castle and Cooke Inc., purchased the land from the Ohlsons and assembled a design team
Baker House (Sea Ranch, California) . . . Link
The Baker House in Sea Ranch, California was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2018.[1] It was designed by architect William Turnbull Jr. and was built in 1968.
Bender Brothers . . . Link
The Bender Brothers built the Del Mar Mill on Del Mar Point (which burned in 1910), and a store, saloon, warehouse, and the Del Mar School along the existing county road. The school still stands at the southwest corner of Leeward and Deer Trail.
Charles Meyer . . . Link German immigrants William Benitz and Charles Meyer Farming continued farming after [Frederick] Hugel.
Charles Wagner [1855ish] . . . Link
In 1855, William Bihler and Charles Wagner bought the northern 2 1/2 leagues of the rancho and imported livestock to improve the local stock. By 1857, Bihler had bought out his partner.
Christian Stengel . . . Link
Adam Knipp and Bihler’s nephew, Christian Stengel, who had sailed to California in 1858, managed Bihler’s livestock operation. Beginning in the 1860s, they gradually bought the 3,220-acre ranch from Bihler. The Knipp-Stengel operation flourished. In the early 1880s, the partners built the landmark Sea Ranch barn that is now in the National Register of Historic Buildings. In 1903, Knipp and Stengel began selling off their land to Bender Brothers Mill and Lumber Co., which also acquired the Rutherford ranch.
Condominium One . . . Link
Condominium One (completed in 1965) was awarded the American Institute of Architects Twenty-five Year Award in 1991, and was added to The National Register of Historic Places in 2005.
Del Mar Mill [Built by Bender Brothers] . . . Link . .The Bender Brothers built the Del Mar Mill on Del Mar Point (which burned in 1910).
Diane Boeke [Wife of Al Boeke] . . . Audio Interview Diane moved to TSR in the late 1960s when development was in full swing. Diane was employed by Castle & Cooke in Honolulu and subsequently for Oceanic Properties.
Ernest
Rufus [1840's]
. . . Link
In 1846, Ernest Rufus received the Rancho German Mexican land grant, which extended along the coastline from the Gualala River to Ocean Cove. The land was later divided. In the early 1900s, Walter P. Frick bought up the pieces to create Del Mar Ranch, which was leased out for raising sheep. In 1941, the land was sold to Margaret Ohlson and her family.
Frederick Hugel . . . Link
The previous year [aprx. 1845], Rufus had invited another German, Frederick Hugel, to the land he had selected. Hugel built a cabin on the hill above the present Equestrian Facility, fenced-in grassland, and built a warehouse near the bluff from which he planned to ship and receive cargo. He raised cattle and horses and planted fruit trees, potatoes, green peas, and other vegetables.
Kirk Ditzler . . . Link
The 360-square-foot Sea Ranch chapel
and its grounds were gifts of Sea Ranch residents Robert
and Betty Buffum in memory of Kirk
Ditzler, a navy pilot, zoologist, and artist.
Lawrence Halprin (1916–2009) . . . Link
In the early 1960s, Oceanic Properties Inc. commissioned the landscape architect Lawrence Halprin (1916–2009) to design a master plan for 5,000 acres of Sonoma County—a tract of land that took in the Pacific shoreline, meadows with hedgerows of Monterey Cypress, and a dense forest of pines, fir, and redwoods. . . . Link
Margaret Ohlson [1940's] . . . Link
In 1846, Ernest Rufus received the Rancho German Mexican land grant, which extended along the coastline from the Gualala River to Ocean Cove. The land was later divided. In the early 1900s, Walter P. Frick bought up the pieces to create Del Mar Ranch, which was leased out for raising sheep. In 1941, the land was sold to Margaret Ohlson and her family.
Pat Ashurst & Russ Ohlson [Ed Ohlson's Children] . . . Audio Interview. . Ed Ohlson’s children who moved to the family’s Del Mar Ranch in 1941, and grew up there.
Robert
and Betty Buffum [Sea Ranch Chapel
Donators] . . . Link
The 360-square-foot Sea Ranch chapel and its grounds were gifts of Sea Ranch residents Robert and Betty Buffum in memory of Kirk Ditzler, a navy pilot, zoologist, and artist.
Sea Ranch Chapel . . . Link
The Sea Ranch Chapel, a whimsical architectural gem that resembles a bird in flight or a cresting wave. The tranquil interiors—featuring colorful stained glass, local stone and a plaster ceiling sculpted into the shape of a flower—invite quiet reflection and an appreciation of the natural environment.
Sea Ranch Lodge . . . Link The iconic Sea Ranch Lodge is one of
the oldest buildings at The Sea Ranch.
Walter P. Frick [1900's] . . . Link
In 1846, Ernest Rufus received the Rancho German Mexican land grant, which extended along the coastline from the Gualala River to Ocean Cove. The land was later divided. In the early 1900s, Walter P. Frick bought up the pieces to create Del Mar Ranch, which was leased out for raising sheep. In 1941, the land was sold to Margaret Ohlson and her family.
William Benitz . . . Link German immigrants William Benitz and Charles Meyer Farming continued farming after [Frederick] Hugel.
William Bihler [1855ish] . . . Link
In 1855, William Bihler and Charles Wagner bought the northern 2 1/2 leagues of the rancho and imported livestock to improve the local stock. By 1857, Bihler had bought out his partner.
Maps
Map of The Sea Ranch, with boundaries [BingMaps] . . . Link
Map of The Sea Ranch [MapQuest] . . . Link
Town, 1955 . . . Link
[1] Wikipedia contributors. "The Sea Ranch, California." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 9 Aug. 2022. Web. 28 Sep. 2022. . . . Link
[2] "Historical and Descriptive Sketch Book of Napa, Sonoma, Lake, and Mendocino: Comprising Sketches of Their Topography, Productions, History, Scenery, and Peculiar Attractions", C.A. Menefee, 1873 . . . Link
[3] "Historical and Descriptive Sketch of Sonoma County, California" Robert Allan Thompson. L.H. Everts, 1877 - Sonoma County (Calif.) - 104 pages. [ ??? pp 100-101] . . . Link
[4] "History of Sonoma County: Including Its Geology, Topography, Mountains, Valleys and Streams ...."' United States, Higginson Book Company, 1880. (page ???.) . . . Link . . . Text at CAGenWeb
[5]
"An Illustrated
History of Sonoma County, California: Containing a
History of the County of Sonoma from the Earliest
Period of Its Occupancy to the Present Time",
Lewis Publishing, 1889
. . . Link