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Projects & Progress PANORAMA RIDGE |
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Sempervirens Fund, the venerable Los Altos-based land conservancy, announced today they exceeded their $500,000 goal by December 31 to purchase the 40-acre Panorama Ridge property as an addition to Castle Rock State Park. All of the $576,687 came from donations from over 1,900 people who share the vision of protecting lands that are key to the health and beauty of our mountains; all are members of Sempervirens Fund.
“We will be preparing the property for transfer to State Parks by finishing a hiking and riding trail to connect the Skyline entrance of Castle Rock State Park with trails that will eventually encircle the entire 5,000-acre park,” said Brian Steen, Sempervirens Fund Executive Director. “Sempervirens Fund’s members and supporters can visit Panorama Ridge now on photo-trips, hikes and on trail building crews until our grand unveiling to the public in Spring 2006.”
Founded in 1900, Sempervirens Fund’s purpose is to preserve and protect the natural character of California’s Santa Cruz Mountains and to encourage appropriate public enjoyment of this environment. Donations are deductible under IRS 501(c)(3). Annual membership begins at $35. For more information about Sempervirens Fund’s mission and accomplishments
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The Panorama Ridge property offers views of the entire Monterey Bay
to the south and sweeping views across the redwood forests of the Pescadero
watershed to the west. On a clear day, you can see all the way
to the Farallon Islands! This ambitious project has been a dream
since the 33-mile Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail first connected Castle Rock
with Big Basin Redwoods State Park and the ocean in 1969. 
Since the time of the region’s original Spanish land grants, Panorama
Ridge has been held in private ownership. The owners have respected
the land and cared for it. In a creative purchase, Sempervirens
Fund worked with the current owner to establish a life tenancy agreement,
allowing him to sell his property for permanent protection, and to continue
living in the existing house on a 5-acre portion of the property that
will remain off-limits to park visitors.