LandPaths acquires magnificent 69-acre parcel, owned by the same family for 90 years, half a mile from the Grove of Old Trees in Occidental
Category: Blog, Grove of Old Trees, LandPaths Preserves, New Properties, slow restoration, Stewardship
By LandPaths Staff
December 11, 2025
Twin oak trees, framed by redwoods, stretch craggy branches over waves of coastal prairie. The headwaters of Fay Creek, home to steelhead trout, burble and splash towards the sea. A rustic, family-built, decades old trail leads the way past second and old-growth redwoods, including one that is 13 feet wide and over 1,000 years old. These are all snapshots of the beauty and awe of Calvi Ranch’s landscape.
“I will never forget my first visit to the incredible Calvi property,” says Caryl Hart, Vice Chair of the California Coastal Commission. “Dropping down into the redwoods, to the creeks and the beautiful meadows. The idea that it could become a LandPaths’ preserve was like a dream. A dream which has now come true thanks to the Calvi family, and all the support of LandPaths’ staff and their funders. What a wonderful gift to our community and beyond!”
Photo by Kalyanee Mam
LandPaths purchased the 69-acre parcel from the Calvi family, thanks to funding support from the California State Coastal Conservancy and anonymous donors, in November 2025. It’s located just half a mile from the Grove of Old Trees, a 49-acre redwood preserve, which LandPaths acquiredand protected in 2000. The deal itself was structured on part sale, part donation of the land by Gene and David Calvi, who are the sons of Rico Calvi, who purchased the land in 1935 as a recent immigrant from Italy. Mr. Calvi ran a sawmill on the property for decades, but with a 3’ saw run by a Buick engine he only cut smaller trees, leaving the old growth and mature second growth to stand as they are today
“After showing Craig [Anderson], the ranch and picnic grounds owned by my family, I knew I was speaking to the right person,” said Gene Calvi about his family’s decision to work with LandPaths. “Craig worked tirelessly to make it happen.”
The property is located on the ancestral homeland of the Kashia Band of Pomo Indians and the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria. LandPaths anticipates working with interested tribal representatives, along with a neighborhood group, Friends of the Grove (or “FOG”), and other community members to create a site-management plan. This plan will be the basis of an application to the County of Sonoma for a Conditional Use Permit – a necessary step in opening the property up to passive (walking) public access, including environmental education for local school children.
“Rather than being parceled out for housing, Calvi Ranch will stay an open space, offering the opportunity for the community to be gentle hands in stewarding this home to coastal flora and fauna that have flourished for millennia,” says Craig Anderson, LandPaths’ Executive Director of External Affairs. “With time, there will be a planning process. We are mindful of the need to balance access with respecting private property and promoting community safety and well-being. Access to wild nature for people who might not otherwise have the opportunity, and who seek nothing more than an opportunity to enjoy the quiet and nourishment by spaces like this comes with that obligation.”
Calvi Ranch is located outside of the town of Occidental in West County Sonoma, on the coastal ridge north of Bodega Bay in the Salmon Creek watershed. The upland coastal prairie features distinct stands of redwood, bay laurel and coast live oak. According to the Bay Area Conservation Lands Network 2.0, 98% of the property is categorized as essential habitat for the burrowing owl, northern spotted owl, California giant salamander, northern harrier, western pond turtle, Bay checkerspot, Myrtle’s silverspot, mountain lion, red tree vole, and ringtail, and more.
“The Conservancy is proud to have helped protect the magical meadows and redwoods at Calvi Ranch so that people will be able to enjoy their beauty for generations to come,” said Joel Gerwin of the California State Coastal conservancy. “We are grateful to partners like LandPaths for stewarding special places like this one and giving Californians meaningful experiences in nature.”
To learn more about LandPaths’ acquisition of Calvi Ranch and future plans for the preserve, and to schedule a tour or interview with the executive directors, contact Leilani Clark at leilani@landpaths.org or (707) 544-7284 ext. 108.
About LandPaths
Established in 1996, LandPaths is an environmental education and conservation leader with the mission to foster a love of the land in Sonoma County. Annually, we engage thousands of participants in joyful, caring, and transformative relationships with the land. We do this mainly throughcreative outings led in both English and Spanish, environmental education, nature camps, and volunteer land stewardship of local open spaces.
Our biggest fundraising campaign of the year is on through December 31!
LandPaths’ mission is to foster a love of the land. Your generosity empowers our work throughout the year, making our impact possible.
Thank you for investing in the power of nature and community!
Every donation up to $200,000 will be matched dollar-for-dollar thanks to generous donors, Don & Ann Hines, Stephen Spitler, an anonymous donor, and Bob & Eva Martin.
Partners
Thank you to the following partners for helping to make this possible!
California State Coastal Conservancy
The Calvi Family
" “Save the Redwoods League applauds LandPaths on this important conservation purchase of redwoods and coastal prairie at Calvi Ranch," said Jeff Stump, director of land protection, Save the Redwoods League. “Its proximity to the Grove of Old Trees, which Save the Redwoods has work in partnership with LandPaths to expand over the years, provides important connectivity for the redwood ecosystem. We’re grateful to LandPaths for their commitment and ongoing conservation work in the redwood range.” "
