Visitors driving to the Jack Tone Ranch arrive via the Jack Tone Road (built by patriarch Buddy Tone), still the longest straight road in the county. The Jack Tone Ranch is a California historical landmark, recognized as the oldest family-owned horse farm in the state in continuous operation; the third oldest family farm of any kind.

The ranch is steeped in historical reminders, even to this day. Robert Hammer, grandson of Jack, loves to show visitors through the horse barn, wagon shed and bunk house built by Jack, and still very much in use today by daughter Kathleen. There’s the old timber frame horse barn, put together with wooden pegs and square nails. The barn’s foundation bricks were made by hand on the ranch. Some of the old mangers and tie rings are just as they were in California’s early days. Prize Arabian Fadjur’s show buggy is proudly on display in the Old Barn.

Built in 1860, the barn originally housed work horses that were used in the farming operation. Even today, all breeding and foaling at the Jack Tone Ranch is done within the shelter of its sturdy walls.

For more information on the Jack Tone Ranch, or a tour, go to the website, JackTone-Ranch@bigfoot.com.

If you have comments or questions about this story, please E-mail Producer/Reporter Pat McConahay at pmcconah@kvie.org.