Profiles in Preservation
Nobmann Ranch,
Point Reyes Station
1993
The Nobmann Ranch, at 1,192 acres,is the second largest Marin County property protected by a MALT easement. It is located along the north side of Lagunitas Creek just east of the town of Point Reyes Station. MALT paid $960,000 for the easement using money from the California Wildlife, Coastal and Park Land Conservation Bond Act of 1988 (Proposition 70).
The highest point on the Nobmann Ranch is the 1,280-foot peak of Black Mountain, known by many as Elephant Mountain and considered to be a local landmark. In 1969 rock singer Jesse Colin Young gave it national recognition when he named a hit album "Elephant Mountain." Origins of this nickname are in dispute but some local residents think the mountain looks like an elephant's foot.
Black Mountain was originally named after James Black, a pioneer cattle rancher who moved to the Nicasio-Tomales Bay area in 1848. In 1851 he bought a tract of land, including Black Mountain, from Jasper O'Farrell for $2,000 and raised 2,000 head of cattle on it. A portion of that same land was sold to Margaret Nobmann in 1974 by Charmaine A. Burdell, a direct descendant of James Black. Point Reyes Station is also built on what used to be Black family land. To the area residents and the nearly 4 million peopple who visit the region each year, Black Mountain acts as a gateway to West Marin and the Point Reyes National Seashore. It stands alone as a backdrop to the town of the Point Reyes National Seashore. Protecting the Nobmann Ranch from development and preserving it as productive open space will guarantee the incredible beauty and character of the area for generations to come.
To see a timeline of MALT easements, download MALT's Land Preservation Report.
