Priest Coulterville RoadPriest Coulterville Road, Jackass Creek Access Road , Groveland, CA 95321(Tuolumne County)

The property is comprised of eleven contiguous parcels totaling 472.72-acres and provides excellent development opportunity. The terrain ranges from nearly flat to moderately sloped areas, forested with a rich variety of native trees, shrubs, grasses and flowers, e.g., Mariposa Lilies, Wild Clematis and others. Beautiful Oaks, some Heritage-sized, Pines, Buckeyes and other trees dot the landscape with Little Jackass Creek and Spring Gulch Creek running through portions of the land. The property’s primary access point is on the west along Priest Coulterville Road. The Spring Gulch Road that traverses the property is a public county road, but is not maintained by the county (a road maintenance agreement is in place). This primary internal road and secondary road provides access through the picturesque terrain. There are numerous excellent building sites on the property that could be developed for a variety of uses, including: homes, outbuildings, cabins, recreational retreat facilities, storage for off-road and recreational vehicles, equipment and more. The property provides amazing views of California’s famed Motherlode region within and beyond the property. This scenic land has a natural year-around spring, includes rich habitat for a variety of wildlife and supplies a wide range of opportunities for the outdoor enthusiast. The property was previously enrolled in the Williamson Act and is primed for re-enrollment. The property was part of the Wildwood Farms subdivision, issued 10/27/77 and renewed 07/10/91 (Public Report #013904SA-A06).

APNs 066-680-007-000/008-000/009-000/010-000/011-000 total approx. 208.5-acres.

APNs 066-690-001-000/002-000/003-000/004-000/005-000/006-000 total approx. 264-acres.

Improvements

The ranch property includes two outbuildings. The primary building is a 848-sf. ft. two-story residential styled barn-type/cabin structure affording excellent views and easy access. It is wired for generator or solar power and plumbed for water and propane. It includes multiple rooms/spaces, a kitchen-type area and a loft accessible via stairs. A lockable sectional door provides access to the garage. A septic tank system serves the building. The barn/cabin has great flexibility and provides opportunity for a variety of uses. The second building is a 192-sq. ft. wood clad, roofed storage shed where the water well is located. It is located near the barn for ease of access and use. Outbuilding sizes are approximate.

Recreation

Outdoor activity opportunities on the property and in the region include, hunting, fishing, ATV, mountain biking, hiking, camping, wildlife viewing, horseback riding and more. Other activities are available in the surrounding hills, mountains, lakes, rivers and streams of the Sierra Nevada. Moccasin Recreation area at Lake Don Pedro is a 30-min drive west on CA-120 with Melones Reservoir a short distance further to the north. South of Don Pedro you will find Horseshoe Bend Rec. Area at Lake McClure offering boating, watersports and fishing for multiple species. The nearby Tuolumne, Stanislaus and Merced Rivers provide excellent fly-fishing. A short drive east on CA-120 you will find yourself in Yosemite, one of the most unique and picturesque National Parks in the US. Yosemite is internationally recognized for its granite cliffs, waterfalls, clear streams, giant sequoia groves, lakes, mountains, glaciers, biological diversity, including unparalleled hiking, camping, fishing and sightseeing. Closer to the property, the historic communities of Big Oak Flat and Groveland provide a step back in time with a variety of shops, restaurants, hotels, premier golf and dining at Pine Mountain Lake and more.

See the Resource section for more information.

Agriculture

The property is well suited for livestock grazing and horses with additional farm/ag opportunities.

Region & Climate

Big Oak Flat, Groveland, Coulterville and the neighboring communities in Tuolumne and Mariposa County offer year-around residents and visitors exceptional climate and weather. The region boasts some of the most sun-days in the area, being above the fog line and below most snowfall areas.

History

The Neuman Ranch has been family owned since 1958 and has been maintained in an unspoiled-like manner to a great extent over the years. The property was the site of a since removed Old Spring Gulch School. A portion of the original stagecoach road route runs through a section of the ranch. Nearby Big Oak Flat and Groveland were originally part of a small placer mining area discovered by James D. Savage, a California pioneer of 1846. The gold was first found in the waterway later named Rattlesnake Creek, near Big Oak Flat. Both towns are on the way to Yosemite National Park. Savage founded the towns of Big Oak Flat and Garrote (now Groveland), then collectively known as Savages Diggings in 1849. Big Oak Flat got its name from a large oak located there. The Groveland section of the camp was named Garrote from its reputation of swift and hard justice by way of hangings. In 1874, the Big Oak Flat Road to Yosemite was completed as a tourism and freight route linking the San Joaquin River docks in Stockton and the Yosemite Valley. Passing through Big Oak Flat and Garrote, the road, now largely Highway 120 in Tuolumne County, became and remains an important factor in the vitality of the region. The large Hetch Hetchy (HH) water project’s headquarters was in Groveland from 1915 to 1925. The City and County of San Francisco had gained generous rights to the Tuolumne River watershed in 1910 and set its sights on damming the main Tuolumne River as it meandered through HH, a wide glacial cut valley almost as grand as Yosemite. O’Shanghnessey Dam, a key feature of the HH Water and Power project, was constructed at HH. Before the actual dam construction could get underway, the San Francisco project built the HH Railroad extending from the Sierra Railway at the HH Junction, fifteen miles west of Jamestown, and continuing to the dam site. Miles of tunnels were drilled to carry the water 150 miles to reservoirs in the Bay Area. Evidence of the Hetch Hetchy project can be seen along Highway 120 where four large penstocks descend to Moccasin, adjacent to Priest Grade.

Source: Tuolumne Co. Historical Society

Location

Big Oak Flat and Groveland are in Tuolumne County along CA-120. The Neuman Ranch is 2.6-miles south of Priest Station on Priest Coulterville Road. The historic town of Coulterville is 7.6-miles south of the property entrance along Priest Coulterville Road. The nearby towns and communities provide plentiful shopping, dining and other resources and amenities to residents, along with close access to Yosemite National Park. Numerous international airports are a few hours drive to the west, north and south with Pine Mountain Lake airport nearby.

See the Recreation section for more.