Overview of the Rio Bravo Ranch

Rio Bravo Ranch is one of the oldest ranches in the Bakersfield, California, region.  Solomon Jewett and his two sons Solomon Jr. and Philip founded the first 160 acres of ranch back in 1861.  Jewett raised grain crops and sheep on the ranch.  Other parts of the ranch were homesteaded by Angus McLeod, Henry Pierce, John Barker, A.J. McLeod, Albert Jasper, and Emma Beaudry.  Pierce and Barker in the 1880's developed some of the first irrigation ditches that originated from the Kern River.

During the 1910's Louis Olcese pieced together the various homesteads and land grants covering the Rio Bravo Ranch. All in all, he was able to consolidate over 30,000 acres of land.   He ran the  property as a working cattle, sheep, and grain ranch. 

In 1965, George W Nickel, purchased the lower half of the Rio Bravo from the heirs of Louis Olcese.  This amounted to about 16,000 acres.  The northern half of the ranch was purchased by the Meban Family and is still run as a cattle ranch today.  George's original intent for the property was to donate a section of the ranch for the future site of Cal State Bakersfield.  He believed the ranch would make a unique setting for the new college. He believed it only made sense to see the city of Bakersfield grow along the scenic foothills of the east rather than to the flat farmlands of the west.  His proposal was turned down and Cal State's Board of Trustees decided instead to locate the college in the flat lands west of Bakersfield where Kern County Land Company's interests lay. 

Today the core ranch is a working citrus, almond, cattle ranch.  Several of its citrus blocks produce some of the earliest maturing navels and mandarins in the United States.

The ranch also hosts an Equestrian Center and currently boards approximately 60 horses.

The Kern River runs through the heart of ranch.  The Kern River's rapids on Rio Bravo Ranch provide excellent whitewater rafting and kayaking opportunities.  In 1976 the National Whitewater Championships were held at Rio Bravo.