About

Adobe Ranch

The Adobe Ranch is one of the largest family owned ranches in California, with a family history dating back to 1887. The ranch comprises over 10,000 contiguous acres of rangeland, conservation and farmland.

History

The farming history of the Adobe Ranch dates back to 1852 making it the oldest known farm in Madera County. The Big House at the headquarters of the Adobe Ranch was originally Fort Bishop, the first structure built on the Fresno River. Fort Bishop was built in 1852 as a trading post and farm headquarters under the instruction of James D. Savage.

Conservation

The ranch has committed to the preservation of thousands of acres of rangeland, wetlands and vernal pools for the purposes of endangered species habitat.

Water

Approximately 15% of the ranch is irrigated farmland. The vast majority of the ranch is non-irrigated pasture. The Ranch has several sources of irrigation water including senior water rights to the Fresno River, Class 1 water from the Madera Irrigation District for the portions of the Ranch that are in the District’s boundaries; contract water from the Bureau of Reclamation; and groundwater pumped from the Madera Subbasin of the San Joaquin Valley Groundwater Basin.