BELTANE RANCH HISTORY
Early History
Beltane Ranch was once the territory of the Wappo Indians. In 1837 it was part of Rancho Los Guilicos, a land grant from the Mexican Governor of Upper California to John Wilson and Ramona Carillo de Wilson.
1878
By 1878 the Ranch was owned by John Drummond, a pioneer California viticulturist and winemaker.
1890
the Drummond Ranch and surrounding homesteads were purchased by Mary Ellen Pleasant, a legendary figure of old San Francisco. The daughter of slaves, she rose to a position of considerable financial and political power during a very colorful period of San Francisco history. She is credited with helping abolitionist John Brown before the Civil War and with guiding the Underground Railway. Financially astute and socially well connected, Mary Ellen Pleasant managed boarding houses, arranged marriages, operated brothels and numerous other business ventures. Her confidant and partner during these years was Scottish banker Thomas Bell. The name "Beltane" likely refers to Bell as well as the ancient Celtic festival of Beltane, an early May celebration of fertility. Pleasant is thought to have designed and built the ranch house as it exists today. The influence of her New Orleans heritage is evident in the building's graceful and airy architecture.
1936
the ranch was purchased by Ralph and Effia Heins. They raised cattle, sheep and turkeys. Mrs. Heins began the gardens and her raspberry patch still supplies the kitchen with fresh berries in early Summer and Fall. The Heins, originally from South Dakota and Minnesota, had come to California in 1905 via a lumber camp in Oaxaca, Mexico. Their marriage certificate hangs in Room #4.
1970
In 1970, Hein's niece, Rosemary Wood, began restoration of the ranch house and opened it to guests, one room at a time. The first vineyards of dry-farmed hillside Chardonnay and Pinot Noir were planted the same year. Eventually blocks of Zinfandel, Merlot, Cabernet and Sauvignon Blanc were also planted.
1992
The first olive groves were planted and producing olives for oil within 2 years. Our oil later wins a silver medal at the Harvest Fair.
1988
Kenwood Vineyards "BELTANE RANCH Chardonnay" wins the Gold Medal at the Sonoma County Harvest Fair.
2004
In 2004 approximately 1300 acres of Beltane Ranch were acquired by the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District. This area included the spectacular eight mile trail that was so popular with our guests and also with many local organizations. Though the county has no immediate plans to open it to the public, the land is protected from any future development.
TODAY
Beltane has expanded our agricultural offerings with expansive raised produce beds and additonal heirloom fruit trees and vines and new varieties of berries. Most mornings our kitchen is supplied with entirely homegrown fruits and vegetables in addition to our farm fresh eggs from our Beltane hens. The ranch has also begun raising grass-fed beef and our olive oil is now available at the Olive Press at Jacuzzi Winery in Sonoma and at Oxbow Market in Napa. Our Sauvignon Blanc vineyard produces fruit for Cakebread Cellars.
Our history was recently featured in a nice article and essay by Daniella Thompson in the Berkeley Daily Planet and on the Berkeley Architectural Heritage Associaton Website.
The ranch is operated by Rosemary Wood, her daughter Alexa Wood and grandchildren Lauren and Alex Benward.
The Inn is managed by Anne Soulier.
Special thanks to Steven Krause for the photography featured on our site.
