Joel McCrea's 1933 ranch became 74-acre wildlife preserve and 220-acre parkland

When Hollywood western actor Joel McCrea bought a large piece of farmland in Santa Rosa Valley in 1933, he wanted a quiet working retreat away from movie sets. Decades later, the property has moved into public ownership, helping protect hundreds of acres of open land and natural habitat along the northern edge of Thousand Oaks, California. Through land transfers and open space donations made by his family, the former 3,000-acre working ranch has provided important areas for conservation. The family officially donated 74 acres as a protected wildlife sanctuary, while also helping arrange the public purchase of another 220 acres to remain as parkland and historic open space. According to records from the Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency, the 74-acre preserve includes rocky cliffs, deep canyons and groups of rare native plants.