RANCH HISTORY

Lassen Ranch is nestled in the high mountains of the Sierra Nevadas in Northern California. The Ranch is surrounded by the Lassen National Wilderness, just outside Mineral, California. Lassen Ranch was originally homesteaded in the late 1800's and has a long and rich history. Originally settled as a summer range cattle ranch, it later was used as a midpoint grazing area for central valley cattlemen moving their herds from the winter valley ranches to the early spring and summer cattle grazing range of the High Sierra.

By the early 1950's through the late 1970's the ranch was also home to a thriving lodge and bar utilized by local loggers working in the then growing timber industry. Lassen Ranch is set at over 4000-foot elevation and has the exclusive and private ownership and use of over a mile of the south-fork of Battle Creek in the high Sierra Nevada wilderness.

In the middle 1990's the ranch began its present journey back to its roots with the focus on breeding, raising and training the American Quarter Horse. The ranches very limited brood mare band have a traditional cutting horse foundation which includes Doc O'lena, Bueno Chex, Smart Little Lena, Royal Blue Boon and Lenard Milligan. These foundational bloodlines are being crossed with modern bloodlines with a focus on two great sons of the legendary Metallic Cat: Stevie Rey Von and Hashtag. The ranch also breeds annually to Bet Hesa Cat, and the Lassen Ranch resident stallion, LR Blue Mate (Mecom Blue x OK Mate by Smartmate).

Although the ranches facility is small by modern standards, the seasonal training facility is exceptionally constructed and well maintained. The training facility includes a 145' x 290' arena; and two round pens. The larger cutting round pen is 110' in diameter. All training areas have six inches of compacted decomposed granite with three to six inches of washed sand.

Spared by Fire — Three Times

Sparked by lightning, the 2012 Ponderosa Fire burned from the west up the South Fork of Battle Creek toward the town of Mineral, California. Located between the town of Mineral and the approaching flames was Lassen Ranch. As the eastern boundary of the Ponderosa Fire approached the western border of Lassen Ranch, CAL FIRE made a final stand, fighting the fire to a standstill less than 100 yards from the western border of Lassen Ranch.

In August 2021, the Dixie Fire—ultimately burning nearly a million acres—again threatened the town of Mineral and Lassen Ranch. After weeks of fighting low humidity, high winds, and extreme temperatures, CAL FIRE issued a mandatory evacuation of all areas east of Lassen Ranch, including the town of Mineral. On August 17th the fire crested Morgan Summit and was poised to consume both Mineral and Lassen Ranch. The brave men and women of CAL FIRE made a final stand—this time along Highway 89, refusing to allow the fire west of the highway, knowing the town of Mineral would be completely destroyed. The Dixie Fire was stopped. Once again, the town of Mineral and Lassen Ranch were spared.

In July 2024, the Park Fire—ignited by arson near Chico and ultimately burning 429,603 acres, the fourth largest wildfire in California history—spread north into the Lassen National Forest and Tehama County, again threatening the town of Mineral and Lassen Ranch. CAL FIRE deployed more than 1,000 firefighters to protect Mineral and the surrounding communities. Highway 89 was closed as firefighters held the line. Lassen Ranch was once again spared.

A special thanks to all the brave men and women of CAL FIRE, Tehama County Sheriff's Department, California Highway Patrol, and Cal Trans — from Lassen Ranch.