Camatta Ranch History
Since 1846.
The Land Before the Morrisons
The First recorded mention as shown on the San Miguel Mission records for ten leagues of land called San Juan Capistrano del Camate or Camote states that in 1846, Trineo Herrera and Geronimo Quintana petitioned the Mexican Government for a land grant. They were unsuccessful due to the timing of the bear flag rebellion in California and the land eventually reverted to the US. government and was open to settlers.
The first settlers to make history on the Rancho San Juan Capistrano del Camate arrived in 1858 — two French sheepherders, Jose Borel and Bartolo Baratie, who came from Oakland and located in what is now French Camp. Ten days later, on May 12, 1858, they were murdered by the Pio Linares/Jack Powers gang. Jack Gilkey, located on the Camate, was also killed that same evening.
Around 1870, Robert G. Flint purchased the San Juan Ranch from the U.S. Government, comprising nearly 40,000 acres. A year later, the D. O. Mills family of San Francisco began assembling parcels of the Camatta Ranch — over 36,000 acres in total. The area was originally unfenced and remote, used primarily for sheep grazing and some gold mining. Gradually, cattle took over as fencing was constructed, and Walter Lewis managed the operation under the D O brand.
In 1939–1940, some 20,000 acres were broken up for farming under leases held by Alley Brothers, Iver Hansen, and Pond & Son. In 1961, after 90 years of Mills family ownership, the Camatta Ranch was sold to the Boswell Corporation. Approximately 2,800 acres were later sold to George Jones (operated as the Zapata Ranch), and 500 acres to Bob Lewis, grandson of the original manager. In 1969, Elizabeth Broome Miller purchased the remainder — and began winding down barley farming while planting the French Camp vineyard.
The Morrison Story
Forced Out of the City.
Never Out of the Life.
John Keys Morrison
The Morrison family's patriarch John Keys Morrison settled in the hills of Agura/ Calabasas in the 1870's, farming and ranching which led to decades of Morrison ranchers.
The Morrison family's connection to this land is rooted in hard times. During the Depression of 1929–30, patriarch Alonzo Thomas Morrison had built a court of apartments on Bronson Avenue in Hollywood. Unable to make mortgage payments to Bank of America, and being a rancher at heart, he traded the city property for 3,000 acres in the Holland Canyon area of the San Juan Ranch.
His son Roy V. Morrison, finding it difficult to ranch in both Shandon and Calabasas, traded the Shandon ranch for 1,000 acres in Los Angeles County in 1940. By 1979, with subdivision pressing in on four sides, a portion of the Los Angeles property was again traded — this time for 32,000 acres of the original Camatta Ranch.
The ranch continues today as a working cattle operation, carrying approximately 800 mother cows that we sell in the conventional cattle market or in our direct to consumer marketing program.
It is also worth noting that the descendants of many early settlers and farmers still live in the county — among them the families of Pio Linares, Walt Lewis, the Alleys, Iver Hansen, and the Ponds. The history of this land runs deep, and the people who shaped it are not forgotten.
"There are two different kinds of people. There are takers, and there are caretakers. And the Morrison family, we're caretakers."
— Felicia Morrison
Family Lineage
Six Generations on the Land
Late 1800s
John Keys Morrison
Founded the family ranching tradition in Southern California
Early 1900s
Alonzo Morrison
Continued the cattle operation through the Depression era
Mid 1900s
Roy Morrison
Managed the ranch as Los Angeles began to expand
1960s–70s
Robert Morrison
Led the family's eventual relocation from Southern California
1978–Present
Mark & Felicia Morrison
Established Camatta Ranch on the Central Coast and built a life raising cattle, family, and guests on the land
Present
Haustin, Garrett, Emilee & Tanna
The sixth generation, growing up on the land and carrying the legacy forward
The Morrison Family
Our Values
What We
Stand For
Land Stewardship
We ranch in ways that do not deplete the soil and water faster than they are replaced. Conservation isn't a trend — it's how we've always operated.
Family Legacy
Six generations of Morrisons have worked this land. The traditions, methods, and love of the life pass from parent to child with each generation.
Sharing the Life
We opened our gates over 30 years ago because we believe this way of life is worth sharing. Every guest who visits becomes part of the Camatta story.
The Ranch
Life on the Camatta Ranch
