Early Ranch History

In the mid 1700’s, explorer Francisco Garces, led by Indian guides, discovered a shorter route between Sonora, Mexico and Monterey, California. Part of the trail followed Cottonwood Creek Canyon down to an Indian Rancheria near the crossing of the Kern River. The route was already well traveled when Solomon Jewett and his two sons, Solomon Jr. and Philip, built a home near the river crossing, raising sheep in the small valley. The old trail passed through the Jewett's sheep ranch, where many travelers stopped to visit and rest. The Mexican settlers called the Kern River "Rio Bravo," so the Jewett property became known as "Rio Bravo Ranch." Settling on this land in 1861, the Jewett family was among the earliest settlers in Bakersfield, making the ranch one of the oldest in the region.

Other parts of the ranch were eventually homesteaded through efforts of Angus McLeod, Henry Pierce, John Barker, A.J. McLeod, Albert Jasper and Emma Beaudry. (In the 1880’s, Pierce and Barker developed some of the first irrigation ditches that originated from the Kern River.)

Through the early 1900’s, Louis Olcese pieced together the various homesteads and land grants covering the Rio Bravo Ranch. In all, he was able to consolidate over 30,000 acres of land, which he used for working cattle and sheep as well as for grain.