Protecting and Sustaining this Natural Treasure
The Story of Fiscalini Ranch Preserve
Where a community’s courage turned trespass into triumph.
It all began with a simple act of trespassing.
In the small coastal town of Cambria, open space was rare and deeply treasured. Locals had always felt drawn to the sweeping ocean cliffs and quiet forest trails of Fiscalini Ranch — land so beautiful it seemed meant to be shared. For generations, Cambrians wandered its paths, even while it was still a working cattle ranch. But when developers bought the property and began closing the gates, the community’s heart broke.
Walkers now needed permission to visit the land they loved. And when the first executive director of Friends of the Fiscalini Ranch Preserve refused to stay away, she was arrested for trespassing. That arrest, however, became a spark — a symbol of resistance.
The odds were daunting: a small town standing up to a powerful development corporation. Yet the people of Cambria refused to give up. They organized, rallied, and dreamed bigger than anyone thought possible. With the help of a dedicated land trust, state and county agencies, and hundreds of volunteers and donors from across the country, the community accomplished what had once seemed impossible.
Together, they bought the Ranch. Together, they saved it — not just for themselves, but forever.
That was 25 years ago. Today, the Fiscalini Ranch Preserve remains open and free for all to explore — a living symbol of what a united community can achieve when it stands for the land it loves. Every ocean breeze that brushes the cliffs, every red-tailed hawk that soars above, carries the legacy of those who refused to let this place be lost.
Now, a new generation continues that work through Friends of the Fiscalini Ranch Preserve (FFRP) — the nonprofit organization born from that original dream. FFRP partners with the Cambria Community Services District (CCSD) to care for this 437-acre treasure, one of the last untouched stretches of California coastline.
Through a Conservation Easement that legally protects the land, FFRP ensures that Fiscalini Ranch Preserve stays wild, healthy, and accessible to all. Volunteers remove invasive plants, repair trails, and restore native habitats. Expert-led walks invite visitors to learn about the Ranch’s wildlife, wildflowers, and history. Each spring, the Cambria Wildflower Show celebrates over 500 native plant species — a dazzling reminder of the biodiversity that thrives here.
FFRP also gives the public a voice in how the Ranch is managed, keeping the spirit of community stewardship alive. Every donation, every hour volunteered, and every footstep taken on its trails continues the story that began with a few determined neighbors and an act of trespassing.
Today, your support carries that legacy forward. Together, we keep the Ranch wild, undeveloped, and welcoming — a sanctuary of peace, beauty, and connection for all who wander its trails.
Because this land was saved by community, and its future depends on community still.
Non-Profit Status
Friends of the Fiscalini Ranch Preserve is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (EIN 91-2161009). Donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law.