A 116-acre ranch in California with a gold-bearing stream running through it and a thriving cannabis farming operation is now available for $7.2 million.
Strange Ranch, in Calaveras County, 140 miles east of downtown San Francisco, is named after its owner, the Strange family, who have spent 30 years on the property and its rugged landscape.
“Living on Strange Ranch has been a rare experience,” Terry Strange, a former university instructor in biology and natural resources, said. “I remember exploring the trails, discovering pockets of quartz in the rock formations, and watching my children grow up connected to the outdoors.”
Gold Rush vs. Cannabis Rush
In a unique bit of harmonious synchrony, the gold in the stream harkens back to over a century ago, which was parallel to what is happening in the cannabis industry right now. As cannabis is increasingly legalized throughout the country, individuals throughout the US are getting into the dispensary and legal cannabis-selling sector, as it looks immensely promising and ensures a great deal of financial success. This is very similar to the Gold Rush of the mid-1800s in California.
While the Gold Rush officially began in January of 1848, it wasn’t until a year later, in 1849, that things took off, netting people who moved west to cash in on gold mining, the nickname of forty-niners. This Gold Rush led many to drive out to unexplored territory, literally and metaphorically, in search of newfound wealth and success. In the same way, people are now diving into the unexplored territory of legal cannabis sales, hoping to find similar success. Now, Strange Ranch serves as a bridge between the two worlds, uniting Californians across nearly 150 years in the same space. Gold and trout can be found in the stream.
At 120 acres, “it’s more than a home,” Terry said. “It’s a place for those who love the outdoors, value privacy, and want a river of their own to explore. We’re looking for someone who will appreciate not just the land but the life it offers and the history it holds.”
The stream on the South Fork of the Mokelumne River is gold-bearing and trout-bearing, offering plenty of opportunity for fly fishing. The cannabis farming operation spans 1.6 acres.
There’s a 3,400-square-foot primary residence, a 1,600-square-foot farmhouse with a workshop, a 600-square-foot rental home, and a 3,400-square-foot metal warehouse. In addition, the 1.6-acre cannabis farm is “an exciting, forward-thinking aspect that sets this ranch apart from others in the area,” said agent Chris Lim of Christie’s International Real Estate, who began shopping the home off the market this week.
What Makes Strange Ranch So Strange
“What stands out most about Strange Ranch is its unique combination of rugged natural beauty and modern business opportunities,” Lim said. “The thriving cannabis farming operation is a major draw, but it’s the peaceful, private river and surrounding wildlife that make it a true retreat.”
Even after mass legalization throughout the US, there is still a negative stigma that hangs around the sale, purchasing, and consumption of cannabis. One need look no further than how mass media portrays those who were involved in the Gold Rush versus those who are currently engaged in the ‘cannabis rush.’ Cannabis-centric characters in film and television are almost always relegated to cliched pothead roles à la Cheech & Chong or Dude, Where’s My Car? In stark contrast, Charlie Chaplin’s The Gold Rush chronicles the struggle of forty-niners as noble, worthwhile work. Part of this can be attributed simply to the benefit of hindsight. Chaplin’s film was made in 1925, several decades after the actual events it chronicles. In fifty years, perhaps someone will make a film about the ‘cannabis rush’ that portrays its participants as nobly befitting of Strange Ranch’s locale.
