A large wooden barn labeled Mountcrest Ranch with two men standing with horses in the open-air lower level, enclosed by a white picket fence.

The Story of Mountcrest Ranch

A grey-toned illustration of a cowboy on horseback, viewed from behind.

Ranch History

Mountcrest Ranch sits on land shaped by generations of people who lived, worked, and explored the hills of Bennett Valley long before it became the retreat it is today. From the Miwok communities who first stewarded this landscape, to the ranching families who farmed and raised livestock here for more than a century, the property carries a deep sense of place and history.

The modern Mountcrest Ranch draws inspiration from an earlier ranch owned by my great-grandfather in Northern California—a place where summers were spent riding horses, tending animals, and exploring wide open land. That spirit of connection to nature, family, and gathering together continues to shape the ranch today.

What exists now is both a continuation and a reimagining of that legacy: historic barns and stories from the past alongside modern homes designed for people to slow down, explore the land, and share memorable experiences together.

The Original Mountcrest Ranch

The inspiration for today’s Mountcrest Ranch comes from an earlier ranch owned by my great-grandfather, Reginald H. Parsons. From 1911 to 1955, his Mountcrest Ranch stretched across more than 1,200 acres along the rugged Oregon–California border.

Under the management of Fred Bayliss, an English rancher, the property gained a reputation throughout the West for breeding exceptional livestock. The ranch raised Morgan horses, Hereford cattle, Southdown sheep, and Leghorn chickens—many of which won blue ribbons at county fairs. The Morgan horses were even purchased by notable figures including William Randolph Hearst, and the sheep stock was imported from the British royal family’s flock at Sandringham.

But beyond the accolades, the ranch was most important as a place of family life and memories. Each summer my mother and her siblings traveled from Seattle to spend weeks on the ranch helping with daily chores and learning the rhythms of ranch life.

They rode horses up to the cabin at Circle P, swam in Cottonwood Creek, and spent long days exploring ridges that looked out toward Mount Shasta. Those summers shaped a lifelong appreciation for land, animals, and the outdoors—values that continue to influence Mountcrest Ranch today.

 

  • Bayliss Boys
  • Fred Bayliss and Nancy Parsons
  • Historic photo of mountcrest ranch barn and cows
  • Historic photo of mountcrest ranch barn
  • Historic photo of men and cows
  • Mountcrest Ranch sign in snow
  • Mountcrest Ranch Sign
  • Man on horse on horse during rodeo

Early History of the Land

Long before Mountcrest Ranch existed, this land was home to the Miwok people who lived throughout what is now Sonoma County. They hunted in the surrounding woodlands, fished in nearby creeks, and gathered acorns and other native plants that sustained communities here for thousands of years.

European settlement began in the late 1700s as Spanish explorers moved north from California’s missions while Russian traders approached from the coast. By the early 1800s the region had become part of large Mexican land grants, including Rancho Yulupa, which covered much of what is now Bennett Valley.

Following the Gold Rush of 1849, American settlers arrived in large numbers. One of the earliest was James Bennett, for whom Bennett Valley and Bennett Mountain are named. Bennett purchased land from General Mariano Vallejo and helped establish Santa Rosa as the county seat.

Another early landowner was John Taylor, who purchased large tracts of land including what is now Taylor Mountain. In the late 1800s he developed a small resort called White Sulphur Springs, where visitors came to enjoy mineral waters believed to have healing properties.

  • Sepia-toned portrait of a man in profile, wearing a coat, high collar, and necktie, with prominent mutton chop sideburns.
  • Black and white oval portrait of an elderly man with a white mustache and beard, wearing a suit and cravat.
  • A person sits on a large rock under a giant tree, weaving a basket.
  • An 1892 map of Sonoma County, California, showing cities, towns, and mountain heights in a detailed grid layout.
  • A sepia-toned, high-angle view of a rural farmstead with wooden barns, fenced livestock pens, and a horse-drawn wagon on a dirt road.
  • A black-and-white portrait of an older Indigenous woman with a walking stick standing next to a man in a suit and top hat in front of a wooden wall with a sign that reads City Hall Fri & Sat.

The Van Keppel Ranch | 1878 to 1949

The first family to establish a ranch here was Hendrick and Petronella Van Keppel, Dutch immigrants who purchased 275 acres in 1878. Their ranch reflected a typical Bennett Valley farm, with vineyards, orchards, pasture, forest, and livestock. While much of their production sustained the family, their vineyards yielded over 28,000 pounds of grapes annually.

Soon after their arrival, the Bennett Valley Schoolhouse and cemetery were established, becoming central to the rural community.

The ranch remained in the family for more than 70 years. After Hendrick’s death in 1910, his daughter Nellie and her husband Charles Ward took over, eventually focusing on sheep. Despite hardships—including the Great Depression and a house fire—the family maintained a strong connection to the land.

In 1949, after the deaths of Charles Ward and his son Melvin, Nellie sold the property, ending the family’s long ownership.

  • Two men in hats sit on a McCormick-Deering tractor, one holding a small dog, with historical text below the image.
  • A cowboy being bucked off a horse during a rodeo performance.
  • A portrait of designer Hendrick Van Keppel and a photograph of him as a child riding a horse, accompanied by a biographical text.
  • A sepia-toned vintage photograph of a cowboy riding a bucking horse at a rodeo, with the text Norman Cowan on Chestnut Molly Sumas Round-up inscribed at the bottom.
  • A woman in a floral dress and hat standing with two young children in overalls in front of a wooden building.
  • Four cowboys in hats and chaps standing in an arena in front of a crowd, identified as Norman Cowan, Hippy Burmaster, Ray Kane, and Charlie Johnson.
  • A black-and-white historical land plat map section showing property boundaries, labeled owner names, acreages, and section numbers.
  • Black and white photograph of Norman Cowan bulldogging a steer from horseback in an arena, with text at the bottom reading Norman Cowan bulldogging (c) R.R. Doubleday.
  • Black and white photograph of an adult man and three children sitting in a cart outdoors with a mountain in the background.
  • A cowboy in a hat, plaid shirt, and chaps stands in a field holding a large trophy.

The Hardt Family Era | 1953 to 1972

The ranch entered a new chapter in the early 1950s when Gunther Karl “G.K.” Hardt purchased the property. A German immigrant raised in Santa Rosa, Hardt built a successful auto dealership known for its slogan, “Have a Hardt,” and became a well-known local figure for his generosity and humor.

Around 1953, he renamed the property Circle H Angus Ranch, raising Black Angus cattle. In 1958, he built the modernist home that still stands today, designed for entertaining and featuring a cocktail shaker–shaped pool and a hidden wet bar.

Hardt often hosted gatherings for employees and their families, with children playing and riding ponies across the ranch. He sold the property in 1972. When he died in 2004, he was remembered for his business success and charitable giving; his tombstone reads, “G.K. — Good Kind Hardt.”

  • A long line of people waiting to be served food at an outdoor buffet in a grassy field.
  • A group of women in 1950s attire sitting on and standing by a wooden fence, watching an event outdoors with a hillside in the background.
  • People picnicking on the grass in the shade of trees beside a white fence.
  • A group of children watch as another child rides a pony in a grassy field, with a food truck and a parked truck in the background.
  • A group of people participating in a sack race across a grassy field with hills in the background.
  • A group of people standing around a wooden fence watch as a person in the center prepares to toss an object at a target on the ground.
  • A man wearing a white cowboy hat and a blue work jacket stands indoors in front of floor-length curtains.
  • A man in a denim jacket and jeans rides a brown horse while holding his hat up in the air.
  • An elderly man wearing a long-sleeved denim shirt, jeans, and brown boots stands on a stone path outdoors.
  • Children riding ponies on a circular track at a fairground.
  • A group of children and teenagers running through a dry, grassy field toward the camera.
  • Five women on horseback wave to the camera in a sunny, dry field.
  • Five people compete in a sack race in a grassy field.
  • Children ride ponies on a circular track in a fenced field while adults and other children watch.
  • A man in a light blue suit and polka-dot tie standing next to the front of a car.
  • A group of people wearing sacks participate in a sack race in a grassy field with hills in the background.
  • A woman in a white apron serves food from a metal bin to a young girl holding a plate at an outdoor gathering.
  • Five men standing in a workshop, four of them raising paper cups in a toast.
  • Six people stand and sit along a wooden fence, looking out toward a landscape.
  • A group of adults and children gather for an outdoor picnic near a wooden fence and a large tree.
  • Five young people sitting in a row on a wooden fence outdoors.
  • Four people on horseback wave to the camera in front of a rustic wooden barn.
  • Children ride ponies on a revolving carousel in an outdoor paddock enclosed by a white fence.
  • A group of children and a woman stand in a grassy field in front of a Lombardi Catering Service truck.
  • A group of children and a man sitting at a long wooden table outdoors, eating slices of cake.
  • People serving food from a table at an outdoor event, with a young boy in a blue checkered shirt holding a plate in line.

Mountcrest Ranch Today

Today’s Mountcrest Ranch inhabits the same historical 85 acres along the slopes of Taylor Mountain overlooking Bennett Valley just south of Santa Rosa. The property still contains many remnants of its past including the original barns, a historic tank house, and traces of earlier ranch structures.

Nestled into the majestic old oak trees are three 20th Century homes offering modern comforts and amenities. Guests are welcome to soak up all of the history here as well as the scenic vistas and variety of experiences.

While Mountcrest Ranch has evolved over time, its spirit remains rooted in the same values that shaped it for generations: connection to the land, appreciation for nature, and gathering people together to share the unique experience of this special place

Illustrated map of Mountcrest Ranch showing houses, a corral with horses, a cemetery, and recreational areas near Taylor Mountain Regional Park.

Experience Mountcrest Ranch Today

Explore the ranch’s three vacation homes, discover ranch experiences, or contact the hosts to plan a stay in Bennett Valley.