History
The story of Rocky Top Ranch is woven into the fabric of this remarkable part of the United States and its history of westward expansion. In the early 1930s, a married couple built a humble one-room home on this 4-acre plot in order to prospect for gold. Their original gold mine is still on the property, but is now sealed, and serves as a reminder of a bygone era. Hundreds of other abandoned gold mines dot the landscape of the BLM Reserve in which RTR is located.
Take in breathtaking vistas of historic Walker Pass from the comfort of the Ranch's living room. Walker Pass once served as the sole passage through the Sierras for 150 miles. In the late 1800s, successful prospectors in silver- and gold-laden wagons made their way from Cerro Gordo to Los Angeles. Near RTR, bandits hid at a massive rock formation named Robbers Roost, in order to ambush and rob the prospectors of their riches.
A previous owner of the Ranch with a passion for folk art contributed his own creative touches, including a whimsical coke-bottle-clad outhouse and an enchanting 1,300-foot children's train relocated from an amusement park. Subsequent owners have expanded and refined the existing homestead to modern standards.
The current owners have lovingly restored and furnished the property with antiques and have added to the Ranch’s folk-art collection. Additionally, they have upgraded and improved RTR’s infra-structure for the 21st Century and beyond.
The surrounding area is famous for its Native American petroglyphs, the story of which can be experienced at the local Maturango Museum. This region has also been featured in countless films and television shows, including Holes, Tremors, Planet of the Apes, and Top Gun: Maverick. In fact, Woman Undone, starring Sam Elliot and Randy Quaid was filmed at the Ranch itself.
