Politics & Government

$110K Needed to Keep Petaluma Adobe Open

Association looking for donations and groups who could take over parts of day to day operations at historic ranch

The Petaluma Adobe, General Vallejo's former cattle ranch at the base of Sonoma Mountain, is a national landmark that has welcomed visitors from all over the world as well as local school groups learning about early California history.

But unless $110,000 is raised by next July, the state park will be shuttered indefinitely, victim of state budget cuts that have identified a total of 70 parks for closure.

On Thursday, the Sonoma/Petaluma State Historic Parks Association met to discuss ways the Petaluma Adobe could be saved, including finding groups to take over aspects of the operations through an operating agreement.

Find out what's happening in Petalumawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The option will be allowed if AB42, introduced by Assemblymember Jared Huffman earlier this year and passed by legislature this month, is signed by Gov. Jerry Brown.

“People in Petaluma need to step up to the plate because the association really operates in Sonoma and there isn’t the kind of interest in Sonoma about saving a Petaluma landmark,” said Liz Kane, a boardmember and a docent at the park.

Find out what's happening in Petalumawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“It takes a business plan and a group that can carry out that plan and right now the association is not really set up for that,” she said.

At the meeting, attended by California State Parks District Superintendent Steve Bachman and Sonoma County Supervisor David Rabbitt, the group threw out ideas how to raise money to keep the current employees as well as pay for everything from animal feed to patrolling the park. The park, open just two days a week, is patrolled by rangers.

Other ideas include renting out a part of the Petaluma Adobe for Western-style weddings and using the adjacent lot for a food truck event.

Richard Sharke, a longtime Petaluma resident and director of the McDowell Drug Task Force, an organization that funds drug prevention programs, suggested that a bigger push be made to send local students for “outdoor education” at or near the adobe instead of Walker Creek Ranch in Marin County where they go now.

“This is not just a local treasure, but a national treasure and there is no way on God’s green earth that we should allow that park to be shut down,” Sharke said.

Whatever is decided, there isn’t much time left. Groups that want to take over the park must submit their proposals by the end of the year and demonstrate not only how they will raise the needed revenue, but also how they will operate the park day to day, according to Lauren Dixon, Deputy Director of the Parks Alliance. The Sonoma County organization is working with local nonprofits and governments to keep state parks open.

“This problem will require both a short-term and long-term solution,” Dixon said, adding that it was unlikely that the state would have more money in three to five years. “Instead, this is an opportunity to create something new in Sonoma County that works better and is more sustainable.”

But many Petalumans don’t even know about the park, said Kane, which makes garnering support for the project challenging. Kane added that the Petaluma Chamber, the Downtown Association and other local groups could do more to get the word out about the impending closure.

“We really need to encourage interest in the business community,” she said. “There must be someone among them who’s interested in keeping the adobe open.”

The association is actively looking for new members from Petaluma to help organize the effort to save the Petaluma Adobe and invite them to attend their next meeting on October 27 at 845 Casa Grande Road at 1pm. For more information, contact Philip Sales at 592-1601 or Liz Kane at 773-3124.

A good way to support the Petaluma Adobe is by attending what may be its last fandango this Saturday. The fandango was an annual tradition at the cattle ranch and Saturday's event will feature period costumes, food, music and dancing. 12-4pm. The Petaluma Adobe Historic Park is located at 3325 Adobe Road in Petaluma.


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