Former Walt Ranch renamed to honor vital wildlife corridor; public opening targeted for spring 2027
The Land Trust of Napa County today announced the official renaming of Walt Ranch to the Osos Ridge Preserve. The new name celebrates the 2,300-acre property’s critical role as a contiguous wildlife corridor and its consistent use by black bears. Acquired three years ago, the preserve is slated to open to the public in the spring of 2027.
“Renaming this magnificent landscape to Osos Ridge Preserve marks a defining chapter in our mission to protect Napa County’s natural heritage,” said Melanie Parker, CEO of the Land Trust of Napa County. “By permanently conserving this land, we are not only securing a critical lifeline for the region’s wildlife but also honoring our promise to open these 2,300 acres to the community. We look forward to welcoming the public in 2027 so everyone can experience and connect with this extraordinary, biologically diverse wilderness.”
“After a decade of contention over this land’s future, I’m glad the outcome is publicly accessible open space, which is exactly what our district exists to help deliver,” said Chris Cahill, General Manager of the Napa County Regional Park and Open Space District, which will eventually manage the property in partnership with the Land Trust. “We’re supporting the Land Trust with our trail design and public access experience so that the Osos Ridge Preserve opens the way it should: carefully considered, carefully built, and worthy of the plants and animals that call it home.”