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The ranch was one of the last pieces of undeveloped property in Ventura County; in 1989, Home Savings of America and later Washington Mutual Bank (which bought Home Savings in 1998 for $10 billion) sought to develop 3,050 residences on this 2,800 acre parcel in the Santa Monica Mountains. Great opposition grew against development plans. One group in opposition was Rally to Save the Ranch, led by actor/director, Rob Reiner. The State of California purchased the land for the Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve on October 1, 2003.

The Ahmanson Ranch was owned by the Howard F. Ahmanson, Sr., and his H.F. Ahmanson and Company, which, in turn, owned Home Savings of America, (what was then the largest savings and loan remaining in the U.S.) before it was purchased by the Washington Mutual Bank in 1998.

The Ahmanson Ranch became the Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve in 2003.

PCAD id: 1306