South of the sleepy little town of Willits a couple miles as you're climbing or descending the 101, just below the summit for which it's named is the tranquil emerald green valley that is Ridgewood Ranch. It's barely marked anymore and most folks driving this particular grade of rough road nowadays, are so focused on the zigzag of the roadway and steep terrain they drive right by never even knowing what legends were once a part of the history of the green valley below.
Long ago in the 1930s through the late 1940s, this was the home and final resting place of the world famous race horse Sea Biscuit and more specifically that of its owner San Francisco businessman Charles Howard who was quite an interesting fellow. The glory days of a simpler time are gone and the 16,000 acre "ranch" itself has evolved over the decades. Howard brought "albino white deer" to the valley decades ago, and if you're lucky you can still catch a glimpse of them. They stay in the same range they always have and can only be found here.
Howard's name is all over the community just a bit north of it, the areas hospital bears the name of Howard's son. Ridgewood Ranch is now home to a few smaller organizations related to racehorse Sea Biscuit and the history of the Ranch, and a secluded mobile home park.
3.5 Stars - rounded up for the rare and elusive white deer found only there.
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