For the past 100 years, the Garner family has owned the cattle ranch passing through various generations, from father to son, Robert F. Garner, Jr. and then to grandson, Jack Garner and great-granddaughter, Mary Elizabeth “Meg” Garner, who manages the ranch today along with her husband, Ted Johnson and daughter Hannah Johnson.
This custom home is in the highly sought after community of Garner Valley. There are 26 miles of horse and hiking trails plus many more amenities in this community. The main house is absolutely amazing with wood beams running throughout, tall ceilings and room for everyone.
Some of Hollywood’s western stars of the era to visit Garner Ranch include Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, Tex Ritter, Audie Murphy, James Drury, Tim Holt and several others. Many would ride the range across the silver screen rescuing starlets and runaway stage coaches from the outlaws.
Some of Hollywood’s western stars of the era to visit Garner Ranch include Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, Tex Ritter, Audie Murphy, James Drury, Tim Holt and several others. Many would ride the range across the silver screen rescuing starlets and runaway stage coaches from the outlaws.
Garner Ranch, one of Southern California’s largest working cattle ranches, is located in spectacular Garner Valley, nestled in the San Jacinto Mountains and bordered by a National Forest. The Pacific Crest Trail, which extends from Canada to Mexico, winds along the top of the eastern mountains bordering this pristine valley.
Surrounded by the San Jacinto Mountains, which are pictorially similar to the San Bernardino Mountains, Garner Valley and specifically Garner Ranch, much like Big Bear Valley, would also become a film location site for a number of Hollywood’s famous B-westerns. Lake Hemet, which borders along the north end of the Valley across from Garner Ranch, ...
Some of the series that filmed at the ranch include The Virginian, Fury, Hopalong Cassidy and Eight is Enough, In 1959, the Garner Ranch was utilized for the opening credits of the ever-popular Bonanza.
Although the Ponderosa Ranch house is actually located in Inverness, California near Lake Tahoe and much of the filming was done there, the opening scene where the Cartwright family ride down the meadowland into the television screen for the pilot was actually filmed at the Garner Ranch.
In 1968, Jack Garner sold 2,200 acres of the ranch to the Great American Land Company who began marketing five-acre parcel retreat escapes. Today, that area is known as Garner Valley and is home to many families who relish the sweet smell of pines, the sounds of nature and star-spangled nights away from city lights.
Once known as Hemet Valley, then Thomas Valley, and now Garner Valley, its earliest inhabitants were the Cahuilla Indians, known as California’s “ Desert People,” who ventured into cooler climate escaping the Coachella Valley heat.