Hollister Hills SVRA

History

Howard Harris created the foundation of what today is known as Hollister Hills SVRA. Howard's great grandfather, Jesse Whitton, was a civilian surveyor for the John C. Fremont expedition that traveled through the area in 1846. After the expedition, Jesse Whitton returned to the area and successfully purchased 600 acres for $50 per acre. The land was passed through the family and finally to Howard Harris in 1959. In the following years, Howard purchased more of the surrounding properties and built many of the park's trails and roads. He used the land for a number of activities including mining, farming, ranching, hunting, scientific studies, and OHV recreation. OHVs were first used on the ranch in 1947 when Howard established the Bird Creek Hunting Club. During the 1950s, private OHV activities were held and by 1970, the ranch was officially opened for public OHV recreation. On October 1, 1975 Howard sold the land to the State of California and it became Hollister Hills SVRA.

Specialties

The Mission of the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation (OHMVR) Division is to provide leadership statewide in the area of off-highway vehicle (OHV) recreation; to acquire, develop, and operate state-owned vehicular recreation areas; and to otherwise provide for a statewide system of managed OHV recreational opportunities through funding to other public agencies. The OHMVR Division works to ensure quality recreational opportunities remain available for future generations by providing for education, conservation, and enforcement efforts that balance OHV recreation impacts with programs that conserve and protect cultural and natural resources.