"Big Basin Redwoods State Park in the Santa Cruz Mountains, the oldest state park in California, is now 153 acres larger, thanks to the $2.415 million purchase of a storied nearby property. NoraBella, or "the Gateway to Big Basin," was purchased by California State Parks from the conservation nonprofit Sempervirens Fund and permanently added to Big Basin's now 18,376 acres, California State Parks announced on Thursday."
""NoraBella is a conservation gem," David Cowman, Sempervirens Fund's director of land stewardship, said in Thursday's news release. "Permanent protection of NoraBella as part of Big Basin is critical to ensure the long-term health of the Boulder Creek watershed and the San Lorenzo River system it supports. The property has abundant and healthy stands of redwoods, as well as mixed evergreen forests of Douglas-fir, coast live oaks, tan oaks and madrones.""
"Future visions for NoraBella include proximity to what will one day be a welcome center and shuttle service at Saddle Mountain, along with new operations facilities on portions of the property itself, according to California State Parks. The new facilities are part of the " Reimagining Big Basin" plan, which was launched after the park lost all of its facilities and historic buildings in the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex fire."
California State Parks purchased the NoraBella property for $2.415 million and added its 153 acres to Big Basin Redwoods State Park, bringing the park to 18,376 acres. NoraBella borders Saddle Mountain at the park's eastern entrance and contains creeks, waterfalls, canyons and diverse forest habitat that supports gray foxes and mountain lions. The property contains abundant redwoods and mixed evergreen forests of Douglas-fir, coast live oaks, tan oaks and madrones. Planned uses include proximity to a future welcome center and shuttle service at Saddle Mountain and new operations facilities on parts of NoraBella as part of the Reimagining Big Basin plan launched after the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex fire destroyed park facilities and historic buildings. The property previously drew attention when former owner Roy Kaylor appeared on A&E's Hoarders amid litigation and a $20 million fine related to accumulated debris.
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