If you’ve ever traveled over California’s Tehachapi range, heading either north or south along Interstate 5, you may have unknowingly passed the Tejon Ranch. As a kid, I always thought of these mountains as “The Grapevine,” without understanding or even questioning why! It meant that our trip to the Los Angeles region was nearly over — although occasionally the Tejon Pass had a surprise in store for us: a snowstorm in the winter or an overheating radiator in the summertime. If I had only had an idea of some of the fascinating history, the people and events that happened among those peaks and canyons I just might have found this part of our journey more interesting. This one-hour episode of California’s Gold originally aired in July 2006 and features just a taste of the varied and beautiful scenery that you’ve probably never seen or imagined existed in the heart of the Tehachapi Mountains.

Join Huell as he visits the 270,000 acre Tejon Ranch in Lebec, California. Huell sees the diverse beauty of this enormous ranch and and learns about its rich history. Huell and his guide, Vice President of Ranch Operations Don Geivet, explore the different aspects of Tejon Ranch, ranging from ranch operations, the landscape, the flora and fauna, and Fort Tejon.

(Click on the linked image below to see the video.)