Old Borges Ranch
Old Borges Ranch is a historic cattle ranch in the Mt. Diablo foothills of Contra Costa County, California, inside the Walnut Creek Open Space near Walnut Creek. The ranch covers hundreds of acres and includes several old buildings, a ranger station, farm animals, and access to trails.
In 1899, Portuguese immigrant Francisco “Frank” Borges bought land to use as a cattle ranch for his family. The redwood farmhouse was built in 1901, along with barns, a blacksmith shop, and a windmill. Five generations of the Borges family lived and worked there. Over time the ranch fell into disrepair.
In 1974, Walnut Creek voters approved a bond to preserve open space in the Diablo foothills, and the city bought the Borges Ranch in 1976. Ron White, a former National Park Service ranger, was hired as the first ranger for Walnut Creek Open Space and moved onto the property in 1978. After restoration, the ranch was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.
Today, the Old Borges Ranch House, built in 1901, is a restored five-room redwood building used as a historic house museum with period furnishings and displays about life in the early 1900s. It serves as the visitor center for Walnut Creek Open Space parks. Visitors can also see the original barns, the blacksmith shop, the windmill, antique tractors, and farm animals, including animals raised by the Pleasant Hill 4-H. A ranger station and residence are onsite, and trails are available for visitors to explore.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 11:12 (CET).