(KRON) — The Peninsula Open Space Trust announced Tuesday that it has entered an agreement to purchase San Gregorio Ranch for $10 million. The 195-acre San Mateo County coastline property, which has become known for its clothing-optional beach, will “provide people and nature with so much in the decades to come,” POST President Gordon Clark said.
POST expects to close on the property just north of San Gregorio State Beach in May 2026, according to a news release. The nonprofit land trust said it is seeking to raise $14 million to cover the cost of the property, along with developments to support public access and future stewardship.
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“San Gregorio Ranch is a stunning and beloved coastal property, with incredible ocean views, important native grasslands and beach access,” said Clark. “Purchasing it outright means that POST can protect it from development and ensure continuous, safe public access. It also means that this sensitive landscape and its many conservation values will be cared for so that all can experience the beauty and wonder of San Mateo County’s coast.”
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(Photo: Teddy Miller/Peninsula Open Space Trust)
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(Photo: Teddy Miller/Peninsula Open Space Trust)
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(Photo: Teddy Miller/Peninsula Open Space Trust)
While the ranch has become one of California’s best-known nude beaches, the ocean breeze sweeps past more than just bare-bottomed naturists. According to POST, San Gregorio Ranch “boasts one of the region’s largest stands of American dune grass” and “features excellent habitat for numerous native species, such as California king snake, California red-legged frog, acorn woodpecker, American badger, California quail and more.”
The trust will continue to study the species and habitats on the property ahead of the closing date, the news release stated, to guide its plans for public access and stewardship.
(Peninsula Open Space Trust)
San Gregorio Ranch could also be used to create a connection for the California Coastal Trail in the future, POST said. The segment of Highway 1 that runs along the property has been the site of multiple fatalities involving bicyclists.
“With POST’s acquisition of San Gregorio Ranch, POST creates an opportunity to route the CCT through the property in the future, establishing a safer connection,” the nonprofit said.
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