MARIANO PRESERVE

PUBLIC ACCESS PENDING 2025

Photo by Liam Pickhardt

Learn about the acquisition and ongoing conservation work at Mariano.

Discover the rich history and conservation efforts at Mariano, a Ventura Land Trust property. This video explores the land’s historical significance and showcases the ongoing work to protect and restore its natural beauty for future generations.

We’re inviting the community to help us choose a new name for Mariano Rancho. Click the link to learn more and share your suggestions!

Ventura Land Trust has been awarded $7.2 million from the State of California to complete the acquisition and permanent conservation of the 1,645-acre Ventura hillsides property now known as Mariano Preserve.

Photo by Laim Pickhardt

Mariano Preserve is the iconic backdrop to historic downtown and midtown Ventura. It is also the original inspiration for our predecessor organization, the Ventura Hillsides Conservancy in 2003: to preserve and protect the undeveloped hills that define Ventura’s landscape.

Photo by Laim Pickhardt

This topographically extreme and biologically rich property is dominated by coastal sage scrub vegetation, including native species not yet found in similar habitats at our Harmon Canyon Preserve. VLT staff is working on developing the long-term restoration, biological monitoring, and public access management priorities for the property. 

Learn more about Mariano by visiting our Mariano FAQ page linked below.

Videos of these meetings can be viewed by clicking on the link below

Ventura Land Trust has hosted five community meetings so far in which input has been sought from a broad cross-section of community members.

WAYS TO SUPPORT

Want to stay involved in the preservation of Mariano Preserve?

Your support and philanthropy is the cornerstone of VLT and will continue this conservation project.

Photo by Laim Pickhardt