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By Dave Boyce
Almanac Staff Writer
Already rich in open space, the town of Portola Valley is richer still with the gift Tuesday (Nov. 15) to the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District of 79 acres of upland meadows and ridges just south of the intersection of Alpine and Portola roads and just east of the Sweet Springs hiking trail.
Go to this link to locate the property on a map.
The property also includes a summer mansion and related buildings. The Hawthorns, as the property has been known, was the home of the Woods family; Frederick N. Woods III, who died April 2008 at age 93, willed it to the open space district upon his death. The property will become part of the Windy Hill Open Space Preserve, MROSD spokeswoman Leigh Ann Gessner told the Almanac in a telephone interview.
The property is valued at $11 million, comes with a $2 million endowment for maintenance and stewardship, and is the largest gift of open space from a private family in the district’s 39 years, Ms. Gessner said. It is also the first gift that included an endowment, she said.
The property will remain closed to the public at least until the district goes through the public planning process, including public hearings and an analysis of access for the public and the opportunities for environmental conservation and historic preservation.
How long might all that take? “It’s hard to say. There are lots of projects in the hopper,” Ms. Gessner said. “It’s not really something that we planned for.”
Immediate steps include setting up patrols by district rangers, reducing wildfire risks and disking the ground along the perimeter, Ms. Gessner said.
As for animals of importance to the environmentally minded, Los Trancos Creek defines the eastern border of the property and is thought to be home to steelhead trout. Other native species of threatened or endangered status include the California red-legged frog and Bell’s vireo, the peregrine falcon and the willow flycatcher, all birds.
Botanical species include the remains of an olive orchard, oaks, bay laurels and buckeyes as well as willow, alder and cottonwood trees near the creek, said Ms. Gessner, who has visited the property. “The cottonwood trees were releasing their floaty white stuff into the air. It was kind of surreal,” she said. “There is a really wonderful view from the top.”
“It is one of last remaining islands of open space in the residential area of Portola Valley,” Ms. Gessner said, noting that it had the potential for 22 residences. The Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST), a private nonprofit land trust, arranged a conservation easement in 2005, which had the effect of curtailing some development rights.
The buildings, including the mansion, may be historic and date from the late 19th century, Ms. Gessner said, adding that the district will probably need a management partner with expertise in such matters.
This is a fitting chapter to the Chowchilla kidnappings of 1976. The son of Mr. Woods who donated the property and two of his friends kidnapped a bus full of school children and buried them and their bus driver alive to get $5 million in ransom. Luckily the children and driver escaped after 16 hours. The ransom was never paid and the three young men who did this (Fred Woods II, Jim and Richard Schoenfeld) have been in prison ever since. What a sad story, and what a good ending for Portola Valley and the rest of people who enjoy open space to have access to this beautiful land. I drive by this property every day and have often wondered what would happen to it once Mr. Woods passed away. He did a good thing with I’m sure a broken heart.
This is an extraordinary gift to all who cherish open space. It is remarkable to contemplate that these 79 acres will remain undeveloped in perpetuity, held in public trust for the benefit of natural communities and anyone who seeks refuge from the stresses of modern life. I am also impressed by the provision of a maintenance and stewardship endowment, which recognizes the dynamic nature of this landscape and the obligation to manage it for fire prevention, the removal of invasive species, and impacts caused by visitors down the road. In short, this is a profoundly far-sighted legacy for us all.
Another good thing happens to Portola Valley. The generosity of the Frederick Woods family gives the Town and the entire mid-peninsula another 79 acres of riperian creekside, forested hillsides, open meadows, and cultural features to be forever preserved. Although this gift appears to be a direct benefit to Portola Valley residents, we in town will want to share this open space, and gladly so, with all of our neighbors in the region when it becomes accessible.
Dear “sad story,” I had no idea. Thank you for the beautiful writing. To goodness in us all…………
I am not impressed…………everything but violins for b.g. of this selfish need for open space to view while driving to country clubs for 18 holes.There is enough open space.
I ran the place for the Woods for 20 years. Its a beautiful place, from the barn owls in the old barn and house to the steel head trout in the creek. Took many a great photo at this historical place. Keep it beautiful.
R gordon did you think you were in line to inherit this property? Why the bitterness?
Bless you Frederick Woods and Family for this incredible green peaceful gateway to our town. This vista naturally draws sigh of relief and just a good old country feeling in my soul. It says, “Your home.”
Yeah R Gordon, why so mad? Would it be better for someone to develop it and hardly anyone get to use it (talk about selfish)–this is for anyone in the world to use–not just a select few. I for one don’t belong to a country club. But I for one would love to be able to walk in this beautiful space with anyone else who would also choose that. Selfish? Just the exact opposite.
Open up a Black Tail buck season
I am so thankful that our children and our children’s children will have open space left when they are grown! They will know the joy of hiking through pristine “wildnerness” and viewing wildlife that abounds in this area. My children already appreciate the privilege of having a community that values preserving open space. Most of the families who live in this area sacrifice luxuries (like “18 holes”?) to live here. Many give their time and energy to preserve what we have. I am honored to be part of this appreciative community. Thank you to the Woods and the others that helped facilitate this gift.
Hooray for Fred Woods. I grew up across the street from the Woods property, and my Grandmother refused her husband’s desire to develop our ranch, which as a result became Foothills Park. I had a very pleasant visit with Fred a few years before he died, after which he drove me around his property, offering me various old cars that were in stages of quite serious decay. That mound of mossy leaves? “That’s a ’48 fastback Cadillac; last of the flathead V-8’s! You want it?” (I politely declined.)
As a former planner for the MROSD, my hope is that the District provide plenty of parking (after all, Mr. Woods kept well over 100 cars there) and that it preserve the unique history of the place. It was in the Woods family since at least the 1890’s.
Many thanks to the Woods family and vision of Mr. Woods for leaving this beautiful piece of Portola Valley for the bobcats and deer that look out over the activity at PV’s intersection. I always feared a couple new mansions being built there someday and really changing the feel of our central meeting place. I think it’s a happy ending for the Woods legacy, not a sad one. Mr. Woods bought Studebaker trucks off of my grandpa in Palo Alto for years and was know to be a really nice man. His son’s misguided actions in the kidnapping shouldn’t take away from a happy story for Mr and Mrs. Woods. With gratitude.
I think the name of the area should be renamed WOODSTOWN or WOODS VALLEY….Portola Valley sounds kind of tacky.
I was a LT/VV resident-woods kid back then when the kidnapping happened. I applaud the property being donated for open space. As a former Portola Valley resident, my take is it only enhances the community for our next generation.
If Marc Wade himself views and reads this – please understand this gentleman is a respectful man, a community activist and and historian of LTW/VV and his posts reflect as man who knows and cares about his community.
You go Marc! Gotta find you again bro! Post your email address for former PV residents to contact you!
I lived at 30 Kelly Ct. now Firethorn Way. I remember when Chowchilla happened there were a lot of helicopters buzzing about. My brother told me they were looking for the kidnappers and thought one of them might be hiding in the old red caboose on the hill next to the end of Kelly Ct. Of course I didn’t believe him but found out later the property did belong to the parents of Fred Woods. I hope this gift will give people something better to remember the land and the family by.
Does anyone else remember the old red caboose?
My mother worked for the Woods family. This started in the mid 60’s. As kids we were always given permission to roam the property. I as I got older into my teens, I bought at least a half a dozen old cars from Fred Woods. And yes, he loved to drive around the property and show the old cars and try to sell them. I have many great memories of spending summer days exploring the property. Knowing Fred and his wife, and how gracious and down to earth they were, I totally see them donating the property. Rest in peace good people.