Cottle Ranch Virtual Cache
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Martial Cottle County Park "Cottle Ranch"
Late in 2003 the deal was closed to donate 153 acres to Santa Clara County. The previous owner, Walter Lester, passed away January 31, 2014. The park made from the Cottle Ranch is named for Mr. Lester's grandfather, Martial Cottle.
The donor has provided a substantial list of features, including educational opportunities, and equestrian center, a pond, and a desire that there NOT be any organized sports on the site.
Park dedication was December 13, 2014, and official opening is still pending (as of March 2015).
Groundbreaking occurred in mid 2013, and a portion of the perimeter trail opened on February 1, 2014 -- The trail has potential for some new caches! Open dawn to dusk.
FaceBook users: The park has a fan page: (visit link)
VIRTUAL CACHE INSTRUCTIONS
Near the given coordinates are mailboxes. Email the 4-digit address on one of the mailboxes. You may log the cache without awaiting a reply.
It may be fun to post photos of the the Cottle Ranch as it develops from an agricultural spot to a recreational and educational destination.
Note that this virtual cache is near the main entrance to the park. ... there should not be any access issues here. The "fruit stand" that was near here closed in January 2015.
In March 2015, the "Valley Oaks Cross Trail" opened between Branham Lane and Chenoweth Avenue. There is a picnic area mid-way. This new trail section may provide opportunities for placement of caches.
Cottle Ranch now listed on the State Parks website (a portion of the property is owned by the State of California State Parks): (visit link)
Press release by the State of California has additional details:
(visit link)
Excerpt from State press release:
"Walter Lester is the descendant of Martial Cottle, a Santa Clara Valley settler and farmer, who arrived with his parents in San Jose in 1854 after crossing the plains from Missouri. Martial Cottle and his father acquired the Lester property, a portion of the original Santa Teresa Rancho, in 1864. Martial Cottle, Lester’s grandfather, set up his own farming operation and eventually developed the existing farmhouse by incorporating additional improvements to the original 1878 structure. The farmhouse is
listed in the Santa Clara County Heritage Resource Inventory."
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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