Historical Preservation

In the late 1800s Portuguese immigrant Constantino Bello,  (likely the brother of Antonio Nunes Bello, one of the early Presidents of the IDESST – the Portuguese Social Hall established in Sausalito in 1888), purchased the “Ranch M” property from the Tamalpais Land and Water Company.  He built several wooden structures for a dairy operation, including a farm house, a creamery, a milking barn and a small shed. That dairy, which was located directly across Route 1 from what is today the entrance to Muir Beach and the Pelican Inn, was operated by a succession of Portuguese families including the Lopes family, the last to operate it as the Golden Gate Dairy. 

The historic milking barn has become an icon of the local community and qualifies for the National Registry of Historic Places.  Since 1997 Ocean Riders of Marin has operated the Golden Gate Dairy Stables on the former dairy site under a limited-use permit from the National Park Service.  On July 1, 2015 Ocean Riders was granted a ten year lease by the NPS to continue their operations. We currently use the hay barn to store hay for our horses, but it is also a gathering space where we host groups for learning programs, celebrations and as a venue for fundraising events.  It serves as the heart of our community and an emblem of the history and culture of Frank Valley. 

Frank Valley was historically home to several Portuguese dairy operations and there remains a vibrant Portuguese community in Southern Marin County.  They have been an integral part of the history of this area.  

IDESST in Sausalito ....  Ocean Riders continues to be a place where children learn to live harmoniously with animals and the land, and learn the value of work ethic and contributing to a community ...

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Then and now ... 

We re-roofed, repainted and lovingly restored ....