Luther Burbank’s Gold Ridge Experiment Farm

Location, location, location. While Burbank’s Santa Rosa mansion is in an urban setting, a short walk from Courthouse Square, this one is up on a hill, sandwiched between a cemetery and a housing complex for seniors. It’s fitting that Burbank’s widow, Elizabeth Waters, who married him when he was in his 70s and she in her 30s, would will a place for care of the elderly. The Gold Ridge Experimental Farm, for an experiment, is an aesthetically pleasing place.
Pros–
It’s a beautiful oasis.
Even in the winter when plants are dormant, there are blossoming cherry trees&some flowers.
They sell plants, have a self-​guided tour pamphlet. You get to know the history.
Cons–
Finding it isn’t easy. One can park at the local Episcopal Church. If you park in downtown Sebastopol, it’s all uphill.
Parking– they have a small lot for visitors, but you don’t want to accidentally park in resident parking, or get towed in the short-​term spots.
The website makes one think they have a small museum, a souvenir shop&tons of historical info. Sad to say, they don’t.
Luther Burbank was a revolutionary botanist. A little garden paradise overlooking the Santa Rosa Plain.

A difficult place to find but a true jem it is. We actually went thru the «back door» and walked to the entrance part! So much interesting plants 4 you to see and discover! Very exciting indeed! The place feels untouch and uncompromised by too many visitors which is a good thing. It still feels wild and natural with so much possibilities.

This is a true local gem of Sebastopol and worth checking out for anyone interested in California history or botanical arts. Luther Burbank is well known in this area and around the world for his work with plants and the creation of new hybrids. You can see some of that work here.
When you turn into this place you might be confused as you are passing some housing, but you are in the right spot, keep heading down the 10mph road, follow the signs to the little parking lot in the back. This community that surrounds the farm is part of the vision of Burbank’s widow, Elizabeth, who wanted some of the 15 acres of farm to be used as housing for seniors or those with disabilities. Today, only 3 acres of farm remain along with the caretaker’s cottage and barn, the latter of which was reconstructed by volunteers from old photographs in the 1990s.
When you park and walk past the barn take the path that goes to the right towards the cottage. There, grab a brochure (from the mailbox) that guides you through the names of the plants corresponding to the numbers through out the farm. Also, sign the guest book.
The farm is a peaceful spot where you can spend an hour exploring or bring a picnic lunch and take advantage of one of the many picnic tables or benches that are scattered throughout the property. You can see many of the hybrid plants that Burbank worked on including thornless and white blackberries, grafted apples, spineless cactus and many different kinds of daises, which is Sebastopol’s official city flower.
This space is not to be confused with Burbank’s Home and Garden in Santa Rosa. He didn’t live here, only conducted experiments! But he did often stay they night in the cottage when he didn’t want to trek back to Santa Rosa, and hour and a half in those days.
Great spot to relax, take in some sweet smelling air, or just get a great history lesson.
FYI: The cemetery borders the farm land without a fence between them, another place to take in some more Sebastopol/​Sonoma County history.