California tribe acquires 10,000-acre Sierra Nevada ranch in historic 'land-back' deal

The Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California purchased the Loyalton Ranch property, about 30 miles north of Lake Tahoe, for $6 million.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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The Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California has acquired 10,274 acres of ancestral land in the Sierra Nevada, north of Lake Tahoe, in what is believed to be the largest 'land-back' deal in the Sierra and the third largest in California history. The tribe purchased the remote, mountainous Loyalton Ranch property from the city of Santa Clara for $6 million, with the help of state funding and support from conservation groups.

Why it matters

The Washoe people were largely forced off their lands in the Lake Tahoe region during the Gold Rush, and this acquisition represents a significant step in the tribe's efforts to reclaim its ancestral territory. The property's restoration and management by the tribe is also seen as an important conservation effort, protecting native plants, wildlife, and sacred sites.

The details

The Loyalton Ranch property, about a third the size of San Francisco, encompasses a range of landscapes, from sagebrush scrub and grasslands to conifer forests and alpine meadows. The city of Santa Clara had purchased the ranch in 1977, hoping to generate geothermal power, but later explored other development options before deciding to sell the property after it was damaged in the 2020 Loyalton Fire. The Washoe Tribe, working with conservation groups, established the Wášiw-šiw Land Trust to acquire the ranch, which will now be managed as a nature preserve and renamed the Wélmelti Preserve.

  • The Washoe Tribe closed on the $6 million purchase of the Loyalton Ranch property this week.
  • The city of Santa Clara purchased the ranch in 1977 for $1.6 million.
  • The property was damaged in the 2020 Loyalton Fire.

The players

Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California

A federally recognized tribe based in the Lake Tahoe region, whose members were largely forced off their ancestral lands during the Gold Rush.

Serrell Smokey

The chairman of the Washoe Tribe.

City of Santa Clara

The former owner of the Loyalton Ranch property, which it purchased in 1977 with plans to develop geothermal power, but later decided to sell.

Northern Sierra Partnership

A conservation group that worked with the Washoe Tribe to establish the Wášiw-šiw Land Trust to acquire the Loyalton Ranch property.

Wildlife Conservation Board

A state agency that provided $5.5 million in funding to support the Washoe Tribe's acquisition of the Loyalton Ranch property.

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What they’re saying

“It's something we really wanted to get back for our own and have for future generations to be able to say this land is ours.”

— Serrell Smokey, Chairman, Washoe Tribe

“It is exciting to know that the Washoe people will be caring for this spectacular landscape going forward.”

— Lucy Blake, President, Northern Sierra Partnership

“The acquisition underscores the state's commitment to both conservation and returning ancestral lands to tribes.”

— Jennifer Norris, Executive Director, Wildlife Conservation Board

What’s next

The Washoe Tribe plans to manage the Wélmelti Preserve much like a nature preserve, helping with restoration of native plants and wildlife, conducting regenerative burns, protecting sacred Native American sites, and potentially providing housing for tribal members. The land trust is also still working to raise an additional $2 million to help with the stewardship of the property.

The takeaway

This historic 'land-back' deal represents a significant victory for the Washoe Tribe in reclaiming its ancestral lands and a major conservation effort to protect a diverse and ecologically important landscape in the Sierra Nevada. It also underscores the growing momentum behind efforts to return ancestral lands to Native American tribes across California and the United States.