Big Basin Redwoods State Park to expand with NoraBella property in Boulder Creek

The $2.41 million purchase will allow State Parks to expand the footprint of Big Basin Redwoods State Park as part of the first land addition to the treasured local recreational resource in 15 years.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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California State Parks has acquired the 153-acre NoraBella property in Boulder Creek from Sempervirens Fund, California's first redwoods conservation land trust. The purchase will allow State Parks to expand the footprint of Big Basin Redwoods State Park, which was severely impacted by the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex fires. The NoraBella property, commonly referred to as the 'gateway to Big Basin', will serve as a world-class entrance to the park's new visitor center.

Why it matters

The expansion of Big Basin Redwoods State Park through the acquisition of the NoraBella property will help accelerate the park's recovery from the devastating 2020 wildfire and support the Newsom administration's initiatives to increase outdoor access and conservation efforts. The property's natural ecosystem and watershed are also important components of the local environment.

The details

The $2.41 million purchase of the 153-acre NoraBella property will allow State Parks to expand the footprint of Big Basin Redwoods State Park. The property, which was previously owned by an eccentric inventor who stored numerous cars and objects on the land, has since been cleaned up and assessed. The NoraBella property includes a primary tributary to the headwaters for Boulder Creek, which flows into the San Lorenzo River, as well as abundant and healthy stands of redwoods and other mixed evergreen forests.

  • The State Parks purchase was made possible with partial funds provided by the Land and Water Conservation Fund through the U.S. Department of the Interior and the California Department of Parks and Recreation.
  • Assembly Bill 679, authored by Assemblymember Gail Pellerin and signed into law last October, is meant to streamline purchases of properties adjacent to Big Basin, Butano and Año Nuevo state parks.

The players

California State Parks

The state agency that announced the acquisition of the NoraBella property to expand Big Basin Redwoods State Park.

Sempervirens Fund

California's first redwoods conservation land trust that sold the 153-acre NoraBella property to State Parks.

Armando Quintero

The California State Parks Director who said the NoraBella property will serve as a world-class entrance to the park's new visitor center.

Sara Barth

The Sempervirens Fund Executive Director who said the NoraBella property's future as part of Big Basin feels like 'redemption' after the 2020 wildfire.

David Cowman

The Sempervirens Fund's director of land stewardship who called the NoraBella property a 'conservation gem'.

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What they’re saying

“NoraBella is the gateway into Big Basin and will serve as a world-class entrance to the park's new visitor center for generations to come.”

— Armando Quintero, California State Parks Director (santacruzsentinel.com)

“The land, habitats, waterways, and redwoods at NoraBella have been through so much over more than a century — from clearcutting, to being treated like a junkyard, to the CZU wildfire — and it feels like redemption to finally secure the forest's future as part of Big Basin.”

— Sara Barth, Sempervirens Fund Executive Director (santacruzsentinel.com)

“NoraBella is a conservation gem. Permanent protection of NoraBella as part of Big Basin is critical to ensure the long-term health of the Boulder Creek watershed and the San Lorenzo River system it supports. The property has abundant and healthy stands of redwoods, as well as mixed evergreen forests of Douglas-fir, coast live oaks, tan oaks and madrones.”

— David Cowman, Sempervirens Fund's director of land stewardship (santacruzsentinel.com)

What’s next

The Reimagining Big Basin project, established by State Parks and local partners after the 2020 fires, aims to guide the park's recovery in a way that is mindful of current and future climate change impacts. That comprehensive plan includes placing a new welcome center for park visitors at the NoraBella property's Saddle Mountain.

The takeaway

The acquisition of the NoraBella property is a significant expansion of Big Basin Redwoods State Park, California's oldest state park, and will help accelerate the park's recovery from the devastating 2020 wildfires. The property's natural resources and watershed are important components of the local environment, and its designation as the gateway to Big Basin will enhance the visitor experience for generations to come.