Meg Whitman, a prominent Silicon Valley executive and former U.S. Ambassador to Kenya, along with her husband neurosurgeon Dr. Griff Harsh, has put their 1,530-acre Spring Creek Ranch in Northern California on the market for $18.5 million. The property, purchased in 2019 for approximately $12.6 million for the land and $1 million for equipment, with an additional $3 million later spent on 57 acres, was initially intended as a getaway from their Sacramento home.
The ranch is located near Redding, about 10 miles north of Fall River Mills, and is particularly noted for its exceptional fly-fishing. It boasts over a mile of frontage on the Fall River and controls two key spring-fed tributaries, Spring Creek and Lava Creek, which are home to trophy rainbow trout averaging three to six pounds. The property also features a unique custom Airstream fishing camp, complete with a kitchen trailer and two additional bedroom/bathroom trailers linked by a deck, overlooking Spring Creek.
Beyond fishing, Spring Creek Ranch offers diverse recreational and working-land opportunities. It is marketed for premier waterfowl and upland bird hunting along the Pacific Flyway, attracting various wildlife. Additionally, about 650 acres of the ranch are irrigated farmland and pastures, utilized for hay production and cattle grazing, supported by reliable water rights. The ranch also includes a comfortable three-bedroom residence and various barns, shops, and other infrastructure.
Whitman, who has a net worth of $3.9 billion, served as CEO of eBay from 1998 to 2008 and Hewlett-Packard subsequently. She relocated to Telluride, Colorado, in 2020, which is a primary reason for the sale, as they no longer use the ranch as frequently. The listing is being handled by Bill McDavid of Hall and Hall, who emphasized the rarity and high quality of the private trout fishing resource on the property, calling it a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
