Clustered around the main entrance
Big Barn – Three story, 13,000 square feet, vintage building
This three story, 13,000 square foot building was constructed in 1870 and sits at the main entrance and geographic center of the ranch.
The 4,300 square foot ground floor was redone in 2023 with a new foundation, siding, and a steel frame. It has a 10’+ ceiling, concrete floor, and five door openings that are each 9’6” tall and 15’ wide. It holds 250+ people banquet style. It is surrounded on three sides by flat land, and capacity can therefore easily be expanded with the use of tents.
The second floor has been almost preserved in its 1870s design. The ceilings are only 8’ and the floor is used to store ranch equipment, including event related items such as heaters, tables, chairs, and a vintage horse drawn cart.
The top floor is a huge hayloft. While we no longer store hay on this floor, and we have made structural improvements providing a multi-purpose space that can hold up to 50 people.
Amphitheater/Meadow – A half acre of flat space behind the big barn.
The half acre + meadow behind the big barn used to be a quarry. It is completely flat and can hold 200+ people without feeling crowded.
The amphitheater is less grandiose than it sounds, but it is shaped like an amphitheater and is able to function as one. It is a crescent-shaped slope that rises from the flat ground behind the big barn and in the meadow.
Ranch Kitchen – 700 Sqft Kitchen.
Seats up to 20. 700 Sqft carport for caterers.
The kitchen is located adjacent to the big barn. It is extremely functional and beautiful but not built to a commercial standard. It has a microwave oven, regular oven, induction stove (no gas - we are in an area where fire danger is high), regular size fridge, and two dishwashers. There is a door between the kitchen and a beautifully finished three car carport which caterers have used in the past for setup and for plating food.
Sheep Meadow – A flat third of an acre with picnic tables and sheep pavilion.
This third acre flat grassy area is close to the main entrance and looks over the Big Barn towards the mountain. It is called the sheep meadow because it has a pavilion where we keep 20 sheep and their guard dog safe from coyotes overnight. The sheep do not actually use the meadow but graze the hills above it instead.
This area has been used to host welcome receptions for multi day events focused on the big barn.
Barnyard corrals – A flat half acre for parking, horses, welcome desk
or event tents.
Black Mountain Ranch is a working ranch, and we herd cattle into the corrals several times per year for health checks or other herd management activities. There is one large corral that can hold 30 cars, and three smaller ones that can hold horses if desired. Alternatively, any tents pitched in the large corral effectively expand the usable space in the ground floor of the Big Barn.
The large corral also has a gate that leads to the main road up to the ridges, and for this reason it has often been used as the welcome center and guest check in point for organized hikes.
Fibershed house – Former ranch house, now used as a learning center.
This is the only house on the ranch and it sits next to the main entrance. It is used as a learning center for Fibershed. Fibershed is a global, not for profit leading the “farm to closet” movement. Fibershed producer members sell their wool to local artisans as well as to major brands like North Face and Mara Hoffman. Fibershed also grows indigo and other plant based pigments and offers workshops and classes.
In the past, Fibershed has offered to let photoshoot models and brides use the house to prepare hair and makeup.
Fibershed gardens – Over two acres of native species and pigment plants.
The gardens include quarter acre of fenced in pigment plants (indigo, marigold, mugwort, etc), a network of paths that pass through through native species, a kitchen garden, and a composting operation where they can turn a t-shirt back into dirt in only three weeks. There is an outdoor classroom and a studio where harvested pigments are on display.
Fibershed led tours and classes are available to ranch guests and are particularly appropriate for corporate offsites and retreats.
