Jack
Zaninovich was an amateur botanist and a second generation table grape grower
who lived in Delano, California. The Jack Zaninovich Memorial Nature Trail was
dedicated to the memory of Jack in the Spring of 1993. The 1.2 mile self-guided
nature trail traverses the Sand Ridge and features 22 stations marked by
numbered metal stakes. Each station is described in the trail guides available
at the trail head. The trail is an easy-to-moderate walk, topping out at the
Preserve's crest at 880 feet elevation. The average visitor will take around
45-60 minutes to walk the complete trail. The Sand Ridge is a wonderful and unique spot. It has
many fascinating examples of natural wonders waiting to be discovered. Jack
loved and treasured this very special place.
Interest in preserving the Sand Ridge, with its
rare Kern Cactus and spectacular wildflower displays, began in the late 1950s.
Jack was instrumental in aiding the purchase of the property by
The Nature Conservancy in 1965.
In 1984, the National Park Service U. S. Department of the Interior gave it the designation of
National
Natural Landmark in recognition of its unique botanical values. The lands were
transferred to the Center for
Natural Lands Management in 1997.
The
Sand Ridge is located southeast of Bakersfield at the foot of the Tehachapi
mountain range and winds along the northwest bank of Caliente Creek, an
intermittent stream with headwaters in the Sierra Nevada and Paiute Mountains.
The Sand Ridge is a 275 acre parcel that stretches over a mile long and one-half
mile wide.
Visit the
Center for Natural Lands Management
website for more information about the
Sand Ridge.
Also on that website is information about the
Pixley Vernal Pool Preserve which Jack purchased in the early 1960s and
transferred to The Nature Conservancy in 1964.
Additionally, see The
Cactus Patch - the Newsletter of the Bakersfield Cactus and Succulent
Society for more information on the Sand Ridge and it's plant life.
