Old Woman Springs Ranch
In 1907 cattleman Albert “Swarty” Swarthout homesteaded Old Woman Springs Ranch for use winter pasture. He and his partner Charlie Martin, cattle rustler and later police chief in San Bernardino, purchased Heart Bar Ranch, south of Big Bear, for summer range. By 1918 both had sold out. In 1921 Swarthout again bought the Heart Bar, this time with San Bernardino businessman J. Dale Gentry. Their cattle were driven to Heart Bar Ranch via Rattlesnake Canyon in the spring, returning to Old Woman Springs Ranch in the fall. In 1938 they had a falling out. The case was litigated until 1947 when “Swarty” was awarded Heart Bar Ranch and Gentry received Old Woman Springs Ranch. “Swarty” spent the rest of his life at Heart Bar, dying in 1963 at age 91.
Historic Old Woman Springs Ranch remains private property to this day. The ranch consists of over 400 acres of deeded land with water and grazing rights to another 1600 acres.
Source: Billy Holcomb Chapter of E. Clampus Vitus and the Morongo Basin Historical Society
