Matt had often mentioned that the land where Sea Ranch is now was a Dole pineapple plantation before

I never really questioned it, I might have even repeated it

I figured with his dad’s connection, his family’s involvement, he’d know

At the place we rented this weekend, we were hanging out, chilling

We had gone for a hike, we’re waiting on the 49ers game to start

I picked up a book sitting on a side table on the history of Sea Ranch

Russian, Mexican, German, Chinese….all had a place in the history

Rufus, Hugal, Hagelar, Stengel, Knapp, Richardson, Ohlsons….all among the family names in the before years

Logging, bootlegging, war support

Del Mar Mill, Knipp Stengel Barn, Del Mar Store, Del Mar Point, Bender Mill

The Ohlsons in the 1940’s to early 1960’s lived on what was called Del Mar Ranch and were, reportedly, the first family to raise kids on that property

No where in the history book does Dole pineapple come up……

I had to look and look, but I finally found that the Ohlsons sold Del Mar Ranch to Oceanic Properties who developed Sea Ranch

There is no Dole, but Del Mar does have a somewhat prominent existence

All I can figure is Del Mar, is close to Del Monte….which got converted in young Matt Busse’s mind to Dole, to which pineapple must have naturally been added during the ensuing years

I asked Matt about this as we sat on the leather couches in the house right on the bluff

He just looked at me, blinked

I have no doubt he will continue to repeat what he knows is true, that Sea Ranch used to be a Dole pineapple plantation

That’s ok, maybe to him, that’s what should have happened, the rest is a myth