For it can be a means of reassuring ourselves of our sanity as creatures, a part of the geography of hope. The land is the Adobe Creek valley, a 1600 acre wilderness preserve Through the generosity of the Duveneck family and in partnership with the Mid- Peninsula Regional Open Space District , this land has been protected forever. One of the largest privately held open space preserves in the area, it demonstrates the importance of protecting entire watersheds. The land and our stewardship of it lies the heart of Hidden Villa. It provides a living classroom for children in our Environmental Education Program, an endless place of exploration and discovery for campers and a much needed retreat for visitors from the increasing urbanization of Silicon Valley.
Visitors enter the property through an ancient olive grove that opens out into a creekside meadow.
The valley floor hosts gardens and farm buildings where most of the program activity begins. But the vast majority of the property is wilderness, which climbs steeply towards Skyline Ridge. Visitors may explore on our eight miles of trails. Wallace Stegner, a great friend of Frank and Josephine Duveneck, was instrumental in preserving the open spaces of the San Francisco Bay area. Hidden Villa's protected status as open space is as much a tribute to the Duvenecks as it is to Wallace Stegner.