Family sold 53,000-acre California island for $30m, stayed 25 more years

In 1986, the United States government acquired Santa Rosa Island for close to thirty million dollars. This pivotal purchase marked the end of longstanding private ranching and agricultural practices on the sprawling island. Following the removal of cattle in 1998 and the cessation of residency in 2011, efforts towards environmental restoration commenced. Today, the island stands as a protected national sanctuary and an important cultural landmark.