Former Location –
Early in 1969, Mickey Hart rented this ranch for about 12 years and it became the Grateful Dead’s unofficial rehearsal hall. The New Riders of the Purple Sage started out here as well.
The buildings have long since burned down and the land is now part of a state park.
Grateful Dead Discography
1967 – The Grateful Dead
1968 – Anthem of the Sun
1969 – Aoxomoxoa
1969 – Live/Dead
1970 – Workingman’s Dead
1970 – American Beauty
1971 – Grateful Dead
1972 – Europe ’72
1973 – History of the Grateful Dead, Volume One
1973 – Wake Of The Flood
1974 – From the Mars Hotel
1975 – Blues for Allah
1976 – Steal Your Face
1977 – Terrapin Station
1978 – Shakedown Street
1980 – Go to Heaven
1981 – Reckoning
1981 – Dead Set
1987 – In the Dark
1989 – Dylan & the Dead
1989 – Built To Last
State Park
2495 Novato Blvd,
Novato CA 94947
I always thought that Miwok Park (a little furthur down at 2200 Novato Blvd & Eucalyptus Ave) was the location of Mickey’s ranch. It has a history of buildings that burnt down as well. Lovely little park with a creek running through it. I doubt that many residents living next to it have a clue about any of its Grateful Dead ties.
Neither 2200 nor 2495 Novato Blvd are the right place. You gotto go 0.7 mls further north west on the road (pretty much between Sandy Creek and Copper Hill way) and then it’s on your left on Novato Blvd. Just check against Rosie Mcgee’s pictures about re isiting the ranch…
Actually, Mickey Hart confirmed this location on his Facebook page on February of this year with a shoutout to this website.
In the 70s, I used to board a horse in Novato, CA at a ranch called the C-Bar-N. On that property was this decrepit big white house painted inside with various neon colors. There was an empty, crumbling pool outside. It was rumored that the Dead had stayed there. Could this be the same place?
Dean, Yes, the big white house was the Burdell Mansion on Rancho Olympali. The Dead lived there for a short while and then it was used by a hippie commune until they burned it down. Do you remember the name of the person who boarded your horse? I worked there as a horse wrangler for a woman named Suzy Miller in the early 70s
Isn’t the site of Mickey’s ranch now the dog park just west of and across Novato Blvd from San Marin HS? A guy I know from United Market was telling me yesterday that he remembers cutting school at SMHS and jumping the fence to go across Novato Blvd and watch Tower of Power guys jam with members of the Dead… The principal had to follow them all the way there for a reprimand!