At Carmel Valley Ranch, we have long believed that play is an elixir, the thing that makes life rich. We also understand that our version of play would never exist without the natural wonder of this 500-acre playground, which means we have a responsibility to be a leader in sustainability—promoting responsible practices, nurturing inclusivity, and protecting our place of play for generations to come.

That is the genesis of #RanchResponsibly, an initiative aimed at pursuing continuous improvement, inspiring our guests, and celebrating our successes.

Our commitment to sustainability is in The Ranch’s DNA, of course, and has been part of our culture since the opening of our resort. Many aspects of The Ranch were designed to limit the impact to our wild neighbors: For instance, fertilizer use on our golf course is minimal, thanks in part to our thoughtful integration of specific grasses. We have our own recycled water plant on site that supplies irrigation. We produce products including honey, lavender oil, even beer and wine, and support local businesses that share our ethos. And we partner with the Carmel River Watershed Conservancy to help maintain the health of the Carmel River.

Yet while The Ranch is already a leader in many areas, we are always striving to be better. It’s why we formed a Sustainability Committee—which includes General Manager Peter McMahon and leaders from eight different departments across the company—to focus on new initiatives and industry leadership.

Here are a few of the things we’re doing to live up to our commitment and put our beliefs into action as part of #RanchResponsibly.

We’re learning.

In January 2023, The Ranch hosted the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) for a training session on sustainable tourism and a look into the organization’s certification process, which was both illuminating and inspiring. Certification is one of our long-term goals.

We’re teaching.

We include conservation education in many of our activities offerings, including Falconry’s Winged Ambassadors, A Bee’s Life, Nocturnal Nights, and Grazing with the Goats. This promotes sustainability to our guests and demonstrates leadership through action.

We’re adding transparency.

Sourcing ingredients locally is not only an essential part of supporting your community—it also can reduce transportation-related carbon emissions and other environmental impacts. Our culinary team is pledging increased transparency around our food, with potential options including providing a map for guests to show where ingredients are sourced.

We’re improving inclusivity.

We are already strongly committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive environment for all abilities, genders, ethnicities, and economic backgrounds—and we are specifically seeking to enhance the experience of visually and physically impaired guests in our rooms and outdoor spaces. Our inclusivity efforts also include how we hire, how we promote, how we support our people, and who we do business with.

We’re reducing waste.

We plan to return to feeding our goats and livestock food scraps from resort operations, limiting food waste. (We should also note that we have increased waste in one area: Thanks to our expanded hilltop herd, we are rich in manure! But that’s a good thing—we will use it to enrich our soil.)

We’re boosting renewables.

We get a lot of sun here, so implementing more solar projects throughout the property is under consideration (we already use some solar energy). This could include small-scale projects, such as at the Hilltop Corral, as well as larger installations.

We’re lifting others in the community.

We are preparing to strengthen, restore, and expand our community partnerships, including internship programs, volunteer opportunities, and organizational alliances such as the one we have with the Carmel River Watershed Conservancy.

We’re very proud of these intentional efforts—and be sure to stay tuned, because this is only the beginning of what we hope and plan to accomplish at The Ranch. We are stewards and caretakers of this special place, and if we want future generations to enjoy it as we do, the time for advocacy and action is now.

5 Ways You Can #RanchResponsibly

When you’re at The Ranch, you can make a difference, too! Here are five easy ways to #RanchResponsibly during your time with us:

1. Choose to reuse

Reusing towels and linen saves water and energy.

2. Fill and refill

Refilling reusable water bottles at our water stations reduces reliance on single-use plastics.

3. Buy local

At The Market, you’ll find products made right here—which means fewer resources used for shipping and transport.

4. Slow down

As you’re meandering around The Ranch in your car, watch out for wildlife.

5. Leave no trace

If you explore our 500 acres, pack out what you pack in.