In 1913, at the age of 50, Captain Lester Loomis left his city life behind to establish a homestead ranch at Alder Creek, dedicating much of his time to mining in the nearby mountains. He passed away in 1936, and the Loomis Ranch eventually became a burden for his wife, Grace and their family. As a result, they chose to relocate to the desert.

Captain Lester and Grace Loomis, circa 1930. Photo from the collection of Odo Stade, courtesy of Gordon Rowley

An early view of the Loomis Ranch, 1933. Sierra Club-Angeles Chapter Archives

A log cabin as it looked at Loomis Ranch, 1970. Sierra Club-Angeles Chapter Archives

In 1953, the 70-acre property was sold to the Alhambra Council of the Girl Scouts of America for $33,250, who renamed it Camp Loomis.

The Alhambra Girl Scouts have been active since 1939 but never had a dedicated camping site of their own. As a result, local scouts had to attend other camps, which have become increasingly overcrowded in recent years, preventing many girls from enjoying summer camping experiences.

Mrs. Grace Loomis at her Ranch, with the hopeful Alhambra Girl Scouts. LA Times 1953

Elsie Corwin, Executive Director of the Alhambra Council, played a key role in the purchase of the ranch. A prolific writer with a passion for preserving history, she dedicated herself to documenting the story of Loomis Ranch and its founders, Lester and Grace Loomis. Through extensive research and conversations with the Loomis family, she gathered their recollections and shared the ranch’s history with the Girl Scouts, helping them develop a deeper appreciation for its legacy.

The “story-book” atmosphere of its interior was changed into an assembly hall for the Girl Scouts.

Over time, various structures have been a constructed to meet the camps needs. One of the ranch’s standout features was the old arrastre, built by Captain Loomis to crush ore-bearing rock from his mine.

Hikers gather around arrastre at Loomis Ranch 1977.  Sierra Club-Angeles Chapter Archives

At one time during the camp’s operation, younger Intermediates immersed themselves in a hands-on program that explored farm life through engaging activities and experiences.

Due to fire safety concerns, the Forest Service mandated that the Scouts build a second access road to the Ranch. Even if funds had been available, constructing an additional route to the Camp was unrealistic. Consequently, in 1962—after just nine years of operation—the Girl Scouts sold Camp Loomis. The property reverted to individual private ownership.