Fortuna parcel slated for marijuana grow will instead be home to non-profit horse ranch

FORTUNA – A recent land purchase brings relief to one Fortuna neighborhood and also means a big boost for a local non-profit.
The property at 2800 Nelson Lane lies just outside of Fortuna city limits.
Nearby residents were alarmed when they learned of plans to build a 55,000 square foot medical marijuana farm, so they formed the Nelson Hillside Neighborhood Association to lobby against what they felt was an inappropriate use of the land.
A lawsuit alleging a lack of environmental review was pending and the City of Fortuna had even considered annexing the parcel to prevent it from becoming a cannabis grow, but that’s no longer an issue.
At Monday’s regular meeting of the Fortuna Chamber of Commerce Tiara Brown announced that her family purchased the fifteen acres and it will soon be home to the wild Souls Ranch. The non-profit organization offers equine therapy to at-risk youth and currently serves about thirty kids in need.
Founder Savanah McCarty said it was a dream come true and teared up as she shared what this means for local kids.
McCarty explained, “It means that we’re going to be able to grow more as an organization. Winters are going to be easier on my staff, my volunteers, and my kids. There’s a commercial barn space. There’s fifteen acres so we’re going to be able to add to our herd that we already have and the possibilities are really opening up now that this property donation came through for us.”

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