The Benefits of HREC
- The Rod Shippey Hall allows you to host an event surrounded by beautiful oak woodlands and stunning views.
- On site accommodation includes private housing, camping/dormitory options.
- An extensive road and trail network across the site allows ease of access.
- Located just two hours drive from Davis and Berkeley, and one hour from the Sonoma County airport.
- High speed internet across our facilities allows you to stay connected, while the natural setting also allows you to disconnect and relax.
A majority of the Center’s more than 30 structures are in the headquarters area, including the main office-laboratory complex, an outreach/meeting facility, livestock facilities (barns, feed storage), shops and warehouses, and a greenhouse. Additionally, 7 residences and a bunkhouse serve the needs of resident staff and visitors. Several barns and storage structures are located in various field locations. Field livestock facilities, including corrals, shelters, and water systems, support the resident research sheep flock.
HREC stands out for the diversity and abundance of species to be found. Nested in the north coast ranges with elevations ranging from 500-3,000 feet, the Center supports several vegetation types including grassland, woodland, hardwood forest, chaparral and a variety of wetlands. Nowhere else in California can you see 12 oak species on a short stroll.
Facilities for Rent
Located on more than 5,300 acres of oak woodland, grassland, chaparral, and riparian environments just two hours from Berkeley and Davis, the Hopland Research and Extension Center (HREC) provides the perfect site for your next educational event.
Accommodation
A variety of overnight options are available. Our dormitory is equipped with a communal kitchen, lounge area and separate 10-bunk and 8-bunk bedrooms. Additional space is available around the dormitory for camping or RVs.
Private houses are also available and can accommodate small or larger groups.
Visiting researchers, technicians, students or others who need to be in residence at the Center may stay in a modern bunk-house facility equipped 20 bunks, a kitchen with utensils and dishes, and laundry facilities. In addition, HREC has 7 permanent residences, 2-3 of which are available for short-term accommodations. Finally, the Center has 3 mobile residence pads available for those needing to be in residence for longer periods of time, and who may wish to bring a travel trailer or RV to the site.
To make a request for facility usage please use the Reserve Access Management System where you will be asked to create a project (state your purpose) and can then request your chosen facilities.
For those needing to visit the Center who require an overnight stay but do not wish to use the Center's facilities see the list of local hotels and motels (Ukiah and Cloverdale).
Rod Shippey Hall
This outreach/meeting facility, opened in fall 2012, supports the Center’s extension events and activities and is available to the region and nearby communities as an educational resource. The main auditorium (“Extension Hall”), with full audio-visual capabilities, has a capacity for seating up to 210 persons theater-style, supported by accessible restrooms and a catering preparation room. The museum room houses the Center’s collection of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, Native American artifacts, and the Center’s extensive herbarium, along with working space for these collections. The museum space and associated interpretive displays are easily visible from the building’s main entrance vestibule. A multi-use laboratory room provides additional work space for use by resident or visiting staff and students.
Inquire about use or rental of Rod Shippey Hall by calling the Center at (707) 744-1424 ext. 1642
Facilities for Researchers
Livestock Facilities
Livestock facilities include 6 barns with working corrals, a livestock quarantine facility, and feed storage facilities for alfalfa pellets, hay, and straw. The 9,600-ft2 main barn serves as the Center’s lambing facility. Four sheep shelters located in or adjacent to 7 of the Center’s 32 fenced pastures serve as mixing facilities for ewes and their lambs. This increases maternal bonding prior to placing them on the open rangeland.
Greenhouse and Lysimeter Facility
A 950-ft2 glasshouse and a newly-rebuilt lysimeter facility support plant sciences research. The glasshouse is equipped with evaporative coolers, and is located adjacent to an irrigated plot, surrounded by deer-proof electric fence, suitable for horticultural trials. The lysimeter facility has 72 soil columns, buried within a sloped hillside, which ensures natural soil microenvironmental conditions. Each soil column is within a 30-gallon (15 inches [38 cm] diameter × 22 inches [56 cm] deep) steel drum. Each drum is plumbed to collect all water draining through the soil column for chemical analysis.
Office-Laboratory Complex
The Center’s main office complex provides office and work space for staff and includes a library/conference room, lunchroom, and a multi-purpose 1000-sq. ft. wet lab equipped for a variety of standard soil and vegetative analytical tasks. Lab equipment includes a fume hood, drying ovens, biosafety cabinet, refrigerators and negative 80 freezer, centrifuge, 40x video microscope, TCD gas chromatograph, and an analytical balance.
Support Facilities
Mechanical, welding, and woodworking shops provide support the maintenance construction, and fabrication, or modification of facilities and equipment for research purposes.
HREC allows limited access to our facilities for educational events. All rentals are subject to approval and availability.
To request use of facilities please visit the Reserve Access Management System where you will be asked to create a project (state the purpose of your event) and will then be able to request a facility.
For private, non-mission aligned events such as weddings please contact: hbird@ucanr.edu or call (707) 744 1424 ext. 1642