In 1915, Scorpion was a lively, well-organized sheep ranch on Santa Cruz Island, filled with the sounds of hammers, French and Italian workers, sheep, and roosters, and sustained by a self-sufficient operation shaped by the island’s isolation from the mainland. The surrounding sea protected livestock from predators, disease, and poachers, but isolation also made transportation difficult, so residents adapted by using island resources, turning island clay into bricks and caves into makeshift fridges. Some ranch buildings in this area have been preserved, including one of the oldest remaining sheds at Scorpion Ranch, which was stabilized and given a new roof. Although the exact location of Scorpion’s original blacksmith shop is unknown, archeological excavations at this site uncovered ash, charcoal, horseshoes, and other artifacts suggesting it stood here as part of a long row of utility sheds and shops. Other traces of Scorpion’s ranching past remain in the valley, including fences, stone retaining walls, and eucalyptus and cypress groves built or planted more than 100 years ago.