History of the Ranch
Muhammad Ali moving rocks at our place in early 1960s
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Archie and his Wife above the Ranch
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Boxer Archie Moore made boxing history at his retreat in Ramona.
By ED ZIERALSKI (San Diego Tribute)
JUNE 22, 2013 7 PM PT Address: The foot of Mt. Woodson
Archie Moore fought from 1936 until 1963 and battled the top names in boxing at the time, including Rocky Marciano, Floyd Patterson and Muhammad Ali. He won 185 of his 219 bouts before retiring at 49 years old after losing to Ali.
Moore’s connection to San Diego was his retreat, the Salt Mine Training Camp in Ramona. He called it “Salt Mine” because he said he worked as hard there to get ready for fights as anyone did in a salt mine. The property, at the foot of Mt. Woodson, included 120 acres with five homes, a boxing ring, a sweatbox (steam room) and miles of winding country roads and trails that Moore used for road work. Moore often encountered rattlesnakes and even mountain lions on his runs.
The camp drew boxers like Ali and George Foreman. When he retired from the ring, Moore trained fighters, including Foreman. He also spent time as an actor, author and philanthropist. His “Any Boy Can” program in San Diego helped inner-city kids find a better life.
Today, the land he owned has been developed into custom homes adjacent to Mt. Woodson Golf Course. But there’s a large rock on Salt Mine Road that has the words and an arrow, painted in large white letters: “Archie Moore’s Salt Mine.”
By ED ZIERALSKI (San Diego Tribute)
JUNE 22, 2013 7 PM PT Address: The foot of Mt. Woodson
Archie Moore fought from 1936 until 1963 and battled the top names in boxing at the time, including Rocky Marciano, Floyd Patterson and Muhammad Ali. He won 185 of his 219 bouts before retiring at 49 years old after losing to Ali.
Moore’s connection to San Diego was his retreat, the Salt Mine Training Camp in Ramona. He called it “Salt Mine” because he said he worked as hard there to get ready for fights as anyone did in a salt mine. The property, at the foot of Mt. Woodson, included 120 acres with five homes, a boxing ring, a sweatbox (steam room) and miles of winding country roads and trails that Moore used for road work. Moore often encountered rattlesnakes and even mountain lions on his runs.
The camp drew boxers like Ali and George Foreman. When he retired from the ring, Moore trained fighters, including Foreman. He also spent time as an actor, author and philanthropist. His “Any Boy Can” program in San Diego helped inner-city kids find a better life.
Today, the land he owned has been developed into custom homes adjacent to Mt. Woodson Golf Course. But there’s a large rock on Salt Mine Road that has the words and an arrow, painted in large white letters: “Archie Moore’s Salt Mine.”
