Moon Valley Ranch was just one of many sudivisions throughout the State of California that forced the State to take preventive measures to prevent this type of future subdivision—namely the California Subdivision Act of 1971. Its a perfect example why there are disclosure laws in the real estate industry today. Numerous folks still invest in that property, purchasing parcels site unseen, only to realize that they bought a lot on a sagebrush plain or a rocky hillside covered with juniper trees. However, there are others that find its pristine setting magical, and buy a parcel as a special get away. Of course, Moon Valley, is a temporary home for illegal marijuana grows.
Abandoned townsites are a matter of there own. There have been speculators to revive the same to make a quick buck. The town of Flanigan, in eastern Honey Lake Valley, was a shining example. Some Reno realtors purchased the majority of the vacant town lots. This venture happened in the early 1980s, but never got quite off the ground. It was their intention to donate lots to such celebrities as John Wayne and Clint Eastwood. They would then advertise to prospective buyers, that could be neighbors to these famous personalities. These novelty lots would be priced at around $200 to $300. They had not anticipated a federal law that put an end of their enterprise. This was the Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act of 1968. The law mandated improvements such water, streets, sewers, utilities, etc would be required for any lot sold for over $100, and that it meets the criteria of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. End of story.