Five Dot Ranch, Willow Creek Valley, 1958. Courtesy of Wendell LougheadFor whatever reasons, Erich was not satisfied with the ranch, and the place was once again on the market. In the spring of 1949, two cousins, Ben Dyer and Arlyn Hughes from Gridley, California purchased what was commonly known as the Lonkey Ranch in Willow Creek Valley from W.J. Erich. The two men needed financial assistance and brought in three partners: Marvin Kirk, Jack Hughes, and B.B. Hughes. They named their new enterprise the Five Dot Land & Cattle Company, with Arlyn Hughes operating the ranch. The partnership was brief and the ranch was placed on the market in 1958. In 1959, the Swickard Brothers, Jack and Tom, from San Jose purchased Five Dot.
