[2] Penniman arrived in California in 1853 and three years later purchased 500 acres (2.0 km2) of land from Encarnación Pacheco, daughter of Juana Sanchez de Pacheco, then owner of Rancho Arroyo de Las Nueces y Bolbones from which the 500 acres (2.0 km2) were taken.

In 1921, Bessie hired Edmund Moyer to reside at the ranch with his family and supervise it.

In 1947, with an eye to his own mortality, Albert Johnson formed the Gospel Foundation, an organization meant to oversee his extensive assets after his death.

Johnson died in 1948 of cancer, and deeded all his property to the Gospel Foundation, including Shadelands.

[6] The Gospel Foundation continued to administer Shadelands until 1970, when they gave the remaining 1.5 acres (6,100 m2) of land and the ranch house to the city of Walnut Creek, California.