Historic Graber Olive House Faces Foreclosure, Family Launches Urgent Campaign To Save Landmark

ONTARIO, CA — A Southern California landmark that has been part of the state’s history for more than a century is now at risk of disappearing.

The Graber Olive House, a 131-year-old family-run business in Ontario, is facing foreclosure and descendants of the founding family have launched a GoFundMe campaign as a last-ditch effort to preserve it.

The Graber Olive House is California’s oldest operating olive packing facility and has been in business since 1894. Known for its iconic Graber Olives, the site has also long served as a gathering place, hosting weddings, school tours and family events. Its historic grounds are home to towering redwoods, a 250-year-old California Live Oak, and the original “Graber’s Firethorn” plant — all part of a living legacy that has been carefully maintained by four generations of the Graber family.

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Now, the property is shuttered and in the foreclosure process. Without immediate help, the Grabers warn that the site could be lost to development.

“Our 131-year-old family business, the Graber Olive House, is in danger of being lost forever,” wrote Kelsey Graber, who is married to fourth-generation owner Robert Graber, on the GoFundMe page. “Even though foreclosure has begun, it is not yet final. With your support, we still have a chance to preserve the property and cover urgent expenses.”

The campaign seeks donations to cover utilities, loan payments, and essential operating costs in hopes of reopening and preventing permanent closure.

The Grabers describe the Olive House as more than a family business — it’s “a living part of California’s history.” Alongside its olive-packing operations, the grounds also feature the CC Graber House, a landmark residence, and unique plants such as Watsonia marginata, which have been intertwined with the site’s story for generations.

Last year, Patch reported that the Graber property — which includes olive groves and historic buildings — had been placed on the market with an asking price of $3 million. The family is now trying to raise funds directly to halt the foreclosure and keep the business in operation.

“We are committed to doing everything possible to continue preserving it for future generations,” the Grabers said.

The GoFundMe, titled Help Save the Graber Olive House – A 131-Year-Old Family Legacy, is live online. Supporters can donate or share the campaign to help the family navigate what they describe as the most difficult chapter in the site’s long history.