El Sobrante in Contra Costa County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Cowboy Country

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, April 26, 2016

1. Cowboy Country Marker

Inscription. This was the site of Pitt Arena, which featured equestrian events during the 1930s and 1940s. Owned by Babe and Claude Pitt, the arena showcased the horsemanship of the El Sobrante Horsemen's Association, San Pablo Horsemen's Association, Western Riders Club, and El Sobrante Junior Riders, among others. El Sobrante is still home to many horse lovers and owners. The Pitt Way private road keeps the Pitt Arena memory alive.

Erected 2014 by El Sobrante Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Entertainment.

Location. 37° 57.905′ N, 122° 18.787′ W. Marker is in El Sobrante, California, in Contra Costa County. It is on San Pablo Dam Road near Pitt Way, on the right. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3884 San Pablo Dam Road, El Sobrante CA 94803, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s San Francisco Bay Area

and on the Coast Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: El Sobrante's First Full-service Post Office (within shouting distance of this marker); El Sobrante's First Bank (within shouting distance of this marker); Arrival of the Strip Mall (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Park Theatre (about 600 feet away); El Sobrante Chevrolet Service

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(about 700 feet away); Ranchos to Ranches (approx. 0.2 miles away); First Supermarket (approx. 0.2 miles away); Oliver's Hardware & Service Station (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in El Sobrante.

Additional commentary.
1. Badly Faded
I went to visit this marker along with a number of nearby markers in El Cerrito and El Sobrante. Sadly, many of these markers are badly faded and unreadable at this time. We are thankful for the pictures that were previously submitted.

— Submitted March 9, 2026, by Rover Spotts of San Francisco, California.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, April 26, 2016

2. Cowboy Country Marker

Cowboy Country Marker (2026) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Rover Spotts, March 7, 2026

3. Cowboy Country Marker (2026)

Credits. This page was last revised on March 24, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 28, 2016, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 632 times since then and 29 times this year. Last updated on April 22, 2020, by Rox Miravalle of El Sobrante, California. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 28, 2016, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. 3. submitted on March 9, 2026, by Rover Spotts of San Francisco, California. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.