Neil Young bought a California ranch whose caretaker inspired “Old Man”

A question from the caretaker of Neil Young’s newly purchased ranch became the emotional spark for “Old Man,” one of the Canadian singer-songwriter’s best-known songs.

Young bought the Northern California property for $350,000 in 1970, as his career was gathering momentum. His work with Buffalo Springfield had established his reputation, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young had found major success with “Déjà Vu,” and his solo album “After the Gold Rush” had reached the Top 10.

The property had 140 acres, two lakes, two houses and an old barn. It was then known as the Lazy Double L, after its previous owners, two lawyers named Long and Lewis. Young later renamed it Broken Arrow Ranch, and the property became deeply important to him.

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how could someone so young afford to buy a place like this

When Young first visited, caretaker Louis Avila showed him around in an old blue army jeep. Avila lived on the ranch with his wife, Clara. During the ride, he asked how someone so young could afford a place like that. Young said he was “just lucky.”

The exchange stayed with Young. The contrast between the young musician who had bought a huge ranch and the older man guiding him around helped shape the viewpoint behind “Old Man.”

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he said he was just lucky