{"id":2505989,"date":"2026-07-17T12:46:15","date_gmt":"2026-07-17T12:46:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2505989"},"modified":"2026-07-17T12:46:15","modified_gmt":"2026-07-17T12:46:15","slug":"plans-for-transformed-rockn-ranch-music-venue-in-madera","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/plans-for-transformed-rockn-ranch-music-venue-in-madera\/","title":{"rendered":"Plans for transformed Rock\u2019N Ranch music venue in Madera"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Of the businesses Darren Schmall has cultivated over the years, it\u2019s the concert venue he sort of fell into.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI had no idea that I would be in the music business at 61 years old \u2014 it\u2019s mindboggling,\u201d says Schmall, standing mid-stage at ApCal Rock\u2019N Ranch<\/a>, the wine tasting room-turned music venue that celebrates its 15th anniversary with a concert party Saturday, July 18<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Schmall looks out over a three-acre field that was once a corn maze for the Raisin Hell Ranch<\/a>. The haunted attraction (another of his business hustles) sits just off Highway 99 at Avenue and shares a parking lot with the outdoor concert space, so that \u201call the entertainment stuff is now working together,\u201d Schmall says.<\/p>\n

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The field is now a stretch of planted grass and shade trees.<\/p>\n

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They\u2019re a fast-growing proprietary variety called Megaflora<\/a>, which Schmall helped propagate and grows on site. Within a few years, they will shade the entire yard.<\/p>\n

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Already, the space is naturally fenced in by almond orchards, which add shade in the early evening and help keep the venue degrees cooler during summer\u2019s triple-digit heat.<\/p>\n

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In the middle, there\u2019s a double-sided main bar, which offers a full complement of alcoholic beverages and \u201cdirty\u201d sodas (yes, ApCal is in on that craze<\/a>, Schmall says). The VIP section up front has an additional private bar (and flushable bathrooms instead of porta-potties) and four smaller bars can be activated if needed.<\/p>\n

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Gone are the days of wine-and-beer sales. When ApCal relocated here during the pandemic, it updated to a Type 90 liquor license<\/a>, which is specifically designed for performance venues like this and allows full alcohol sales (along with all-age performances).<\/p>\n

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The yard also has room for the extras: an inflatable ax throwing game and oversized beer pong set-up, food trucks (in partnership with Fresno Street Eats<\/a>) and a pop-up cigar shop (smoking is allowed at the Rock\u2019N Ranch).<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe\u2019re just a different environment,\u201d Schmall says.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe\u2019ve got this big, beautiful facility.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Darren Schmall’s ApCal Rock’N Ranch, the popular outdoor venue north of Fresno, photographed Friday, July 10, 2026 near Madera. Parking is seen at the bottom left along Road 32, surrounded by orchards and the main concert venue in the center. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com<\/span> <\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

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Music, from the back porch to the main stage<\/h2>\n

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Until this year, Schmall did all the bookings and promotions at ApCal.<\/p>\n

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In the early days, that was (mostly local) acoustic bands playing the back patio of the tasting room on Friday nights and Sunday afternoons (Saturdays were held for weddings). But \u201cevery wine tasting room in the world could do that,\u201d Schmall says.<\/p>\n

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So, ApCal found a niche by expanding its entertainment offerings and by the late 2010s, it was known as the place for classic rock tribute shows. In the year before the pandemic, ApCal hosted nearly a dozen sold-out concerts, at a capacity of 1,000, Schmall says.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThe tribute bands were very popular. And we were really successful at it,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

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Of course, other venues decided they wanted in on the action, and \u201cnow, all the local venues are doing tribute bands,\u201d Schmall says.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe needed to separate ourselves, again.\u201d<\/p>\n

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So, the Ranch has started working with outside promoters.<\/p>\n

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Last weekend, it hosted the Pistolanda Festival<\/a>, a Mexican music showcase that brought in Grupo Vanguardia from Chicago along with Los Pilares De California, Los Cadetes de Linares and others.<\/p>\n

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In August, it hosts Sonic Summer<\/a>, a day-long EDM festival with dozens of DJs.<\/p>\n

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\"Darren
Darren Schmall, owner of ApCal Rock’N Ranch, which is about to celebrate its 15-year anniversary, talks about the future of the popular outdoor venue north of Fresno Friday, July 10, 2026 near Madera. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com<\/span> <\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

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Richter Entertainment at the Rock\u2019N Ranch<\/h2>\n

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In October, Foghat stops at the ranch<\/a> with fellow classic rock band Molly Hatchet. Tickets went on sale last month, through Richter Entertainment.<\/p>\n

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The company<\/a> has exclusive booking contracts at the FruitYard Amphitheater in Modesto and Ironstone Amphitheater in Murphys, but produces concerts across the state, including ZZ Top\u2019s concert Aug. 7<\/a> at Saroyan Theatre in Fresno.<\/p>\n

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If things go well in October, the company could bring 10 to 15 shows to ApCal in 2027, Schmall says.<\/p>\n

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That would be in addition to 10 or more other events the venue hopes to get on the calendar every Saturday from April to September. That\u2019s not only concerts, but also professional boxing, pro wrestling matches or any other event looking to draw 1,000 to 5,000 people.<\/p>\n

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Currently, there are few venues, especially outdoors, catering to that market in the central San Joaquin Valley. \u201cWe see a niche there for festival type events and outdoor concerts,\u201d Schmall says.<\/p>\n

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Over the winter, the venue plans to install a new 65-foot stage with a permanent roof structure to better court more prominent touring acts, like ZZ Top. With better staging, the band might have booked ApCal instead of the Saroyan, Schmall says.<\/p>\n

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In the meantime, there are still a few months<\/a> left on this season\u2019s entertainment. That includes a couple of tributes bands (Journey and Morgan Wallace), a classic car show\/movie night and performances from Tortilla Soup and Outlaw Mariachi.<\/p>\n

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And before all that, a celebration. This weekend, the ranch hosts a free show with Fresno rock band 51 Aces. The band has a long history<\/a> playing at ApCal and is reuniting as a favor (and also by demand) to celebrate the venue\u2019s anniversary, Schmall says.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThat\u2019s our thank you to all of our customers from back in the day.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\"ApCal
ApCal Rock\u2019N Ranch, the popular outdoor venue north of Fresno, is about to celebrate its 15th anniversary. Photographed Friday, July 10, 2026 near Madera. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com<\/span> <\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

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The ApCal Rock’N Ranch stage is seen Friday, July 10, 2026 near Madera. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com<\/span> <\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

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\"Tables
Tables are arranged for an upcoming show at ApCal Rock’N Ranch, the popular outdoor venue north of Fresno. Photographed Friday, July 10, 2026 near Madera. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com<\/span> <\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

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\"Beer
Beer on tap, seen at Darren Schmall’s ApCal Rock’N Ranch, Friday, July 10, 2026 near Madera. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com<\/span> <\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

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\"Darren
Darren Schmall, owner of ApCal Rock’N Ranch, talks about the future of the popular outdoor venue north of Fresno Friday, July 10, 2026 near Madera. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com<\/span> <\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

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Related Stories from Fresno Bee<\/h5>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Joshua Tehee<\/a><\/p>\n

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The Fresno Bee<\/span><\/p>\n

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Joshua Tehee covers breaking news for The Fresno Bee, writing on a wide range of topics from police, politics and weather, to arts and entertainment in the Central Valley.<\/span>\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n