Whitney was an innovative man who is credited with a number of "firsts" in California, all of which took place on his ranch in South Placer County. Whitney experimented with the thermal belts that existed within the protected valleys of what is now Twelve Bridges in his cultivation of grapes and oranges. By terracing the land in the thermal belts on the property, he could plant crops on the steep hillsides, allowing the crops to ripen earlier. Whitney succeeded in shipping his fruits to eastern markets a full month ahead of Southern California, allowing him to corner the market.

The name "Twelve Bridges" is a direct result of one of Whitney's favorite pastimes - taking visitors on a tour of his ranch. The tour consisted of a drive along a tree-lined road called Eight Mile Drive, which featured twelve granite bridges, three of which are still in existence today at Twelve bridges Golf Club.

In 1889, Whitney and a group of investors subdivided a portion of his property and sold small ranch sites to settlers, many from England. In order to make these new Californians feel welcome, Whitney created numerous recreational areas and activities. The crown jewel of this effort was a nine-hole golf course that was enjoyed by prominent local citizens and visiting dignitaries. The award-winning 18-hole Twelve Bridges Golf Club sits near the site of this original golf facility.

Along with the granite bridges, Whitney's spirit continues to live on at Twelve Bridges. Rolling hills, acres of open space and recreational opportunities are still abundant in this new community in Lincoln.