At the early age of 17, Dennis left Iowa on the "coldest day of the year" and rode his Harley motorcycle to California in search of opportunity. When he grew tired at the end of a long day, he spent the night out in the open. He would laugh at what a sight he was, when he arrived at the home of relatives in Los Angeles after several days on the road, so covered in grime that they did not recognize him when he knocked. After shutting the door and some discussion, they saw some resemblance to a relative in Iowa and let him in for a bath.
An entrepreneur at heart from an early age, Dennis began his chicken business near Moorpark, CA, which grew from 1,500 to 1.5 million chickens. In the book entitled "Moorpark Story" by Norma Gunter, "To Dennis Johnson belongs the distinction of ushering the Poultry Era to Moorpark with 20,000 chickens. In fact, it may well be that he introduced the commercial egg business to the entire county … August 1948." In 1958 Dennis and partner Dick Peterson formed the Moorpark Milling and Hardware Company which was a turkey-raising business growing to more than 250,000 before being destroyed in fire in 1967. Dennis and was the first to ship frozen chickens to the troops in Europe during WWII. While he was tending to the chickens, his only daughter Jeanne was riding her horse nearby. She spent many a day at work with Dennis during her early years. The chicken business on Spring Street, which dead-ends on Los Angeles Avenue, soon was threatened by the freeway, so Dennis phased out so not to stand in the way of progress. Dennis also owned Moorpark's first airport and private airstrip where local residents stored their planes.
In the early 1970's, Dennis saw an opportunity to invest in a working cattle ranch at the base of the Goodsight Mountains near Akela. He then recognized the special experience and talents of Joe Smyer, who became a lifelong friend and worked the ranch until the time that Dennis would finalize his move to New Mexico. A few years later, Dennis saw an opportunity to purchase some land, which he developed into what is now known as the fly-in community Solo Vista Estates. At this time, he had a vision of the family home complete with an airplane hanger. Dennis would reminisce about his years as a pilot and flying into Deming Airport, picking up the VW he kept there and driving to the grocery store before reversing the process and returning to the ranch. With love and foresight, Dennis had the intention that his home would be filled with people. With his bare hands and close friend Vaughn Rose, tons of logs, tiles, and handmade adobes and 10 years later the home was completed. His work of art took on a life of it's own as thousands of people over the years graced Solo Vista Estates, sitting at the kitchen table with Dennis and Rose, enjoying the hospitality, fine dining and a glass of wine over great conversation, laughter and memories