This irreplaceable 237.82-acre estate atop a hill in Montecito features a historic Monterey Colonial manor designed in the early 20th century by esteemed Reginald Davis Johnson, 10 guest cottages, orchards, and extensive equestrian facilities.
Rancho San Carlos
Montecito, California | Harry Kolb, Sotheby’s International Realty – Montecito – Coast Village Road Brokerage
At a secluded coveted address in Montecito, a long private drive wends its way through tall oaks and groves of orange and lemon trees to the top of a hill. Here, at the center of 237.82 acres is a majestic Monterey Colonial manor designed in 1929 by revered Southern California architect Reginald Davis Johnson. Since its construction nearly 100 years ago, this irreplaceable estate has remained in the hands of the same caring philanthropic family for three generations.
But a significant history and an esteemedarchitectural pedigree isn’t the home’s only calling card. It also happens to be one of the largest estates currently on the market in the United States. The main residence, encompassing a stunning 29,483 square feet, offers more than 30 rooms, all suffused with an Old World sophistication and serenity. Refined living areas—including a regal wood-paneled salon with two fireplaces and a corner devoted to a grand piano—are centered around a classical courtyard filled with towering palms and manicured hedges. One faux panel in the living room hides a secret door that leads to a lower level and a replica of an English pub, complete with an oak bar, a stone fireplace, and wooden casks. Master and guest wings are thoughtfully secluded, linked with the public spaces by a stately staircase with a decorative iron railing. Wood paneling and other carved details imported from a manor in England can be found throughout. Views to the north encompass the Santa Barbara Mountains, and to the south, they stretch to the Pacific.
The acreage also includes 10 delightful residential cottages displaying a Mediterranean influence, roughly 100 acres of citrus and avocado orchards, and extensive equestrian facilities offering 21 stalls in two tables, a 11,250-square-foot covered riding arena, and a quarter-mile training track. The property consists of 30 legal parcels, which along with the location, in one of the most exclusive communities in America, affords practically unprecedented flexibility and opportunity.
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