Southern California’s historic 3,000-acre Rancho Monte Alegre was newly listed for auction on October 23. The property, which has hosted Hollywood royalty including Clark Gable, John Wayne and Jimmy Stewart, will go under the auctioneer’s hammer on December 12, 2016. Located in the sun-kissed hills east of Santa Barbara, the ranch was also the site of a former home owned by Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver.
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Beyond its celebrity bonafides, Rancho Monte Alegre is one of the most unique properties of its kind in the area, boasting the largest conservation easement ever created in Santa Barbara County. The easement permanently limits development to 24 home sites on the ranch, with a requirement that any future homes are designed to limit their visibility from the Carpinteria Valley. With the exception of an additional 300-acre agricultural easement, the rest of the estate is protected in perpetuity from further agricultural, residential or other development. The scenic landscape here comprises a mix of coastal sage scrub, chaparral and riparian woodland habitat, and includes the upper watershed of Santa Monica and Sutton Canyon creeks.
Whether purchased for private ranch use or residential property development, Rancho Monte Alegre occupies an enviable location that offers easy access to towns including Santa Barbara and Montecito, stunning Pacific Ocean views and direct access to the Franklin Trail as it winds its way into neighboring Los Padres National Forest. A beautiful landscape of creeks, waterfalls and fruit orchards, further plans exist for miles of private hiking and equestrian trails on the property itself.
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