Solvang

Rancho Corral de Quati

The Area:

Santa Ynez Valley is located about two hours North of Los Angeles, up the Coast, and just a short drive from Santa Barbara.  It is a spectacularly beautiful, wide-open valley bordered by dramatic mountains.  Quaint townships offer fine dining, cafes and wine tasting.  This classic California landscape of ranches, vineyards and graceful lifestyle has been well protected; successfully integrating the preservation of this natural beauty with measured growth.  The Valley averages about 16 inches of rainfall per year.  The hills and pastures turn a deep, rich green for many months and springtime brings fields of lupine and poppies.  During summer, afternoon breezes from the Pacific Ocean moderate the temperatures and it is this combination of cool nights and mornings with warm days that has made this an ideal and unique climate for growing premium wine grape.   It is also a home for some of the best equestrian ranch land in California.  Access is easy. Santa Ynez has a private airport that can accommodate large twin-engine planes and some small executive jets. Nearby Santa Barbara and Santa Maria have convenient airports that feature major airlines with access to connecting flights for national/international travel and private air terminals. 

The Ranch:

Rancho Corral de Quati was once part of an old Spanish Land Grant given to Augustin Davilla in 1845.  At the time it comprised several thousand acres of prime agricultural and cattle land.  From that time forward, some of our renown “movers-and-shakers” have called Rancho Corral De Quati home. In the early 1940s, Frances “Duke” Sedgewick, whose roots date back to Colonial Massachusetts, purchased the property and moved his family to the ranch where Edie, his youngest daughter, was born. In the 1960s Edie rose to fame in New York as one of Andy Warhol’s “Superstars.”In the 1970s, Ray Stark, the legendary Hollywood producer, purchased the central 256 acres of this Land Grant, Corral de Quati.  Over the next 30 years or so the ranch remained in Mr. Stark’s stewardship.  The property is ideally situated on the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail only 4 miles from the town of Los Olivos and is widely considered to be some of the most prime land in all of the Santa Ynez Valley.  It is surrounded by thousands of acres of cattle ranches, country farms and internationally known vineyards including those of Firestone, Fess Parker, Zaca Mesa and Andrew Murray... Mr. Stark strove to evoke the feel of early California in the setting of the ranch buildings and the split rail fencing.  One feels transported back in time, driving through the gate and up to the cluster of homes and barns.  On the upper portion of the ranch is a dramatic and beautiful sweeping mesa spotted with ancient Valley and Coast Live Oak trees. The backdrop of views encompassing the San Rafael Mountains and the surrounding vineyards and cattle ranches is absolutely stunning!The homes and barns are surrounded by irrigated horse pastures with split rail fencing, trees and mature landscaping. Some of the structures date back to the early part of the 20th century. The ranch-style homes are classic board and bat and painted in brick red; the barns are a natural redwood exterior. All the buildings, including the newer structures, are faithful to the style and feel of what might see on an early California ranch.

Main Home: 

The main residence has a living room with vaulted ceilings, wood floors and an old river rock fireplace, a study, a dining room, country kitchen with a pantry and service porch.  There are a total of 6 bedrooms and baths; the master bedroom suite is accessed off the living room.  A wonderful, window filled galleria leads off the living room and from there, the three guest room suites are accessed. From the kitchen are two maids’ rooms and two bathrooms.  On the ground of the main house is a pool and pool house.  The pool house has a fireplace and a vaulted and beamed T&G ceiling.   Also, close to the house is a more recently built guest quarters.  Additional amenities include is a tennis court and a 6 bay detached garage.  Behind the house and to the south of the garage is a garden area and fruit orchard.  

Worker Quarters:

An older 3 bedroom home, once an old school house for the area! 

A Managers / Farm Foreman’s home is set apart and has a detached garage.   The home has a nice country style kitchen, a living room with fireplace and a formal dining sitting room.  There is one bedroom with bath suite and an additional two bedrooms with hall bath. 

Several Barns: 

No. 1   Older equipment barn with a tack room.

No. 2   Older Classic style barn with a large center aisle and 8 stalls with turnouts.

No. 3   A Foaling barn with a total of seven 14x14 stalls, each with skylights.  An office and a studio apartment have been built on the second story of this barn and one can overlook the stalls, in particular the couple of stalls where a mare may be foaling.  

No. 4   Another classic looking barn with a center aisle and a total of twenty 14x14 stalls.  Again, each has skylights.   This is well built, wooden barn, well ventilated and functional.  It was used primarily for foals and mares.  

There is a round pen and an older hot walker.

Additionally there are numerous paddocks and fenced pastures.

The two agricultural wells have the reported capability of producing 400 G.P.M. and 200 G.P.M. There is a domestic well that has been tested around 120 G.P.M.  Buyer to verify.

Rancho Corral de Quati is a pastoral and peaceful environment that is a prime example of California rural landscape. The location, the land and the setting cannot be duplicated.

Acreage and/or square footage has not been verified by seller or listing agent. If this is important to buyer, buyer should investigate and verify.