Hope Ranch

Vista del Mundo
4495 Via Abrigada
Santa Barbara, California

Style: Ranch
APN#: 063-062-020
Year Built: 1948
Main House: Bedrooms/Baths: 4 / 4 full baths/ 1 Powder Room
Lot Size: 3.9 Acres
Architect: Harold J. Vaile

LOCATION

A myriad of pleasures await residents at Hope Ranch Park, an elite Santa Barbara residential community with winding, oak canopied private lanes, 20 miles of scenic bridle trails and a marvelous private beach. Ideally situated in this exclusive estate area is the wonderful 3.9 acre property Vista del Mundo. After spending the past 30 years representing the most distinctive homes in our area and having the opportunity of listing and selling some of the most expensive estate properties in Hope Ranch, I have the pleasure here of representing what is by far the most dramatic, awe-inspiring, top-of-the-world view property that exists not only in Hope Ranch, but probably in all of Santa Barbara. This private knoll top offers panoramic ocean, island and coastal views to the south; panoramic city and mountain views to the north; mezmerizing sunset views to the west and, what is perhaps the most unusual feature when combined with such staggering views; several acres of level ground to support an expansive four bedroom home, a championship north – south tennis court and large areas for gardens or family play areas.

RESIDENCE

Main Approach: A long, meandering drive leads to the front motor court and gardens; a separate service drive branches off and leads to the garage and porte-cochère.

Main Entry (9’ x 6’):  A coffered ceiling, oak parquet floor, walk-in cloak closet and crystal chandelier.

Living Room (30’ x 19’): A perfect vantage point for viewing spectacular 180 degree ocean and island views from the south wall of windows and sunroom. On the opposite side is another windowed wall open to the front gardens and covered veranda with incredible mountain views. The living room features a 12’ tall wood beamed ceiling, a large flagstone fireplace with flagstone hearth, and peg random-plank oak floor.

Sunroom (41’ x 13’): Open to the living room, the sunroom features three walls of sliding glass doors to a rear terrace with endless ocean and island views; beamed ceiling, and terrazzo floor.

Dining Room (18’ x 15’): Open to the sunroom and living room, the dining room has built-in lacquered china cabinets, a crystal chandelier, upholstered walls, peg random-plank oak floor, and windows with views to the side gardens and ocean beyond.

Den (17’ x 15’): The cozy den has built-in bookcases and storage cabinets, brick fireplace, and a picture window looking out to the front gardens and mountains beyond. At one end is a generous wet bar with mirrored bar-back, storage cabinets, stainless steel sink, and oak parquet floor.

Powder Room (7’ x 3’): Adjacent to the den and wet bar with imported pedestal sink, indirect lighting, and tile floor.

Kitchen & Breakfast Room (33’ x 13’): A mid-century kitchen with extensive wood cabinets, walk-in pot and pan closet, Formica countertops, European inlaid linoleum floor, central window with views to the side garden and ocean and islands beyond, a menu desk area, indirect lighting, NuTone intercom & music system, a door to the dining room, a door to the den/wet bar and a door to the utility room. The stainless steel appliances include a Chambers refrigerator, Chambers commercial double oven, Chambers electric cook-top with 4-burners and professional gas broiler located on the large center island, a Miele dishwasher, and stainless steel double sink.

Pantry/Utility Room (14’ x 10’): A window to the side gardens and scenic coastal views, Formica countertop, utility sink, extensive storage cabinets, separate cloak and pantry closets, linoleum floor, built-in area for washer–dryer, Chambers refrigerator and Sub-Zero freezer, a door to the porte-cochère, and a door to the staff bedroom/office/in-suite bathroom.

Staff Bedroom/Office (11’ x 10’): Located off the utility room with wall-to-wall carpet, large closet, built-in desk and drawer unit, window to the front gardens and In-suite full bath with a tile shower over tub.

Main Hall (41 ft): The long hallway features a large picture window and window seat overlooking the covered veranda, front gardens, and majestic mountain views; a large floor-to-ceiling bookcase, two linen closets, and wall-to-wall carpet.

Family Bedroom #1 (20’ x 16’): A wall of glass doors opens to an inviting private terrace and gardens with breathtaking coastline and sunset views; a wall of wardrobe closets, a built-in bureau and bookcase, and wall-to-wall carpet.

Hall Bath: Double vanity with marble countertop, shower over sunken marble tub, linen closet, wall-to-wall carpet, skylight, indirect overhead lighting, and separate toilet room,.

Family Bedroom #2 (18’ x 18’): A wall of glass doors opens to a lovely private terrace and rear gardens with dramatic ocean and sunset views; a large walk-in closet with built-in bureau and side closet with shelves, and wall-to-wall carpet. The In-suite Bath has a tile shower, fossil marble countertop, linen closet, indirect overhead lighting, and separate toilet room.

Master Suite (23’ x 18): The large suite features a raised fireplace with marble hearth and surround, bay window with panoramic mountain views, windows to the front garden and covered veranda and wall-to-wall carpet. Sitting Room (13’ x 8’): French doors open to a private terrace and rear gardens with panoramic coastline and sunset views, a window with views to the mountains, built-in bookcases and storage cabinets, and wall-to-wall carpet. Dressing Room (15’ x 11’): A large dressing room with built-in bureaus and wardrobe closets, large walk-in closet with skylight illumination, and wall-to-wall carpet.

Master Bath (15’ x 10): The large master bath features a picture window with breathtaking ocean and sunset views; double vanity with onyx countertop, large spa tub with onyx deck, marble shower, mirrored wall with built-in dressing table, wall-to-wall carpet, and separate toilet room.

2-Car Garage & Connecting Porte-Cochère

Additional Features:

• 3 GFA furnaces control three separately controlled zones of heat
• 2 water heaters
• Intercom-music system throughout
• Exterior Water Softener Room
• Walk-in Gardener’s storage
• Championship north-south tennis court
• Lush mature landscaping with wide variety of fruit trees
• Extensive automatic irrigation system
• Invisible Dog Fence
• Room for pool and expansion
• Easy access to the private beach and miles of bridle paths within Hope Ranch Park 

HOPE RANCH

Overlooking the Pacific Ocean and only five minutes from Santa Barbara is Hope Ranch, a world renowned upscale residential community known for its luxurious estates set amid a natural lake environment with acres of wooded bridle paths, oak-covered hills, scenic landscaping, and beautiful private beach. It is now a community of approximately 773 residential properties encompassing 1,863 acres. Hope Ranch feels decidedly more Mediterranean than ranch-like as you enter the gates and see the palm-lined streets and elegant estates. The magnificent date palms along Marina and Las Palmas Drives are over 80 years old and tower as high as 60 feet.

Hope Ranch is named for Thomas Hope, an Irish immigrant who worked for a time as a Texas cowboy. Eventually Hope moved to Southern California and acquired the two former Mexican land grants totally over 6,000 acres that bear his name today. The property eventually came under the ownership of The Pacific Improvement Company which decided to hire real estate agent Harold Chase and promoted the area as a suburb for upper-income residents. It wasn't until Harold Chase purchased the land in 1923 that any significant development actually took place. Mr. Chase proceeded with the installation of roads, utilities and bridle trails and laid the groundwork for the creation of a residential community, putting his stamp on the modern Hope Ranch for the next 80 years.

Many of the grand estates here began to spring up around 1925 and were designed by the leading architects of the turn of the century, including Reginald Johnson, Peter Barber, and George Washington Smith, rivaling even the best Montecito homes. The largest of the early estates was "Florestal," built by Peter Cooper Bryce. An innovated idea for the times was to bring utilities underground at most locations to ensure that the natural beauty of the area remained unencumbered by unsightly power lines.

Hope Ranch has long been known for its recreational amenities including Hope Ranch’s private beach, landscaped Laguna Blanca lagoon, and community tennis courts. For horseback riders, there are over 20 miles of riding trails which connect to the beach. Because of the local interest in horsemanship here, there is a strong Riding Trails Association in the Hope Ranch area. Hope Ranch is also home to the exclusive La Cumbre Country Club and Laguna Blanca School, a highly rated private school. Other community associations include the Hope Ranch Patrol, the Hope Ranch Garden Club, and the Hope Ranch Park Homeowners Association.

Hope Ranch Homeowners Association, established in1924, keeps watch over all matters of self-government such as architectural standards, fire protection, the private security patrol, zoning (no commercial use), and roads maintenance; and in conjunction with La Cumbre Mutual Water Company maintains the water system. Voting in the association is based on the number of acres owned. Visit their website at: www.hoperanch.org. Guarding their privacy and autonomy, homeowners consistently reject annexation to the City of Santa Barbara. Hope Ranch maintains its independent spirit as well as its lofty standard of suburban living.