Unparalleled and unprecedented, Rancho Latigo sits majestically atop its panoramic perch, as if to hold court over the entirety of the Santa Ynez Mountains. With a total of 4,674 acres of pristine rolling terrain, majestic oak-studded hills, and verdant peaks and valleys, it may as well.

Perhaps no property on the entire west coast so perfectly speaks to the spirit of California and to the promise of exceptional residential splendor that can be achieved when luxury, location, and lifestyle converge in one immaculate place.

The iconic Rancho Latigo, currently listed for sale for $40,000,000 with Georgina Jacobson of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Newport Beach, hearkens back to the state’s earliest days as part of an original Spanish land grant—well before properties were subdivided and golden hillsides covered in tract homes. This legacy property was on its way to being developed at the time it was purchased and renowned architect David Leavengood signed on to help transform it.  

“The ranch was pretty beat-up, platted for development and crisscrossed with a lot of horrible roads,” he told Architectural Digest when Rancho Latigo was featured first in 2009 and reprinted in June 2017.

You would never know given the pristine condition of the land today—one that Leavengood referred to in Architectural Digest as, “a national park comeback.”

What once sat unkempt and threatened with development is today a truly remarkable estate property, an amalgam of historically inspired architecture, modern features, inspired design details, outstanding views, and the finest in equestrian facilities. Exceptionally private yet just 40 minutes to the beaches of Santa Barbara, Rancho Latigo is also easily accessible to anywhere by helicopter from the three-helicopter helipad.

The home that is the centerpiece of this world-class estate in Santa Barbara showcases Leavengood’s broad lexicon of ranch architecture.

Leavengood was inspired by the architecture of 18th- and 19th-century Colombia and South America; that influence is found throughout and around the compound’s main residence, starting with its U-shaped configuration and proper courtyard, which is accessible from the entire home. Here, a showy Moroccan stone fountain provides a stunning focal point, surrounded by lush gardens.

The two-story foyer provides a first look at the exceptional level of detail carried throughout the home, with rich, dark wood floors and a curved staircase with hand-forged wrought-iron-and-wood railings.

 

Enter the kitchen, and the impeccable craftsmanship continues, paired with professional function to suit the finest gourmet chef. Walker Zanger marble countertops line the room as well as the large island, and the Lacanche French range cooker takes up nearly an entire wall, with enough burners and oven space to serve the largest of gatherings. A SubZero refrigerator and freezer, Miele dishwashers, and Rohl copper sinks add to the allure of the space, which also features a butler’s pantry and pizza oven.

The kitchen flows right into the comfortably grand living room, where the authenticity Leavengood sought is highlighted in the wood ceiling beams, which were handcrafted from reclaimed railroad trestles, and the artisan-crafted stone fireplace wall. The inviting yet sophisticated ranch feel exuded here is replicated in the 26 other rooms of the 13,438-square-foot residence, including the six en-suite bedrooms and 11 baths.

Numerous additional spaces are ideal for entertaining, such as the 10,000-bottle wine cellar, home theater, and covered patio with river rock fireplace. There is also a secondary home on the property, as well as a pool house, and a manager’s property.

An equestrian lover’s dream, Rancho Latigo presents horse quarters that are every bit as lavish as the property’s other structures. The 10,000-square-foot, 11-stall barn features a red tile roof, a loggia, rubber mat flooring, and motorized clerestory windows for ventilation purposes, not to mention special lanterns commissioned from a local blacksmith.

Also on the property are paddocks, riding arenas, and arbors that offer soothing shade and a drink from fieldstone pools. Ride along miles of equestrian trails worn into the hillsides, play a match on the tennis courts, and then, the pool beckons. From here, views span a seemingly impossible sweep of natural brilliance—a postcard view if ever there was one.

 

“As far as the eye can see, you have got rolling hills and beautiful landscapes,” Jacobson told Mansion Global.