See former California compound of late publisher William McClatchy, listed at $3.5M
A California estate once owned by the late newspaper publisher William McClatchy has hit the market for $3.5 million, according to Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties.
The two-home compound in Rancho Mirage sits at the end of a private cul-de-sac near the Tamarisk Country Club, whose members have included Frank Sinatra, the Marx Brothers and President Gerald Ford.
The design is meant to resemble an art gallery with a combination of natural elements and subtle lighting.
“The home’s rich historical background and surroundings are just a few of its features that set it apart from other luxury estates,” listing agent Michael Bernal of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties said in a news release. “It offers an unparalleled sense of exclusivity and space across three-parcels, two separate residences and an enclosed private street with no neighboring residences behind or on either side of the estate.
Sitting on 1.5 acres in Riverside County, both homes were built in 1980 with interiors designed by Steve Chase, known for putting his contemporary stamp on “California Style” homes.
William McClatchy bought the property for $1.9 million in 2007 and lived there until February 2010, when he sold the residence for $1.7 million to the current owners, according to Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California.
McClatchy died in 2011 at 86. The McClatchy Company was founded in 1857 by James McClatchy, his great-grandfather. It publishes 29 daily newspapers in 14 states, including the Sacramento Bee in California and the Miami Herald in Florida.
Situated on 1.5-acres, the Southern California compound has two gate-controlled entry points, one to enter the street and the other to enter the property. The estate’s three lots are comprised of primary and secondary residences — for a combined 5,430 square feet of living space — and an undeveloped parcel, which once served as a citrus orchard.
Both homes underwent major renovations to bring in top-of-the-line finishes and appliances throughout. The main residence, spanning 4,005 square feet, has four ensuite bedrooms and five bathrooms. The second one, a 1,377-square-foot casita, features two bedrooms and two bathrooms.
“Each residence was strategically designed to optimize its proximity to the surrounding mountain ranges,” Bernal said. “Almost every room in the house boasts floor to ceiling windows or doors to showcase the sweeping mountain views and create an indoor-outdoor living experience.”
The primary home is entered through an oversized glass front door into a sunlit foyer designed for displaying art. The foyer connects by an open floor plan to the formal dining area and great room. There are high ceilings, recessed lighting, ledger stone accents, fireplaces and travertine flooring throughout the home.
Just outside of the modernized kitchen is an oversized sunken pool, private spa, statue garden and expansive landscape.
The secondary residence is highlighted by floor-to-ceiling windows and sliding glass doors that show panoramic mountain views from each room.
The property stands next to the Annenberg Retreat at Sunnylands, the previous home of U.S. Ambassadors to the United Kingdom Walter and Leonore Annenberg. The Annenberg retreat serves a high-level sanctuary for national and world leaders who seek privacy, according to Berkshire Hathaway Homeservices California.
In 2021, another grand McClatchy estate in midtown Sacramento, California, built in the 1930s, sold for $2.2 million. Darius Anderson, a Sonoma-based developer, lobbyist and Platinum Advisors founder, bought the home that is tucked behind a tall white stucco wall on nearly a half-acre.
This story was originally published November 21, 2022 at 12:25 PM.
