See Sacramento home with unmatched views of American River and custom surprises throughout

If Michael McCurdy wants to witness how the business he started supports many of Sacramento’s largest construction projects, he simply needs to look up.

Skyline Scaffold — founded by McCurdy; his wife, Linda; and her daughter Amy Johnson in 2005 — has enveloped landmark structures like the Golden 1 Center, Kimpton Sawyer Hotel, the state Capitol building, Sacramento International Airport and the California Natural Resources Building.

At home, McCurdy enjoys an unobstructed view of another Sacramento landmark: the American River. The powerful river rushes past his backyard, free from the obstruction of buildings, scaffolding, or trees.

His Mediterranean-style, three-bedroom, 5,100-square-foot home has just entered the Sacramento real estate market, listed for $2.7 million.

The gated property off Bradshaw Road and Folsom Boulevard is found nestled on the south side of the river in a wealthy but little-known enclave just outside the city limits of Sacramento. The house, sitting on nearly a half-acre, was built in 1989 and has had just three owners.

The residence sits at the deepest part a horseshoe-shaped bend in the river, allowing unhindered views as far as the eye can see to the east and the west. The river eventually curves and disappears into the distance. On the opposite shore is the American River Parkway.

“It’s a really unique view because you don’t have any structures in front of you here, and you can see east and west,” listing agent Kim Squaglia of House Real Estate said. “But as the river bends, you kind of get this beautiful horseshoe. You can really see the length of the river from here, just a really quiet, peaceful part of the river. But then you also get that kind of extra noise (from) the current.”

Love at first sight

McCurdy, whose wife passed away in 2023, is selling the home as he plans a permanent move to Colorado to be closer to family. He said he’ll miss a lot about the property that he and Linda had shared since moving to 9801 Mira del Rio Drive in 2011.

His wife’s love for the home on the river was clear from the first time they looked at the property, even before the couple poured their hearts into renovating and customizing the space to make it their own.

“My wife had a vision of living on the river in a house like this,” he recounted. “’She said, ‘This is my house, and whatever we have to do let’s make it happen.’ ”

The unparalleled river view is certainly the crown jewel of the La Riviera property. The scenery is supplemented by an outdoor, built-in grilling area with quartzite countertops, a gas fire pit under a large pergola and seating along a brick capstone wall.

But the interior of the house holds unforgettable custom details and unique surprises around every corner — beginning in the formal entryway where a custom-crafted chandelier imported from Spain hangs overhead.

Under cathedral ceilings, the indoor living space flows seamlessly from the kitchen to the great room, from the work office to the primary bedroom.

The office overlooks the river, but the warm and impressive room stands out as much for its shimmering koa wood paneling, master carpenter work and box ceiling than anything else.

“This is solid koa wood,” Squaglia said.

Today, building an office out of such rare, tropical hardwood might cost as much as $150,000 for the product alone, McCurdy estimated. He said the original owners used 1,500 board feet of lumber in the construction.

“People can’t believe what they see when they come in here, and how it was done and the shelving and everything,” McCurdy said about the office.

2,000-bottle wine room

In the great room and upstairs, built-in display cases are backlit to spotlight collections of art and other items. On one side of the living room is a bright wet bar with mirrors and glass-and-wood cabinets. Stairs lead down to a 2,000-bottle wine room furnished with a table and chairs and adorned with murals created by local artist Robert Lindsey.

Wolf appliances, a Subzero refrigerator and freezer, custom cabinetry and an oversized island highlight the fully remodeled kitchen.

The primary bedroom suite is a large private retreat. Under a soaring cupola, the spa bathtub offers unobstructed views up and down American River. There are quartzite finishes, heated flooring, dual vanities and a walk-in closet with a stone-topped island. The suite is equipped with electric window shades.

The epoxy-finished garage will dazzle the senses. And it has a dual purpose. Park the cars outside, turn off the lights and the space transforms into a black-light dance party atmosphere under a “mesmerizing fiber-optic night-sky ceiling” with thousands of twinkling stars, as the property listing describes it. Lindsey, the Sacramento artist, also created the two gorgeous murals on the ceiling in the garage.

“This is probably the most memorable thing,” Squaglia said about the unique garage space.

Off of the garage, there are two useful rooms: a climate-controlled workshop and a commercial dog-washing station.

Out front, the house is entered through a gated courtyard with a water feature in the center. Beautifully landscaped grounds, redwoods, Meyer lemon trees and Japanese maples adorn the grounds, as well.

David Caraccio

The Sacramento Bee

916-321-1125

David Caraccio is a video producer for The Sacramento Bee who was born and raised in Sacramento. He is a graduate of San Diego State University and a longtime journalist who has worked for newspapers as a reporter, editor, page designer and digital content producer.