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9 iconic estates in Northern California you need to see in 2025

Stories by Sacramento Bee journalists, with AI summarization

Northern California is home to remarkable estates that showcase history, design, and scenic beauty. For example, the Whispering Pines estate on Lake Tahoe blends serene lakeside living with modern comforts like a pool, tennis courts, and panoramic mountain views. A Los Altos Hills residence demonstrates resilience, blending steel and glass construction to resist fires while offering a tranquil environment with an artist's retreat and heated pool.

Nearby, an estate in Placerville sits atop nearly 99 acres with a private vineyard, offering sunrise views over the Sierra Nevada and river valleys. In Carmel, the former home of architect Guy O. Koepp features authentic Spanish Revival architecture and sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean, showing how the region intertwines history with distinctive modern living.

AP Ranch in Gazelle, California, stretches 14,000 acres, about the size of Manhattan, N.Y.

NO. 1: NORTHERN CALIFORNIA RANCH ESTABLISHED IN GOLD RUSH ERA IS UP FOR SALE. TAKE A LOOK

Own a slice of the American West. | Published January 7, 2025 | Read Full Story by David Caraccio

The Granite Bay home for sale for $5.25 million spans 10,000 square feet and offers a resort-style backyard.

NO. 2: SEE SACRAMENTO HOME’S BEAUTIFUL INDOOR BASKETBALL COURT, ONE OF MANY STUNNING FEATURES

Granite Bay estate hits the high-end market for $5.25 million. | Published February 22, 2025 | Read Full Story by David Caraccio

The home of Brian Loucks, legendary CAA Music Agent and host of The Living Room Series, and his wife, Cedering Fox, WORDTheatre founder and artistic director, and voiceover/live announcer for The Oscars, has hit the market in California.

NO. 3: ESTATE FOR SALE IN CALIFORNIA IS ‘ARTISTIC VISION’ MEETS ‘IMPECCABLE DESIGN.’ SEE IT

“Once in a lifetime opportunity to own a rare Fryman Canyon Compound seeped in Hollywood History,” the listing says. | Published February 21, 2025 | Read Full Story by TJ Macias

The Beverly Hills, California, home has six bedrooms and seven full bathrooms.

NO. 4: HOME WITH ‘JURASSIC PARK GATES’ FOR SALE HAS A HISTORY OF LAW-BREAKING. TAKE A LOOK

The California estate is named “The Chimorro House,” after Mrs. Chimorro, a close friend of iconic actor Charlie Chaplin. | Published February 24, 2025 | Read Full Story by TJ Macias

For sale for $65 million, this Glenbrook, Nevada home on the shores of Lake Tahoe provides a protected area allowing for swimming in calm waters.

NO. 5: SELLER SHARES MEMORIES OF LAKE TAHOE ESTATE LISTED AT $65M, A POTENTIAL RECORD. TAKE LOOK

Whispering Pines comes with its own small golf course and may set a Nevada sales record. | Published February 27, 2025 | Read Full Story by David Caraccio

The Placerville, California estate for sale for $2.25 million in the Sierra foothills sits on 99 acres.

NO. 6: ‘MAGICAL’ ESTATE OFFERS 360-DEGREE MOUNTAIN, RIVER AND VINEYARD VIEWS EAST OF SACRAMENTO

The $2.25 million ridge-top property overlooks Chili Bar, known for its whitewater experience, in the distance. | Published March 15, 2025 | Read Full Story by David Caraccio

The home built in 1935 by architect Guy O. Koepp as his personal residence is for sale for $4.45 million. The property spans nearly a half acre.

NO. 7: HISTORIC HOME OF ONE OF CARMEL’S LEADING ARCHITECTS FOR SALE. SWEEPING OCEAN VIEWS OFFERED

Sellers transformed the backyard of the Northern California property in charming Carmel-by-the-Sea. | Published March 17, 2025 | Read Full Story by David Caraccio

At the heart of the Cracker Jack House in Pasadena, a sunlit atrium anchors the three-bedroom, three-bathroom main residence.

NO. 8: ‘ONE OF A KIND’ HOME FOR SALE IN CA IS CALLED ‘THE CRACKER JACK HOUSE.’ SEE IT

There’s a gorgeous surprise at the heart of the house. | Published April 5, 2025 | Read Full Story by TJ Macias

The $8 million home for sale in Los Altos Hills, on the edge of Silicon Valley, is built from steel, concrete and glass.

NO. 9: SEE $8M NORCAL HOME BUILT TO RESIST FIRES — AND TO DAZZLE WITH ITS MODERN DESIGN

The 4,800-square-foot residence is built with concrete block, steel, glass and some copper. | Published April 10, 2025 | Read Full Story by David Caraccio

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.