Rancho Santa Fe homes are nothing if not historic, witness the Lilian Rice environmentally-designed structures gracing national architectural digests and vivid artistic imaginations anywhere.
What would you say if told the Rancho Santa Fe Historical Society on Saturday, July 17 was tripping the historical home fantastic, leading all who will travel, and donate $35, to the special pleasure of touring five of the area's finest, classic homes?
Sign us up, probably, for society members are eager to guide you gently into the good Saturday with visits to classic homes with names such as Casa Reina Ranch, the Townley home, Wentzell home, La Paz and La Gracia.
The tour lines up at 12:30 p.m. at the Rancho Santa Fe Historical Society's own historical home, La Flecha House, a renowned, Lilian Rice-designed structure, designated RSF Landmark #1 in 1989. La Flecha house is at the corner of Via de Santa Fe, and guess where, La Flecha at the Village of Rancho Santa Fe.
Tour guests retrieve name tags and maps before setting out to the chosen houses where light refreshments and historical perspectives are served with the tour ending around 5 p.m.
Before we go any further, be advised a simple call to (858) 756-4291, or email sent to rsfhistoricalsociety@sbcglobal.net is kidly requested for event reservations.
More on the homes: They've never been publicly shown in such a manner, according to historical society leadership. They are incredible structures, officials say.
The Wentzell home was a refuge for silent film great Corinne Griffith, dubbed "The Orchid Lady of the Screen" and considered the most beautiful actress of the silent screen era by film aficionados. She became a well-respected author following her retirement from movie magic and died in 1979 at age 84. She has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The house is a romantic hideaway, according to society officials, brought back to life, and Rancho Santa Fe, from the remnants of missions at Taos and Las Cruces, N.M., via railroad flatbed truck. It features classic handcrafted doors, beams and shutters, hand-laid wooden floors and a Southwestern ambiance. The guest house sports a shepherd's loft, breathtaking views and gardens.
Turning to La Gracia, Built 70, or so, years ago as a smaller, 3-bedroom adobe, completely revamped in 2007. However, the home retains all that classic adobe charm as well as original tiles.
Want a little nature with your home tour? Casa Reina Ranch has a stream running through its tree-lined landscape. Throw in a bit of the exotic as well, since it was a working ranchero, a cattle operation. It rests next to a lagoon and eucalyptus grove complete with egret nesting areas.
That's not all, historic home fans. The La Paz home assumes center stage. Col. George Richardson, an executor of the Marshall Field estate, and the man who bought The Inn, changing its name to The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe, teamed up with Pasadena architect , and "L.A. School" artist Roland Coate to build La Paz in 1939.
Serene and stately, the home has a family compound with three structures connected by covered walkway. The estate also features guest cottage, carriage house, fountains, a distinctive clover-shaped pool and secret rose garden.
Then, let us not forget a fifth, and final, home -- The Morris and Catherine Townley home, another Lilian Rice masterpiece. The Townleys purchased a nearly 5-acre lot from the Santa Fe Land Improvement Company in 1937.
Falling into a state of disrepair, and despair, under subsequent ownership, the current owners restored the Townleys' pride and joy to its original state of grace. It has an unique porch, solarium, enclosed terrace as well as the type of views only prime Rancho Santa Fe real estate can afford.
What's left to say? Time is a-flyin' and the tour is ready to roll on Saturday. Sign up today.
