The first mention of Hope Ranch was in 1769 when Portola wrote about it in his diary. He was greeted by the Canalino Indians which were somewhere between where Modoc and US Highway 101 currently run. The Canalinos had been there almost 10,000 years at the time and we’re probably pretty surprised to see Portola.

The first time somebody actually owned Hope Ranch was in 1843 when Lt. Narciso Fabregat of the Santa Barbara Presidio was given the deed to the ranch. The grant was known as the “La Calera” (The Line Kiln) and was used by the Mission fathers to make mortar for building the Mission. The kiln was located on what is now Las Palmas, the main entrance of Hope Ranch

The first Sale of Hope Ranch Real Estate occurred in 1861 when Thomas Hope purchased it from Mrs. Robbins (not Robinson) for the princely sum of $8,000. The area reminded Mr. Hope of his native Ireland and the first thing he did was drive a flock of some 2,000 sheep across his new possession into Santa Barbara. The sheep went forth and multiplied up to about 5,000 and provided the wool needed for soldier’s uniforms during the Civil War. This made Mr. Hope a very wealthy man.

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Because of his prosperity in selling wool Mr. Hope decided to build himself a very spiffy home. Peter J. Barber designed what was called “The Mansion.” This home located on Nogal Dr across from the Vieja Valley School cost $10,000 and was completed in 1875. Today it’s a County Landmark listed in the National Register of Historical Places

In 1873 Thomas Hope gave the county a very cool 120 foot wide strip of land to be used for a road. This strip which became Hollister Avenue went all the way up to the current Turnpike Rd.

In 1887 after her husband’s death Mrs. Hope sold the western half of “Las Positas y La Calero” as Hope Ranch was called in those days to the Pacific Improvement Company. The company had some illustrious members including Mark Hopkins, Charles Crocker, Collis Huntington and Leland Stanford. The sale was for $250,000 which was pretty good for a $10,000 investment. But Hope Ranch Real Estate has usually been a good investment.

The Pacific Improvement Company didn’t improve much, but there was the Potter Country Club, on the site of current La Cumbre Country Club which got laid out and lots were offered for sale. Unfortunately sales weren’t too brisk. But in 1923 along came Harold Chase who purchased the easterly 825 acres of the Ranch and started Santa Barbara Estates, Inc., and we were off to the races.

Mr. Chase organized a second syndicate called La Cumbre Estates, which purchased the 1200 acres of Las Palmas and Robles Drives which united Hope Ranch under one control. The installation of roads, utilities and bridle paths soon followed along with an increase in the water supply.

The first homes in Hope Ranch were constructed for the directors of the La Cumbre Estates Corporation. Mr. Chase’s home was called “Las Terrases” and was completed in 1925. Then Peter Cooper Bryce built “Florestal” as well as the Wilson and Dickenson homes. Falling under the category of, “I shoulda’ bought then,” home sites originally went from $100 to $2,500 per acre. And to purchase these sites the terms were One-quarter (25%) cash at time of purchase, with the balance to be paid within three years at 6% per annum of deferred payments.” (Still not too bad an interest rate) Currently there are 686 residences and there are about 18 vacant lots still available for development.

The highest priced sale for 2005 has been $7.75 million and the least expensive sales this year was $1,875,000. Some of the properties currently available are:

• 4Bedroom 2.5 Bath home for $2,495,000
• 4 Bedroom 5 Bath property for $2.975 million
• 3 Bedroom 4 Bath home for $4.195 million
• 5 Bedroom 5.5 Bath property for $8.795 million
• And the highest priced listing currently on the market is 5 Bedroom 5 Bath home for $21.5 million

Well that’s about it for now for Hope Ranch Real Estate

Gary Woods is a Real Estate Broker in Santa Barbara CA and is the trainer for the Santa Barbara Association of Realtors. He can be heard on radio 1290 AM Mondays from 9-10AM