Ronald Reagan’s California ranch was one of the former president’s cherished private retreats, and the 688-acre property is now preserved by the Young America’s Foundation.
The estate, which he and his wife, Nancy Reagan, acquired in 1974, was named Rancho del Cielo, meaning “Ranch in the Sky,” a fitting nickname for the secluded private retreat that sits in the Santa Ynez Mountains just outside Santa Barbara, California.
The purchase came shortly before he left his post as California’s governor, with Reagan paying $527,000 for the property, according to The Washington Post.
The modest, single-story adobe home was originally built by Hispanic settlers known as the Picos in 1871. The Reagans later enlarged the house to 1,500 square feet.
It featured a distinctly homey atmosphere, including a small man-made pond called Lake Lucky, a track barn and a canoe that the couple affectionately called Tru Luv.
President-elect Ronald Reagan and his wife Nancy spending time at their ranch near Santa Barbara, California, 1980.UPI/Bettmann Archive/Getty Images
From the ranch’s highest point, Lookout Mountain, Ronald Reagan and his wife could enjoy stunning views of the Pacific Ocean to the south and the Santa Ynez Valley to the northwest, with its charming towns and vineyards.
“From the first day we saw it, Rancho del Cielo cast a spell over us,” the former president said, as mentioned on Young America’s Foundation’s official website, adding, “No place before or since has ever given Nancy and me the joy and serenity it does.”
During Reagan’s presidency, the ranch became a frequent vacation destination and was dubbed the “Western White House” by the media.
For more than two decades, Rancho del Cielo served as a private retreat for the couple, where they would unwind, ride horses and enjoy time with family away from the spotlight.
However, after Reagan’s Alzheimer’s disease was announced publicly in 1994, the ranch was left vacant and was eventually listed for sale in 1996.
“President and Mrs. Reagan have announced that the Reagan ranch in Santa Barbara has been listed for sale,” as stated in a 1996 press release. “Sadly, since President Reagan’s illness, it hasn’t been used.”
Although the property was once owned by a well-known personality and public figure, it only drew a few potential buyers. Among them was California Governor Pete Wilson, who proposed using federal government funds to purchase the property and turn it into a state park. The proposal was ultimately shelved after other officials and local residents objected.
The plan was never implemented, and the property was later acquired by the Young America’s Foundation after the organization’s president, Ron Robinson, along with his board of directors, stepped in.
Young America’s Foundation acquired Rancho del Cielo on April 21, 1998, and has since preserved and protected the historic property while using it for educational programs associated with Ronald Reagan and his legacy.
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