First of all, Carmel-By-The-Sea, California. One of the most idyllic towns in the world, once mayored by Clint “make my day” Eastwood, Carmel’s most famous resident who, by the way, turns 90 this year but is still working and going strong:
Around Carmel, Eastwood casts a long shadow, and not just because he’s six feet plus without his cowboy boots. He has owned and operated several businesses, including the Hog’s Breath Inn and the Mission Ranch hotel, restaurant and resort in Carmel. He was a partner in the development of Tehama, a 2,000-acre luxury home development sited between Monterey and Carmel Valley that includes an 18-hole golf course designed by Jay Morrish. As if Tehama isn’t enough of a notch in the Eastwood gun belt, at the tail end of the 20th century, the actor teamed up with Arnold Palmer and Peter Ueberroth to purchase the Pebble Beach Company.
I have been to Carmel, and I have been to Tehama and also visited this property, the Santa Lucia Preserve. Those views above, while stunning, do not do it justice. This is quite simply one of the most exquisite places to live in the U.S. or maybe on the face of the earth.
And now you can own a hefty piece of the Santa Lucia Preserve, 11 acres to be exact, to build from scratch the home of your dreams overlooking the hidden gem of coastal California, at the ultra-exclusive Santa Lucia Preserve, (just south of Carmel-By-The-Sea).
Dallas-based Heritage Auctions is conducting the online auction with no reserve today, July 7 at 2 p.m. Central.
And get this: lots like this one in The Santa Lucia Preserve will run you $1 million easy, but the starting bid for this Heritage Auctions online auction is $50,000.
Located just minutes from downtown Carmel, the Santa Lucia Preserve (pronounced [loo-sea-a]) is both a natural refuge nestled in the coastal foothills and a luxury lifestyle community of just 300 homes with mindfulness about nature and land. The homes are spaced far enough apart that you never have to see a neighbor.
And let us talk about the extraordinary landscape: rolling grasslands, oak woodlands, pine and redwood forests. 18,000 acres — 18 THOUSAND — are permanently protected and dedicated to open space, so you will always be in open nature. The community was built with mindfulness about living light on the land, so 90 percent of the 22,000-acre preserve will remain undisturbed open land in perpetuity.
Two private clubs are offered to owners within the community — The Ranch Club and The Preserve Golf Club. This 10.72-acre homesite will actually overlook the 3rd teebox of The Preserve Golf Club.
The Preserve Golf Club
There are nearly 44 groomed trails with breathtaking views on foot or horseback in The Preserve, which features a state-of-the art equestrian center, top-rated golf course, and more.
Grooming, riding lessons, boarding, and turnouts are all available.
Spend time at The Hacienda, gardening, dining, swimming or socializing among the many planned activities. Take advantage of the sports center for kids and adults, a veritable play barn with tennis, fitness rooms, batting cage, bocce, and much more. Summer camp cancelled? Kids have a blast at the water park and summer camps all outside, right here.
You don’t even have to reserve a tee time: grab your clubs and relax. Or enjoy Moore’s Lake where fishing, canoeing, paddle boarding and evening campfires await.
Best of all, a concierge service is available to take care of your every need, from stocking the fridge to spoiling your pets.
I may very well bid on this one: it’s a once in-a-lifetime opportunity to own precious property to build on, or just hold for posterity.
And say hi to Clint when you see him in town!
Update 7/21: You won’t believe the price it went for. $154,000!
Register to bid for 33800 Robinson Canyon Road in Carmel, California at HA.com/Carmel.
