Orcutt Ranch For Sale!
Buy part of Porter Ranch for $15,686,600
with a lot size of 34,165,415 (784.330 acres)
The Lifestyle of Orcutt Ranch
Located atop Oat Mountain, the property was acquired during 1916-1917 by William Warren Orcutt. A prominent petroleum geologist, Mr. Orcutt was the head of Union Oil Company of California's Geology and Land Departments and a Director of the Company's Executive Board. Because of his long and stellar association with the oil industry, he was well-known by colleagues as "a man with a nose for oil" so he was obliged to conceal his purchase of the ranch to avoid price gouging by property owners or unwelcomed intrusion by land speculators Consequently, he employed the services of a few agents who surreptitiously bought the land in various sized parcels. When 1200 contiguous acres had been accumulated, Mr. Orcutt was satisfied.
Residency was never a consideration, the family preferred living in the city. However, an avid sportsman, Mr. Orcutt found the ranch ideal for deer hunting. To share the property's rugged beauty and hunting promise, during deer season Mr. Orcutt annually hosted 4 or 5 prominent male friends and colleagues for a week of hunting, card playing, conversation and camaraderie.
For accommodations, he built a small complex of buildings on a secluded section always called the "Home Place." Complete with two-bedroom house, kitchen with a great hotel sized wood-burning stove, dining and sitting room and a screened porch, his male guests occupied a four room dormitory near by. There was also a secured meat house for storing dressed meat and other perishables, a bunkhouse and garage. In addition, there was a system Mr. Orcutt designed to provide hot showers for all.
Meals were prepared by 2 Filipino men Mrs. Orcutt sent from their home staff and the place was completely furnished with linens, silver, china and similar accoutrements necessary for rustic hospitality.
In a canyon to the east, the foreman, W.J. Willet and his family lived in a small house built by a homesteader in the late 1880's. They had three children and when ready for school, because they were so isolated arrangements were made for a school teacher to live with them. A one-room schoolhouse was built and the children received ther basic education at the Mary Logan Elementary School.
During the 1930's the property became a working cattle ranch and continues to support a small herd. The Orcutt Family has continued, over the years, to use the property as their personal family retreat. Portions of the original ranch have been aquired by others, with the current acreage standing at 784.33.
Lifestyle of Potential and Opportunity
For the first time in nearly ninety years, the historic Orcutt Ranch is offered for sale to the general public. This 784 acres of paradise lies along the crest of Oat Mountain above Northridge, California. A potential filming location within 45 minutes of Hollywood or Burbank that offers production crews a smog-free and secluded setting reminiscent of the "Old West" or early California. A forgotten place, where deer roam in the pastures, hawks circle the canyons and cattle graze freely.
An ideal spot for all sorts of outdoor activities, where families wanting to enjoy a quiet location without exposure to airplane, automobile or people traffic. Develop your own lifestyle here, whether it be an equestrian center, isolated retreat, camping facility or whatever your imagination desires. During the daytime the property offers spectacular views, and at night, the valleys below become a dazzling array of sparkling lights.
The ranch is located at elevations up to 3200 feet, so the colors and changes of the four seasons can be enjoyed by all. The property provides a variety of locations from open, scenic and spacious meadows, to shaded oak woodland hillsides, to deep canyons where trickling streams are hidden by towering firs, stately sycamore and lush bay trees. Maintained dirt roads allow access to all of these settings and the existing weathered ranch buildings.
Lifestyle On "Top of the World"
www.JerryKeller.com
818.832.2684
Information provided by:
Scott Dunbar
Troop Real Estate
