Rancho Santa Fe

Rancho Santa Fe's # 1 Buyers agents offer a glimpse into gated Fairbanks Ranch.
The history of 'Fairbanks' as it is known:
Located in the original map of Southern California's Rancho San Dieguito, there is a gated community of exclusive estates called Fairbanks Ranch. Theodore Reed, a movie director for the legendary screen idol Douglas Fairbanks Sr., discovered the area around 1920 and suggested that Fairbanks Sr. purchase the property for investment purposes. In 1924 Fairbanks & his actress wife Mary Pickford bought 800 acres with the intent of growing oranges. They planted several thousand citrus trees & acres of beans, tomatoes and grain to feed cattle that roamed the area. Fairbanks hired William Smart, a full time manager, to oversee the property & harvest over 300 acres of Valencia oranges. A dam was constructed to capture the waters from Lusardi Creek and still exists today as part of the extensive park-like grounds of the community.

Douglas Fairbanks called the property "Rancho Zorro" (fox ranch) after his famous film role. He later hired Wallace Neff to design a dream home that was to become his Fairbanks country retreat. Unfortunately, in 1936, before they broke ground on their dream home, Douglas Fairbanks & Mary Pickford were divorced. The house was built on property overlooking the lake and is now called "Casa Zorro". Fairbanks kept the ranch & later married his second wife, Lady Sylvia Ashly. After Fairbanks died, Lady Sylvia married the legendary film actor Clark Gable..the nerve! Lady Ashley felt the ranch was too secluded although she maintained the property as an orange grove until 1952 when it was sold.

In 1977 Ray Watt, a Santa Monica developer inspired by the exclusive ambience of Rancho Santa Fe, purchased the property to develop a prestigious community of estates, calling it "Fairbanks Ranch". Watt decided that this unique site deserved the finest in planning & development, subdivided the 1240 acres into 618 sites and started sales in 1981. Protective covenants have been adopted to safeguard the quality, privacy, beauty & harmony of the land and its romantic heritage.

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