Rancho Santa Fe Area and Community Information

Rancho Santa Fe, California, is in north San Diego County, just inland from Encinitas and Solana Beach. The community of about 3,200 is conveniently situated between Interstate 5 and Interstate 15, so it is easy to travel south to downtown San Diego. The affluent enclave has been rated among the 20 wealthiest communities in America with populations of over 1,000.

History

The local area was originally known as Rancho San Dieguito, an 1841 Mexican land grant of 8,824 acres. From 1917 to 1918, the Santa Fe Land and Improvement Company built a dam across the San Dieguito River. The resulting reservoir, Lake Hodges, allowed the land to be irrigated for the first time. A community was platted in 1922, and it was named Rancho Santa Fe.

In 1923, La Morada, a guest house, was built to provide a place for the prospective Rancho Santa Fe home buyer to stay. In 1941, La Morada would later be re-developed into a guest resort. For a period of time, Rancho Santa Fe was home to Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford, two of the most popular stars of the silent film era. Their property was known as Fairbanks Ranch or "Rancho Zorro."

Parks and Recreation

Directly to the east of Rancho Santa Fe is Lake Hodges, a major recreational destination. When the reservoir is full it covers 1,234 acres, and its maximum depth is 115 feet. The concession area offers boat rentals, fishing permits and bait. Anglers with Rancho Santa Fe properties can pursue trophy-size largemouth bass, channel catfish and panfish. A wheelchair-accessible fishing float is provided. On the land surrounding Lake Hodges, there are equestrian trails and hiking trails that meader across oak forests, lush valleys, meadows and rocky terrain.

Attractions and Amentiies

Golfers that invest in Rancho Santa Fe CA real estate can consider membership in the highly-rated Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club. The course was designed by Max Behr in the 1920s. Today, the 18-hole layout plays as long as 7,035 yards from the back tees. The club also offers tennis, equestrian and polo facilities.

Events

The Rancho Santa Fe Historical Society hosts a home tour in mid-July every year. Homes designed by Lillian Rice, the original architect for the planned community, are often featured. Some of the featured homes are on the National Register of Historic Places. This a popular event among some of those that have invested in homes for sale in Rancho Santa Fe.

The discriminating Rancho Santa Fe home buyer will discover that Rancho Santa Fe CA homes average over $2 million in cost. It can be ideal to enlist the services of Sandi Chenoweth to learn more about the many interesting features of Rancho Santa Fe real estate. Sandi Chenoweth can show you exclusive Rancho Santa Fe properties, if that is your preference. Much of the residential real estate in Rancho Santa Fe includes luxury amenities like gourmet kirchens, in-ground pools, elaborate home theaters and extra-large master bedrooms.

Virtually all Rancho Santa Fe homes offer residents a serene lifestyle amidst a bucolic landscape. At the same time, Rancho Santa Fe homes for sale are well-situated in north San Diego County, within a reasonable commute to downtown San Diego.