The Joel McCrea Ranch (also known as the August DuMortier Ranch) holds a rich history spanning Hollywood’s Golden Age, local agricultural heritage, and public open space preservation. Beloved Hollywood icon Joel McCrea, who is best known for his work in ‘The More the Merrier,’ ‘The Palm Beach Story,’ and ‘Ride the High Country,’ once owned a 300-acre tract of land. However, in 1995, five years after his passing, they donated the very land for public recreation.
In 1933, Joel McCrea bought the Santa Rosa Valley family
The Los Angeles Times reported that back in 1933, Hollywood icon McCrea had invested money in buying out farmland located in Santa Rosa Valley. The area was covered with lush, green pastures, and the actor chose to operate the space as a true working agricultural spread. At the time, he had been looking for a space away from the hustle and bustle of Hollywood culture, much like many other celebrities in the industry, such as Ian Sommerhalder, Amanda Seyfried, and even Russell Crowe.
More about the main residence in Joel McCrea’s land
Over the years, the estate grew to over 2,200 acres across Thousand Oaks and Camarillo, where the McCrea family raised cattle and grew crops like oats and barley and had fully blended themselves into farm life. The main residence had been built with the help of architect John Byers. The complex reflected classic Spanish Colonial Revival and California ranch architecture and was built with thick adobe-style construction, heavy timber beams, and low-slung roofs.Not only that, but the property featured a private signature pool area, which was custom-built in the shape of an avocado for the family at their request. It also had its own complete cabana and pool house. Beyond the main area, the site also included eight contributing buildings and four historic structures, which included a maid’s house, barns, and an original ranch building that was built on the land all the way back in 1890.
The McCrea family donated the land for public recreation
As per the website for CRPD – McCrea Ranch Visitor Center, over time, the estate had grown into a 300-acre plot where the McCrea family resided. However, five years after the actor passed away, they chose to donate the land for a greater cause. Out of the total land, approximately 220 acres of the core ranch compound was donated to the Conejo Recreation and Park District (CRPD). The transfer was finalized in 2004. This was primarily done to stop commercial development that had begun in the area. Other than that, additional portions of the original 2,200 acres had previously been donated or set aside for open space, public trails, and community facilities, which also included the land for the Conejo Valley YMCA.In present, the space was added to the National Register in 1997 as a rare surviving example of early 20th-century ranching in the Santa Rosa and Conejo Valleys. Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency also reported that around 74 acres of the land were allotted to preserve the flora and fauna in the area. The website shared that it is a heavily protected space and houses things like the rare Conejo rock plant, which is mainly found only in this particular part of Ventura County.DISCLAIMER: Figures presented in this article are derived from various public sources and are considered approximate unless explicitly noted. We may include direct input from celebrities or their teams when available. We are open to feedback on toientertainment@timesinternet.in.
