Cheers in celebration of an incredible group of people!
The two dynamic listing agents, Suzanne Perkins of Compass and Mike Brady, of the Brady Group with Sotheby’s International Realty, along with their steadfast colleagues, the dedicated Odell family, and their long-time ranch manager, made for a tenacious team that persevered through complex challenges that resulted in the successful sale of the historic Rancho San Marcos in August 2022.
Rancho San Marcos has a deep-rooted history in the region. Archeological evidence discovered at Rancho San Marcos indicates that Prehistoric Hunters and Gatherers occupied this region for more than 9,000 years. Originally comprising 35,573 acres, RSM was established by the Santa Barbara Mission as an outpost and eventually became a cattle operation in 1868. It was also a stagecoach route from 1869 to 1901 connecting San Francisco and Los Angeles.
In 1938 Dwight Murphy, a noted breeder of Palomino horses, acquired 7,000 acres of RSM. In1948, he sold the majority of the land but retained approx. 700 acres. Murphy’s Palominos were showcased in the Rose Bowl Parades in Pasadena and Fiesta Parades in Santa Barbara.
In 1955, Murphy retired from his breeding program and sold RSM to Robert S. Odell, whose Allied Properties company also owned the Santa Barbara Biltmore and the Clift Hotel in San Francisco. The Odell family bred and grazed cattle and farmed alfalfa, barley, and oat hay on the ranch for over 40 years until the Rancho San Marcos Golf Course was established in 1988.
It was a top-rated destination with a reputation for awe-inspiring, tranquil beauty. Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr, the course often enjoyed Top 10 rankings as one of the best golf courses in America until it was eventually closed due to ongoing drought conditions.
We sincerely wish the new owners of this historical piece of property all the best in their future endeavors!