114-Year-Old Alamo Estate With Its Own ‘Mad Men’-Style Lounge Is Listed for $12.8 Million

For over 110 years, the sprawling Ball Estate has stood as the undisputed queen of prestigious properties in Northern California's East Bay, playing host to charity galas, political luminaries, family weddings, and community gatherings beneath the canopy of its towering redwoods.

Now, the storied residence, which was originally built in 1912, is offering a buyer the chance to join a list of high-profile and affluent stewards who have been lucky enough to call the historic estate home.

Listed for $12.8 million, the 8,842-square-foot manse sits on 4.1 lush, flat acres in Alamo, behind large gates that provide privacy and safety, creating a peaceful oasis, even though it sits just an hour or so from San Francisco and Palo Alto.

"It's a one-of-a-kind, magical place. The majestic grounds cannot be duplicated," says listing agent Khrista Jarvis of Coldwell Banker Realty, who heads the No. 1 all-female real estate team in the nation.

"In this setting, you feel as if you're in the middle of nature—it's very calm and peaceful. But you're also living in a very elegant home, great for entertaining, and conveniently close to San Francisco and the Silicon Valley."

Over the years, the estate has been meticulously renovated and expanded. It now offers six bedrooms and eight bathrooms, along with a 1,579-square-foot pool house, a 465-square-foot detached outdoor bar, a gazebo, and grounds anchored by majestic old-growth redwoods.

Even before the Ball family, the estate had an illustrious history. The original home was designed by architect Arthur Brown Jr., famed for his work on San Francisco City Hall and the Coit Tower.

Over the next three decades, it passed through hands that all left an imprint. Bert and Helen Railey, originally from Kansas City and connected to Colgate-Palmolive, were among its notable early stewards.

When Gordon and Dorothy Ball arrived in 1946 with five children, they expanded the estate into a working ranch, a construction headquarters, and the unofficial town hall of Alamo. That's when the charity events and political gatherings became routine.

It was fitting for Gordon, who was a second-generation contractor and the founder of Gordon H. Ball Co., which grew into one of the nation's most respected heavy-construction firms.

The company, which would eventually be run by Gordon's son and grandson, helped build the physical fabric of California itself: the highways, bridges, tunnels, and infrastructure that still knit the state together. The legend goes that you cannot drive more than 35 miles on a California highway without crossing pavement laid by a Ball company.

Dorothy had a passion for softer design. She shaped the grounds into what they are today: mature, exquisitely maintained, and unmistakably Northern Californian. Dorothy remained at the estate until she died in 2007. It remains in the family today.

Beyond the gated driveway and the portico, the estate makes an enduring first impression. An elegant foyer sets the tone with intricate millwork and period light fixtures. The walls feature hand-painted murals of lush flora that seem straight out of a 1912 society home, yet would be considered elegant in any era.

"It really feels like a throwback to Gatsby, Old Hollywood, or even midcentury modern 'Mad Men' style. It incorporates the best of all of those, and feels timeless," says Jarvis.

The lower level of the home certainly feels like the kind of place where Don Draper—Jon Hamm's iconic "Mad Men" character—would spend time, offering a private lounge space with wood paneling, a whimsical striped carpet, and a sleek bar.

The striking luxury staging and furnishings were curated by interior designer Casey Howard, in collaboration with Vesta Home. Because it is so difficult to imagine the interior without its current staging, it is all available for purchase—meaning that the property could be considered turnkey by the right buyer.

The entry level has been seamlessly updated for modern living. The public spaces flow easily, with the kitchen, living space, and dining area accommodating everything from intimate family dinners to fundraisers for more than 200 people.

Soaring ceilings and banks of windows pull the treetop views inside nearly every room in the house. Everywhere you look, glazed doors and windows frame views of the parklike grounds, while new appliances and systems bring modern luxury and performance to the home's century-old bones.

The main level also features three generous bedrooms, two of them en suite, all of them with sylvan views.

Upstairs, the primary suite is a standout retreat. It's joined by two more en suite bedrooms, as well as flexible spaces that can be used as an office, playroom, or guest quarters.

Downstairs, a basement-level recreation room offers options for family time or late-night entertaining.

But the real magic happens outside.

The grounds are impossible to duplicate anywhere else in the world. Mature redwoods rise along the property's perimeter. Expansive lawns roll across the 4.1-acre parcel, providing plenty of space for an accessory dwelling unit, a kitchen garden, a croquet lawn, a life-size chess board, or simply room to frolic.

The pool house, at 1,579 square feet, is larger than many standalone homes and contains changing rooms and lounging space.

The resort-style pool anchors the outdoor entertaining zone, which includes a 465-square-foot detached bar with a kitchen and an elegant gazebo. The stately bar itself came from the Palace Hotel in San Francisco.

Many an event has been thrown there, and another wedding is planned in the near future. Jarvis suggests it would be an ideal space for celebrations, corporate events, photo shoots, and filming.

The Ball Estate is actually the anchor of a larger, thoughtfully conceived development of the original Ball Ranch that once stretched across some 60 acres. It encompassed walnut orchards, horse pastures, and barns in addition to the main residence.

The Ball family has partnered with Branagh Development and is in the process of transforming those 60 acres into Ball Estates, a collection of about 30 custom home sites, spread across the property's north and south orchards. Mature redwood, oak, and walnut trees have been carefully preserved.

The new owners of the main residence need not worry about the construction noise. The mansion has a private entrance and is nestled in the middle of a 4.1-acre lot surrounded by old-growth trees.

Branagh Development will be responsible for the construction of the new homes, which will all be customized to the owners' requirements, while also being in harmony with the natural setting.

And, of course, the natural setting cannot be overlooked.

When you hear the name Alamo, a leafy community in Northern California's San Ramon Valley is probably not the first place that comes to mind. This Alamo is an unincorporated community defined by its equestrian character, its generous lot sizes, its excellent schools, and its proximity to San Francisco, which is just 30 miles away.

The town has long attracted families who want the region's professional dynamism without sacrificing space, beauty, and a sense of community. Its streets are lined with heritage oaks, its neighborhoods are defined by acreage rather than subdivision.

"You feel like you're so secluded, but you also feel close to town," Jarvis says of Ball Estate. "You can run to town for coffee and groceries in just a few minutes, yet you're within walking distance to the Iron Horse Trail, a very popular hiking area that leads from Pleasanton to the East Bay."

For those who want to immerse themselves in the tranquility of natural surroundings and a tight community without sacrificing proximity to cutting-edge industry and culture, the Ball Estate may be just the thing.