We’re Lovin’ It: McDonald’s Founder Ray Kroc’s Former California Ranch Is on the Menu for $18M

McDonald’s mogul Ray Kroc previously owned the sprawling compound that has been host to everything from corrals of exotic wildlife to french-fry tastings.

In fact, there are few ranches in the world that are as storied as the former Double Arch Ranch. Located in Santa Ynez, CA, the unique property was purchased in 1966 by Kroc and wife Joan Kroc, who owned it for nearly a quarter century.

It’s now on the market for $18 million.

Kroc built extensive guest amenities on the property and used it as a McDonald’s corporate retreat for franchisees, employees, and executives.

Among other accommodations, he outfitted the property with a main lodge complex of 25 en suite rooms, as well as industrial and test kitchens, a dining room for 100, offices, and a conference hall that doubles as an auditorium.

Some say it was the birthplace of Chicken McNuggets and the McRib. And if the McMuffin was actually born in nearby Santa Barbara, as legend has it, it might have been developed for corporate use at the Double Arch Ranch.

After the Krocs died, the place was purchased in 1990 by Nature’s Plus Vitamins magnate Gerald Kessler, who renamed it the Circle K Ranch. Kessler died in 2015, and his widow is now trying to sell the place.

“The Kesslers maintained it well and made important updates, but they preserved the original style—it’s a time capsule,” says listing agent Scott Westlotorn, of Coldwell Banker Realty.

From the sunken conversation pits in the guesthouses to the upholstery in the lodge rooms, this property embodies the home-design ethos of a past era.

Acres of land

The property extends across 285 acres of pastures, valleys, lakes, and hills. Five natural wells keep the land lush and green. And two lakes are home to black and white swans, which are included in the listing.

In addition to the main lodge, which includes the hotel-like double suites, a presidential suite, and staff quarters, there’s a luxe, round main house with panoramic views of the Santa Ynez Valley. The structure was built in 1971.

The Founders Building comes with an extensive medical library used by Ray Kroc’s brother, Robert Kroc, a medical researcher who invited physicians from all over the world to the ranch to work on cures for diseases such as alcoholism, diabetes, and arthritis, according to Westlotorn.

He says there are impressive, carved-wood pillars with biological themes in the library.

The property also features bunkhouses, swimming pools, tennis and volleyball courts, a conference hall, multiple kitchens, a bakery, workout facility, groundskeeper’s house, barns, paddocks, fenced corrals, and other livestock facilities.

Exotic animals

Some of those facilities are still used for exotic breeds, including zebras, llamas, and Watusi cattle.

“The cattle are friendly, the zebras are shy, and the llamas are just goofy,” Westlotorn laughs, adding that the animals can be included in the asking price if the buyers request it. And if not, there are plenty of people in the area willing to provide homes for them.

Westlotorn has become well acquainted with the feathered and furry friends who live on the property. He’s been showing the place for a while now, and sometimes stays overnight to avoid commutes. He says the property is so extensive that showings usually last from two to four hours.

“It’s really fun to show,” he says. “People are fascinated. There’s so much to see.”

Turnkey property

The ranch was listed at $29 million in 2020, but showings slowed during the pandemic. Westlotorn notes that at that time, the offering included two additional, adjacent parcels—both with wells and one with a horse ranch.

“Those parcels are not currently listed but could be made available to the buyer, if interested,” he says.

Quite a bit of the furniture and supplies are included in the asking price, making it a truly turnkey estate.

So what types of buyers might make an offer? Westlotorn says there has been interest from a number of entities, including nonprofit organizations and families that would like it for a legacy compound. Others see it as an educational facility or working ranch.

Set in the heart of the area’s wine and equestrian country, there are a number of horse-breeding farms with racetracks and polo facilities nearby.

‘Amazing property’

Circle K Ranch is about 15 minutes from wine-tasting and tourist destinations such as Santa Ynez, Solvang, and Los Olivos. And on a good day with no traffic, it’s about 30 minutes northeast of Santa Barbara. So the property is far removed from the hustle and bustle of the big city but is not at all remote.

“It would be impossible to build a facility like this today for this price,” Westlotorn says, accounting for permitting barriers and skyrocketing construction costs. “It’s an amazing property listed at an amazing price. There are simply no comps.”

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