'Ravenscroft' Estate - Pool, Spa & Tennis Court

Romantic, historic George Washington Smith gated and private 2 acre Estate with pool, spa, tennis court is located in the heart of Montecito, a seaside village that has seduced moguls, magnates and movie stars for over a hundred years.

Ravenscroft pays homage to the grandeur of its natural setting with a timeless elegance that is truly captivating, for it is not only seen with the eye, but also felt with the heart.

The Estate is located in one of the most prestigious areas in Montecito, amongst the large and old grand estates of its same historic pedigree, directly adjacent the 34 acre Lotus Land, providing a private and serene setting, while being less than 2 miles to the beach.

It has been immaculately restored and renovated to meet the exacting needs of modern life while staying true to the purity of its renowned architect George Washington Smith.

Smith is synonymous with classic Santa Barbara architecture and in 1922 he designed Ravenscroft, a magical and timeless work of art that has been held in high esteem and published often as a local architectural marvel. It is one of a handful, and arguably the most well preserved, of original classically designed Santa Barbara Estates still in existence. The Four Seasons Biltmore was built by the same architect with the same design and materials, as was the Ogilvy house which is just a few doors down and Casa Del Hererro.

Within this classic Estate are sweeping lawns, colorful gardens, intimate outdoor terraces and majestic gates. The main residence is trimmed with elegant hand tooled wrought iron gates, doors and windows and provides 4 bedrooms and 4 1/2 baths. In addition, the sitting room off the master suite has a day bed with trundle and fireplace. The living room is 52 feet long and offers a large roaring fireplace and baby grand piano with wrought iron doors and windows to the interior courtyard, dining room, bedroom wing and library/office. In the office/library are a fireplace, desk and secret door with passage to the wine tasting cellar with fireplace and tasting room.

The guest house features a living room, 2 bedrooms, 2 full baths and charming kitchen. The 'Abigail Cottage' is a restored charming 1 BR/1BA guest cottage surrounded by fruit orchard, expansive lawns and hen house.

The sparkling pool, spa and north/south tennis court complete the magnificent estate. Also, within this private and magical Estate are a Garden Lath house and Japanese Green House that were built in 1934.

The work out room offers 2 step machines, free weights, univeral machines and a ping pong table. There are also 3 bikes available.

Staying at Ravenscroft is like stepping back in time, into Santa Barbara's history and you can just imagine Charlie Chaplin, Cary Grant or Audrey Hepburn around the corner. There is no other property available like this one in Santa Barbara.

HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHTS: Published "California Romantica” by author Diane Keaton
- "You discovered Ravenscroft, ONE OF OUR FAVORITE HOMES in Montecito. Do you know the history of the design of the living room and its enormous fireplace? Yes, it was designed so that the horses could come in and get warmed by the fire. In particular, Mrs. Ravencroft’s favorite horse, Jack." "Did you know the design of the living room was taken from a popular London stage production of the era. According to David Myrick’s account in his two-volume “Montecito And Santa Barbara,” Marguerite (Peggy) Doe Courtney, who later married Henry Ravenscroft – hence the name of the home – asked Smith to design a living room that duplicated the stage set of the play, which is why the living room is 52 feet long."
- "That says a lot about George Washington Smith: that he was a game guy; that he took on the owners’ ideas and wasn’t afraid of them and didn’t feel that it was encroaching on his genius. It’s an act of generosity on his part and, because of that, his work is probably the most prevalent in this book and it’s the most unusual and most diverse. He wasn’t afraid of a new idea. THAT WAS ONE OF MY FAVORITE HOMES."
- "Did you happen to see the lathe house on the Ravenscroft property that, according to Harry Kolb, was where the first commercially grown orchids on the Central Coast were grown? I love that I saw it [in its decayed state] and caught it right before they began the restoration. I’m a preservationist, as you know, and I feel the beauty shines forth no matter what state these homes are in. You mustn’t be afraid of them. When you see the beauty OF THIS PARTICULAR HOME, it’s so astonishing. I just fell in love with it."