The Santa Lucia Preserve in Carmel, formerly known as Ranch Los Carlos, has an intriguing history. From its days as a polo ranch during the high-flying, champagne-fueled 1920s to its 50 years in the Oppenheimer family, the land has always been prized for its abundant natural beauty. The Santa Lucia Preserve is now a member-owned […]The post The Santa Lucia Preserve in Carmel appeared first on Pursuitist.

The Santa Lucia Preserve in Carmel, formerly known as Ranch Los Carlos, has an intriguing history. From its days as a polo ranch during the high-flying, champagne-fueled 1920s to its 50 years in the Oppenheimer family, the land has always been prized for its abundant natural beauty.The Santa Lucia Preserve is now a member-owned and governed community that includes all 20,000 acres of Rancho San Carlos, dating from 1857. The “Preserve Lands” (18,000 acres) are the portion left permanently undeveloped and are managed by Santa Lucia Conservancy to protect wildlife habitats in perpetuity and to provide for scientific research, education and recreational activities. That leaves an expansive 2,000 acres for homesites, a Tom-Fazio-designed golf course, and The Hacienda, an original 1920s Spanish Colonial Hacienda that offers nightly dining, an expansive equestrian center, four pools, a water slide, tennis and bocce courts, horseshoe pits, bikes, a fitness center and plenty of events. A surrounding 100 miles of trails provides opportunities for biking, horseback ri...