By James A. Frank
Next door to one of the game’s iconic locations is a community you’ve probably never heard of: Santa Lucia Preserve.
Even if you think you know the Monterey Peninsula, you’d probably be surprised to learn that just minutes from Carmel, Pebble Beach, and the Pacific is a 20,000-acre private community called Santa Lucia Preserve.
Nestled in the Santa Lucia Hills and larger than the island of Manhattan, “The Preserve” keeps 90 percent of its land in a perpetually endowed conservancy that protects one of the world’s most diverse environments. The remaining 2,000 acres include 300 secluded homesites and two private clubs: The Ranch Club, which offers equestrian activities, a sports center, hiking and biking on more than 100 miles of trails, water activities on an 18-acre lake, plus lodging and dining; and The Golf Club, where the award-winning Tom Fazio course is being regrassed to improve the playing experience while fine-tuning the community’s long-standing water-conservation efforts.
“The Preserve offers all the services you need to smooth the rough edges of an adventurous life,” says Lisa Guthrie, director of marketing and sales. “There’s as much low-maintenance, fun-filled life as you like, with something for everyone in the family, all that open space, and the delightful surprise of being so convenient to Carmel.”
Some 30 homesites are presently on the market, from four to 55 acres, $850,000 to $2.3 million. There are also 10 finished homes for sale, ranging from 3,400 to 11,000 square feet, and priced from $3.5–$11.8 million.
The secret is out.
