Twenty thousand acres of California wilderness, shared by fewer than 300 families.
The Santa Lucia Preserve is a private, gated community of 20,000 acres in the Santa Lucia Mountains, about ten minutes from Carmel-by-the-Sea. Ninety percent of the land, some 18,000 acres, is protected forever by the Santa Lucia Conservancy. The rest holds just 297 homesites, a Tom Fazio golf course, an equestrian center, nearly 100 miles of trails and the historic 1920s Hacienda at the heart of the community.
It's the most private way to live in Carmel. Owners drive through a single gatehouse into oak woodland, grassland and redwood canyons, sitting above the coastal fog, where the nearest neighbor may be a ridgeline away. The village, the beach and Pebble Beach are still close enough for dinner.
Homesites here are large, many of them tens of acres. Each has a defined building envelope for the home, and the rest of the parcel stays natural under conservation easement. Owners get the privacy and views of a ranch without the work of running one. Custom homes range from modern glass pavilions to early California ranch houses, each designed to sit quietly in the landscape. A resident services team handles property care whether owners live here full-time or visit a few weeks a year.
Life at the Preserve centers on two clubs. The Preserve Golf Club plays across 365 acres on a private Tom Fazio course with sweeping mountain views and no tee times. The Ranch Club covers everything else: the equestrian center, the sports and swim center, fitness classes, dining at the Hacienda, lodging for guests, and Moore's Lake, where families paddle, swim and camp out under the stars.
A typical day might start with a trail ride at sunrise, include nine holes after lunch, and end with dinner at the Hacienda or back at home with the whole valley below. Kids roam, dogs run, and deer and wild turkeys outnumber cars. When you want the town, Carmel Valley's tasting rooms and the Crossroads and Barnyard shopping centers are a short drive away, and Carmel-by-the-Sea is just past them. Quail Lodge, Quail Meadows and Tehama are close neighbors near the Preserve's entrance.
The Preserve's gatehouse is on Rancho San Carlos Road, just off Carmel Valley Road and about ten minutes from Carmel-by-the-Sea. Some homesites sit well beyond the gate, so the drive from home can be longer. Monterey Regional Airport (MRY), with commercial and private aviation, is roughly 20 to 30 minutes away. San Jose is about 75 miles by car and San Francisco about 125.
Truszkowski Freedman & Associates is the luxury division of Engel & Völkers Carmel. Zak Freedman grew up in Carmel and lives in Carmel Valley, a few minutes from the Preserve's gate. We know how the homesites differ in sun, views and access, how the clubs work, and which properties may trade before they're ever listed. Contact us, explore the rest of Carmel's neighborhoods, or see our latest market report.
The Santa Lucia Preserve is a private, gated community of 20,000 acres in the Santa Lucia Mountains near Carmel, California. Ninety percent of the land is permanently protected by the Santa Lucia Conservancy. The rest holds 297 homesites, a Tom Fazio golf course, an equestrian center, a sports center, the historic Hacienda and nearly 100 miles of private trails.
The Preserve is limited to 297 homesites across 20,000 acres. Some are built with custom homes and others are available as land. Homesites are large, many of them tens of acres, with a defined building envelope and the rest of the land kept natural.
No. The Preserve is gated, with a staffed gatehouse on Rancho San Carlos Road. Access is limited to owners, their families and guests, and staff.
There are two. The Preserve Golf Club offers the private Tom Fazio golf course and clubhouse. The Ranch Club covers the equestrian center, sports and swim center, fitness, dining, lodging at the Hacienda, and Moore's Lake. Ask us about current membership options when you're considering a property.
Yes. Homesites are sold as land, and owners design custom homes within each lot's building envelope, following architectural guidelines that help each home sit naturally in the landscape. Existing homes also come to market.
The Preserve's gatehouse is about ten minutes from Carmel-by-the-Sea, off Carmel Valley Road. Travel time from an individual home depends on where it sits inside the 20,000 acres.
The Preserve sits above much of the coastal fog, so days are typically sunnier and warmer than in Carmel-by-the-Sea, especially in summer.
Most of the Carmel area is served by Carmel Unified School District, including Carmel High School. Confirm the school assignment for a specific address.
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Nicole Truszkowski | CA DRE# 01240204
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