California Ranch Once Owned by McDonald's Founder Ray Kroc Asks $29 Million
October 27 2020 - 2:15PM
Dow Jones News
A 554-acre ranch in California's Santa Ynez Valley once owned by
McDonald's founder Ray Kroc is coming on the market for $29
million.
Mr. Kroc and his then-wife Jane Kroc bought the bulk of the
ranch around 1965, shortly after the hamburger giant went public on
the stock market and made Mr. Kroc an overnight multimilliionaire,
according to the listing agents.
The businessman spotted an advertisement for the ranch while on
vacation with Ms. Kroc at Alisal ranch, a luxurious hideaway that
attracted celebrities like Clark Gable and Doris Day, according to
the book "Ray & Joan: The Man Who Made the McDonald's Fortune
and The Woman Who Gave it All Away" by Lisa Napoli. Even though
Alisal ranch is nearby, Mr. Kroc decided to offer the full $600,000
asking price for the property without visiting it, according to Ms.
Napoli's book.
Mr. Kroc named the property "the J & R Double Arch Ranch," a
reference to the McDonald's arches, and used it as a cross between
a personal playground, corporate executive retreat and test
kitchen. It also served as a headquarters for his charitable
foundation. His brother, Bob Kroc, oversaw the foundation, which
convened scientists around important research on diseases such as
diabetes, arthritis and multiple sclerosis, Ms. Napoli said.
A small set of golden arches, designed to look like the
McDonald's logo, was placed at the entrance to the property.
The ranch's centerpiece was a 17,000-square-foot lodge with a
large lounge area, a string of guest suites and a dining room that
could accommodate up to 100. It had Italian cabinetry, French
antiques and a self-serve cafeteria-style kitchen and bar from
which guests could help themselves at all hours of the day and
night.
After Mr. Kroc's divorce from Jane Kroc in 1968, he married Joan
Kroc, the former wife of a McDonald's franchise owner, at the ranch
in 1969. The marriage took place "on a gigantic, bright white polar
bear rug in front of the stately stone fireplace that had been
constructed from 120 tons of native stone gathered from the
grounds," Ms. Napoli wrote.
The couple soon built an additional home on the ranch. Circular
in shape and with 360-degree views of the landscape, the new
property was known as the"Round House" and was compared by locals
to one of Mr. Kroc's hamburgers. He later purchased several
adjacent properties to expand the ranch.
Mr. Kroc died in 1984. Following his death, Joan Kroc, a
prolific philanthropist, tried to turn the property into a camp for
children suffering from cancer, but the move was rejected by local
authorities over zoning concerns, according to the book "Sideways
in Neverland: Life in the Santa Ynez Valley, California," by
William Etling. Ms. Kroc died in 2003.
The ranch was purchased in 1990 by Gerald Kessler of
NaturesPlus, a vitamin and supplements company, according to the
listing agents. Following his death in 2015, his widow Meadow
Williams and his children and grandchildren battled in court over
control of his estate, according to court records and published
reports. Ms. Williams is the sole seller of the property, the
agents said.
Located in the Happy Valley region of the Santa Ynez Valley, the
ranch is still largely as Mr. Kroc left it, though in very good
condition, according to the listing agents. The "Round House" has a
main circular living room with high ceilings, two levels of
windows, a central fireplace surrounded by circular sofas,
elaborate woodwork, Native American-style carvings and a library
gallery overlooking the space.
Throughout the property, there are enough accommodations for
approximately 100 guests, including the lodge, the main house, four
other single-family homes, several bunkhouses and a residence built
in 1971 for Bob Kroc, according to the agents. The lodge complex
includes a large gathering room for functions and a
5,200-square-foot conference hall that seats 62. There is also a
helicopter pad, two tennis courts, a pool, hiking trails and
barbecue and picnic facilities.
The Happy Valley area, once known for cattle ranching, now draws
some of California's wealthiest and is known for its wineries and
thoroughbred horse training facilities. The property is about 16
miles from Michael Jackson's onetime Neverland Ranch and about 10
miles from a luxury polo ranch owned by California billionaire Tom
Barrack, records show.
Maria Temmel, Maurie McGuire and Scott Westlotorn of Coldwell
Banker Realty have the listing for the Kroc property.
Write to Katherine Clarke at Katherine.Clarke@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
October 27, 2020 14:00 ET (18:00 GMT)
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