After 4+ Years on the Market, a 187-Acre Estate Finally Sells in Auction

By: Penny Arévalo

After more than four years on the market, a 187-acre ranch located off the Ortega Highway finally sold this week at auction.

Those connected with the sale are not revealing the purchase price.

Known as El Rancho del Rio, the estate featured a Mission-style tower, three separate guest casitas and a main house with four bedrooms, four full and two half bathrooms. Outside, the property has its own vineyard, helipad and equestrian amenities with five paddocks, two barns with 24 total stalls, corrals, open pastures and miles upon miles of trails. 

The property, at 33300 Ortega Highway, was last listed at just under $13 million. Its Zillow listing says it was originally priced at $22 million.

Beverly Hills’ Hilton & Hyland had the listing and contracted with New York-based Concierge Auctions to coordinate the auction. According to a press release, 10 bidders qualified for the auction, which was ultimately won by a bidder represented by John McMonigle of the McMonigle Team, based in Orange County.

"I was very excited and pleased to be a part of this auction. El Rancho del Rio is a prized piece of real estate - one of the last frontiers along the California Riviera," McMonigle said in a press release.

Local real estate agent Erin Kutnick said she thinks someone got a good deal. She had the property professionally appraised, and while she wouldn’t reveal what the number came in at, it was under the $12,995,000 last listing price.

“The property is very cool,” she said.

You can check it out in the photos above.