Rancho del Cielo

Rancho del Cielo, or "Ranch in the Sky," is a 688 acre (2.8 km²) ranch located in the hills northwest of Santa Barbara, California. It served as a getaway home for Ronald Reagan first while he was Governor of California and later when he became President of the United States.

Related Topics:
Santa Barbara, California - Ronald Reagan - Governor of California - President of the United States

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Reagan bought the ranch for about $527,000 in 1974 when his second term as governor was coming to an end. The estate contains a restored pond called Lake Lucky, stables and a barn for horses, and a 1,500 ft² (139 m²) house decorated with 1970s-style furniture. The ranch is located in the Santa Ynez Mountains up one-laned Refugio Road off U.S. Highway 101.

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Reagan spent nearly 1/8th of his presidency at his ranch, which became known as the Western White House. One of the most significant events that took place there was the signing of the Economic Recovery Tax Act in 1981. The ranch played host at various times to British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Queen Elizabeth II, and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.

Related Topics:
Western White House - Economic Recovery Tax Act - Margaret Thatcher - Queen Elizabeth II - Mikhail Gorbachev

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After leaving the presidency in 1989, the Reagans moved to a home in Bel-Air, California, but kept the ranch as a retreat. In April 1998, the ranch was sold for nearly $5.9 million to the Young America's Foundation, a conservative group which operates it today as what it calls "a living monument to Reagan's legacy."

Related Topics:
Bel-Air, California - Young America's Foundation

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