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1005 Hot Springs Road Montecito, CA

Price: $11,000,000

MLS # 09-2401

View Map: Area Map from Google

Location, Climate, Culture, History and Health
462 Acres Overlooking Montecito, California

DESCRIPTION: The 462 acre Hot Springs property is located at the northern terminus of Hot Springs Road, above the prestigious “Golden Quadrangle” of Montecito. There are panoramic ocean/island views overlooking many of the grandest Montecito estates. Majestic Sycamore and oak trees line the Hot Springs Creek and Canyon which meanders through the middle of the property. The land borders the Los Padres National Forest with access to hiking trails and spectacular vistas from many areas including Montecito Peak.

The property is made up of six legal parcels with recorded Certificates of Compliance on each parcel. This allows for such opportunity as; premium large acreage estate building sites, family/friend compound, or merging into one of the largest estate properties in Montecito which could also bring significant tax benefits through a conservation easement.

An extremely rare feature of the property is that 20 acres around the Hot Springs are zoned as Day Use Health Spa Facility. This requires a Conditional Use Permit and there are numerous development standards which must be met. However it appears that these standards may have been created with the Hot Springs in mind.

The magical waters of the Hot Springs themselves have been referred to as the “Fountain of Youth” and as having medicinal healing powers. There are at least 4 hot mineral springs ranging from 99 to 122 degrees flowing at a rate of 8 miners inches, 74 gpm, or 100,000 gallons a day. The waters have an extremely low salinity and a softness which makes it far superior to artificially softened water for domestic use.

HISTORY: The property has a varied and colorful history. In the early 1800’s there were several native Indian accounts of the springs. A Canalino Indian named El Viejo was referred to as the “Ancient One”. He was over 100 years old and stated that the springs were the secret of his long life. In 1846 soldiers visited the springs where the waters were known to cure sailors suffering from scurvy. One of the soldiers, Walter Murray, said “these waters would make a fortune for any town in the United States”.

Long identified with the Hot Springs property was Wilbur Curtiss. The introduction of the springs to Curtiss was legendary, there is a tale that he arrived in Santa Barbara in 1857 in broken health with months to live and was cured by the springs. He ultimately bought the property and created a world famous spa. There were numerous owners after him and numerous ventures as well including; the Santa Barbara Hot Springs Hotel, the La Parra Grande Hot Springs Company, and the ultra exclusive Hot Springs Club.

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