FOR SALE: 2,000-Acre California Ranch Owned by John Wayne Lists for $8 Million

A 2,000-acre California ranch that belonged to JOHN WAYNE lists in December. – Cary Estes

In a career that spanned 178 films, John Wayne rode off into many a sunset. But when he wanted to kick back and watch the sun go down with family and friends, he did so at Rancho Pavoreal, his gorgeous 2,000-acre ranch in Southern California.
Rancho Pavoreal easily could have been used as a set in one of Wayne’s cowboy movies. In fact, for a while after the actor’s death, it was transformed into a dude ranch. The property is entirely fenced and cross-fenced with plenty of room for horses and cattle. In addition to a stucco ranch house, there are three wells on the property, horse trails, and panoramic views of the surrounding valley and Palomar Mountain.
“Rancho Pavoreal is very masculine, very Western,” says listing agent Tatiana Novick of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Rancho Santa Fe. “It feels like John Wayne is still there.”
The $8 million listing sits about halfway between San Diego to the south and Palm Springs to the northeast and is roughly a 90-minute gallop from each. A 2-hour drive will put you in downtown Los Angeles. Orange County’s John Wayne Airport is 20 minutes closer.
With more than 40 wineries and an ample selection of golf courses, the nearby Temecula Valley has become a popular getaway. Temecula’s Old Town has numerous structures that date back to the 1800s. Many of these buildings have been converted into B&Bs, restaurants, and quaint shops. “Proximity to Temecula is one of the ranch’s greatest attributes,” Novick says. “There are vineyards and spas and wonderful places to eat.”
Rancho Pavoreal could be used for a vineyard, a hunting retreat or – in honor of Wayne himself – a cattle ranch. No matter the use, Wayne’s ranch is definitely the type of place where, as the Duke would have said, you can “take ‘er easy there, Pilgrim.”