Publisher McClatchy’s Former California Compound for $3.5

An expansive two-home property previously owned by top newspaper publisher William McClatchy has hit the market in Rancho Mirage, CA, for $3.5 million.

The homes sit on an unheard-of 3 parcels totaling 1.5 acres.

“The undeveloped lot could be purchased separately, but the other two have to be purchased together,” says listing agent Michael Bernal, of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties.

“There are two residences on the lot that were built in 1980 for Bernard Kaplan, ” Bernal adds. “It was later sold to William McClatchy, who was a newspaper publisher, who owned publications like the Miami Herald and the Sacramento Bee. He owned 12 to 15 papers nationally and was the equivalent of [William Randolph] Hearst in terms of the number of papers he owned.”

McClatchy died in 2011 at the age of 86.

McClatchy purchased the spread in 2007 for $1.9 million, then sold it three years later for $1.7 million. The property has been on and off the market since 2011.

Desert digs

The primary house measures 4,005 square feet and features polished travertine flooring and stone-accented walls. There are four en suite bedrooms, with the primary suite featuring dual baths.

Standout amenities include the incredible, step-down pool right off the family room and the private spa tucked off the secondary bedroom.

Guesthouse…

The second dwelling has two bedrooms, two baths, a kitchenette, and a cozy living room with a fireplace. This 1,377-square-foot guest casita offers a private patio with views of a sculpture garden and the surrounding mountains.

Both homes feature floor-to-ceiling windows throughout, which create a unique, indoor-outdoor living experience.

… and room for more

The adjacent undeveloped land was a former citrus orchard and “remains part of the estate grounds to develop your multiple auto garages or tennis courts,” the listing states.

‘Very elegant’ property

The home is located across from the Tamarisk Country Club (whose members have included Frank Sinatra, the Marx brothers, and President Gerald Ford) and has been “extensively renovated,” Bernal says.

“The property is very elegant. McClatchy was a formal man who had a private cook as well as someone to take care of the property,” he adds. “I think the next owner would have to be somebody looking for something rather secluded. They will be looking for something a little bit on the eclectic side, and it would certainly make a nice private residence.

“It’s located in a pretty exclusive part of Rancho Mirage, which is what makes the listing so different and exclusive,” Bernal says.