Sage Flats Ranch: 40 Acres Of Pristine High Desert

THE PROPERTY Olancha, a small settlement in the high desert of the Northern Mojave, is located 20 miles South of Lone Pine on the 395, approximately a 2 hour 30 minute drive from Los Angeles. The large, expansive Owens Valley, known as Payahüünadü by the local Native American tribes -- which means “place of running water” -- stretches from Little Lake to the south to the Mono Basin to the north. The valley also is host to the infamous Owens Lake. Sage Flats Drive is 2 minutes South of Olancha and 10 minutes from ten minutes south of the now dry Owens Lake. Sage Flats, the road, begins at 4,000 feet and rises to over 6000 feet to the base of the Eastern Sierras. The backdrop to the Sage Flats Ranch is Olancha Peak, otherwise known as The Chief, which peaks at over 12,000 feet. Sage Flats Ranch sits on 40 acres of land, beyond which extends endless acreage of pristine high desert and untouched volcanic tableland. The 40 acres hosts many microenvironments: natural springs, ponds, deep ravines, meadows, grasslands, a large, dry riverbed (for most of the year) and shady cottonwoods. Ancient Native American grinding stones can be found on the land, and those with a keen eye will discover arrow heads hand-carved from the surrounding obsidian rock. The property boasts views of the extended regions of the Owens Valley, from north to south, while directly east are the Coso Mountain Range and towering skyward to the west are the majestic Eastern Sierras. In other words, there are 360 degree views of wilderness and exquisite terrain surrounding Sage Flats Ranch. The 40 acres itself is home to vast terrains of native sage brush – aka the California Great Basin Sage – which gives the area its name. The 5 buildings on the property that create the circular compound consist of the Main House -- a ranch style, crescent-shaped structure -- the Boiler Room, the Studio-Garage, the old, turn-of-the-century Water Tower and original Cabin built back I the early 1900’s. Coursing through all of this is a circular driveway which has entrance and exit through two large ranch gates, allowing for easy access to and from the property. THE MAIN HOUSE Built in 1945 by skilled and incredibly insightful architects who thoroughly understood the land, the movement of winds, the arc of the sun and stars -- the house stands as a kind of warrior, of sorts, against the all of the elements of the desert, including winter snowfall. The central stone fireplace is a masterpiece of masonry showcasing large granite rocks, obsidian and lava rocks, all local to the Owens Valley and is finished with an enormous slab of granite for the hearth. The house has 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a kitchen, living room and a wrap-around sunporch which protects the northern and western curved crescents of the house from sun and wind, and is bathed in natural light via an extravaganza of windows the line the entirety of its run. Dark concrete floors throughout the house are decorated with vintage Turkish rugs, mission-style stucco is painted in soft white, double sash windows are adorned with white net curtains and French-style single doors in all rooms lead out onto the wrap-around sunporch. The sunporch itself has a painted cement floor in 1950’s pastel tones. The kitchen is fitted with the original 1945 cottage-style wooden cabinets, while the wood counter top, porcelain sink and stainless steel modern appliances are the more additions. The bench style kitchen table, which was found on the land and restored for indoor usage, sits in the bay window facing south-east. The living room has an old-cut 1”x 2” tongue-and-groove cedar wood ceiling supported 4”x 6” wooden beams. The room itself is accentuated by a large leather Chesterfield couch and it’s matching Grandad’s armchair generating a mountain lodge cabin style ambience, especially as they sit in front of the lodge-style fireplace and separate wood-burning stove. The master bedroom is bathed in natural light thanks to the large bay window facing northeast. The main bathroom has a 1945 baby-pink square bathtub nestled into a tiled alcove. Vintage light fixtures can be found throughout the house, each handpicked to keep in line with the original era and decor of the house, along with vintage oil lamps, binoculars, an old Native American peace pipe, brass candle sticks and sconces, while modern Bluetooth speakers provide great sound and contemporary fine art hangs on the walls. The second bedroom with the shower on-suite has a desk, printer and vintage clerical chair. The third bedroom has two large cedar wood closets with a centered feminine dresser/make-up station. THE STUDIO-GARAGE The Garage is a 20’ x 40’ open space structure divided by deep red wine velvet curtains, which separates the lovely Studio guest room from a 2-car Garage. The Studio guest room has a 4-poster bed, handmade from Bali and elegantly draped with white mosquito net curtains, a couple of Vintage leather armchairs, and an old metal writing desk. The concrete floors are adorned with vintage Persian rugs, while from the ceiling hangs dual Turkish lamps and a ceiling fan. In the southwest corner sits a wood burning stove. There are two sets of French doors, one facing South and the other East, and on the outside southern end of the Studio is a wood slatted pergola with patio dining. THE BOILER ROOM This guest room is in fact the old boiler room for the main house which used to provide warm water pumped through underground pipes to the floors throughout the main house. Renovated into a 2-room space, lovingly called the “Jail Cell,” it boasts a mini wood burning stove, 2 leather armchairs and a skylight above the vintage brass frame bed. THE WATER TOWER This inspiringly unique 1900’S original wood structure is the old water tower for the property. It stands at over 20-feet tall and still houses its original metal tank on the upper floor. There is an exterior staircase that leads to the tank and from here one experiences incredible views and great sweeping shots of the property. The eerie personality of the Water Tower is a fantastic back drop for a dark Western movie or, indeed, a moonlit Horror flick. THE CABIN The second 1900’S original wood structure on the property is a rickety old cabin – likely the original house on the property – which still stands with its original cottage-style kitchen, bedroom and front room. The cabin is surrounded by its own spaciously fenced enclosure, cottonwoods and sycamores and 2 fabric hammocks hang from the massive old trees.