A visit to California’s Ojai Valley in the 1920s would include views of the neighboring Topatopa Mountains, newly built bungalows and a handful of glitzy mansions.
One of those mansions, the Acacia Mansion, was built in 1929 for “the Sardine King” of Canada and his wife.
Nearly 100 years later, the Spanish-style property remains a stalwart in Ventura County, and now, it’s on the market.
The landmark property went up for sale in late June, according to a listing on Homes.com. It’s asking shy of $4 million and includes a five-bedroom, four-bathroom main house and a one-bedroom, one-bathroom guest house above the garage.
Real estate agent Luke Ebbin of Compass holds the listing.
A mansion built with Spanish and Finnish influences
Though the mansion is one of just a few higher-end properties built in the area in the 1920s, according to Ebbin, its Spanish architecture was popular and common at the time.
However, unlike other properties, the Acacia Mansion embodies more than just Spanish influences.
The original owners, David and Madeleine Baird, commissioned Finnish architect John Roine to design the home. Roine then enlisted the help of artisans from Europe to assist with the project.
The result was a home that “seems to be of Romanesque and French-style [influences],” Ebbin told Homes.com in an interview.
Indeed, the home features wrought iron banisters lining a marble staircase, Italian chandeliers, stained-glass windows and stone fireplaces.
“They built a sort of opulent house,” he said. “You walk into this beautiful front foyer, and it’s got gold leaf ceilings and terrazzo floors, and a grand entrance and a grand stairwell.”
“The overall feel is pretty incredible,” Ebbin added.
The property is popular among creatives and architects
The seller bought the property about a year ago, with plans for renovations, according to Ebbin.
“It doesn’t need big renovations, but she was planning on doing a fair amount of work and decided not to do it,” he explained.
Instead, Ebbin said the seller found and purchased a different home.
In its past lives, the Acacia Mansion was a primary home, a vacation rental home, and a bed and breakfast. That range – combined with the original owners’ connections to the religious movement known as Theosophy – has prompted a host of visitors, including author Aldous Huxley, activist Annie Besant and artist Marc Chagall.
Now, Ebbin said he sees the mansion as “a great family home.”
“It’s got a lot of property, a lot of open space,” he said. “It’s right near a number of schools, and it’s walkable to downtown Meiners Oaks.”
The residence could also be suitable for someone looking for a second home or even just an architecture lover.
“You have a lot of people who come up [to Ojai] and are looking for that Old Spanish style,” he said.
