A mansion sits in the hills of an Oregon community, one with an Italian flair fused with an American appetite for grandeur.
For its owners, it’s a slice of perfection. But now they want to downsize and sell.
James David "Dave" Mills, and his wife, Janice, are ready to say goodbye to their estate at 321 Pair A Dice Ranch Road in Jacksonville, Oregon. The property comes with a main house and a casita for a total of 9,904 square feet of living space. Boasting views of the usually snowcapped Mount McLoughlin and Crater Lake National Park, the house offers four bedrooms, five bathrooms and a powder room. It's the home that the married, retired couple built from scratch years ago and just listed for just under $6 million.
Built with their grandkids in mind, they included a nursery adjacent to the primary suite. The property was built for celebrations: It comes with a theater, a heated pool, and a five-door garage with enough space for at least 12 cars. When they constructed and completed the home in 2008, the couple had two grandkids and have welcomed two more since, with the youngest off to the University of Utah in the fall.
Homebodies who enjoy hosting, the Mills designed a red brick-lined, temperature-controlled wine cellar for about 300 bottles.
“It’s inviting. All of our guests say how homey it is,” said Dave, a retired car dealer.
Douglas Morse of John L. Scott Real Estate has the listing.
Itching to downsize for years, the Mills waited for their youngest grandchild, who lives in the neighborhood and visits often, to set off for college. They’re now on the hunt for a 4,000-square-foot residence near a golf course.
The residence met every desire for the Mills. Janice's favorite spot is the kitchen, where she would often catch her grandkids running to hide in the pantry during games of hide-and-seek.
“We had been visiting the Palm Springs [California] area 20 years ago and fell in love with the homes there,” Janice said, highlighting her property's open floor plan. “We wanted something that flowed easily like that.”
The property is a 5-minute drive from the Jacksonville Historic District, deemed a U.S. National Historic Landmark given the preservation of several shops, restaurants and homes from the 19th century, when mining put the area on the map. Although known for its gold ore, the locale also appeared on the silver screen, in the 1972 Western “The Great Northfield, Minnesota Raid.”
If wine lovers drive 20 minutes in the opposite direction, they can explore the Applegate Wine Trail, home to more than a dozen vineyards.
“I wouldn’t change anything. We’ve loved it,” Janice said. But “it’s a time of our life that we need to do something different.”
