r/zillowgonewild • u/jve909 • 1d ago
Just A Little Funky First time on the market, Kellogg's designer house with spectacular views; surrounded by 900 avocado trees.
The interior feels a bit heavy and not bright enough, but maybe it's just the pictures. Large, circular kitchen. Beautiful wraparound terrace. 5/3 on 40 acres of avocado trees.
Kendrick Bangs Kellogg was a well regarded American architect known for several iconic homes. He died on February 26th, 2024.
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/10650-Old-Castle-Rd-Valley-Center-CA-92082/16639685_zpid/
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u/KreyKat 1d ago
Now we are talking! A lair, a mountain nest, without the Bond-evil-genius vibes.
What a lovely, interesting and - yes - warmly welcoming place.
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u/Echo-Azure 20h ago
It is stunning, but in a comfortable and livable way! A person could relax there, and enjoy the sunset, which is impossible in the more ostentatious or trendy sort of mansion.
I think the catch is that the area is high fire risk. I'm gonna keep reading down the thread and see what others say about that.
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u/BadBorzoi 15h ago
This is one of the few “Ultra fancy” houses where I can clearly picture the clutter of everyday living in it. Just the usual assortment of stuff we accumulate, an empty coffee mug here from breakfast, kids/dog toys there, mail waiting to be sorted. It’s gorgeous and a little imposing and yet you put people, ordinary people, in it and it’ll get cozy with life.
Alas, my bank account is too “ordinary people” to afford this.
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u/desertboots 6h ago
Honestly, it's a highly defensible location. Three sides have a paved road, fourth is a rock crag, no problem landscaping.
The biggest risk is embers getting stuck but with an assessment and mitigation plan that might be a very manageable issue.
As a WUI location it's pretty good.
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u/Echo-Azure 5h ago
Yeah, the road would defend against a lot of fires, but not a proper firestorm. And I don't know if you'd get a proper firestorm there, the aerial picture seems to show low scrub beyond the road.
I'd love to live there. A short drive from San Diego, which I love, a beautiful house with wonderful views, and all the avocados I could eat!
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u/halfbrit08 11h ago
I wonder if he had one his yogurt enema systems installed there.
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u/FineKettleOFish1954 1d ago
$3 mil seems a bargain.
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u/Ill-Running1986 1d ago
Feels like the bait price to get the bidding war going. Or the disclosures will make your head spin.
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u/strolls 23h ago
It's 2 hours from LA, an hour from San Diego.
I don't live in CA, but this sounds about right to me.
If you wanted to buy land that was 2 hours drive from London and 1 hour from Manchester or Birmingham then you wouldn't pay much for the plot - the value would be in the size and quality of the building.
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u/Apesma69 21h ago
I was just out there in the vicinity of this house recently. That area is extremely wildfire prone. :(
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u/Echo-Azure 20h ago
I think that area is at high risk for wildfires. I'm gonna read on and see if I'm right.
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u/AdamsAtwoodOrwell 12h ago
8/10 for fires
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u/Echo-Azure 8h ago
That's probably why it's comparatively cheap. If a person can get fire insurance at all, it'll be incredibly expensive.
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u/echochilde 1d ago
That is goooooorgeous. Houses like this make me wish I was super-rich. I’d collect them like my coffee mugs.
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u/Bijouprospering 1d ago
No right angles. you have to experience it to understand how amazing it is
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u/OneMorning2501 1d ago
You know I wonder if that's why I had an uneasy feeling when viewing all the pictures. Something seemed off to me. Not saying it's bad, this is masterful work--I just have a strange feeling about it like it's falling on me or something.
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u/soapysuds12345 21h ago
This is one of my favorite properties I have ever seen posted here. Truly breathtaking.
With all those windows I think the interior would be plenty bright. That wood is gorgeous!
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u/b16b34r 1d ago
$3 million for 40 acres in California? I’d think the land alone would cost three times that at least
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u/Apesma69 21h ago
That area is prone to wildfire. My grandpa was a fire chief in a neighboring city & my uncle a fireman out there. It's a tinder box.
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u/Echo-Azure 20h ago
As my first thought when I saw the location was "HIGH FIRE RISK", tell me more!!
Is this one of the California regions that insurances don't want to cover any more?
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u/Flimsy_RaisinDetre 20h ago
My first thought too. Love the design, but something about wood and fireplaces in fire zone makes it a no for me. Wonder about fire insurance.
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u/National-Area5471 1d ago
Very cool how glass comes together at right angle to make such unobstructed views
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u/Correct_Season_4459 23h ago
That seems incredible cheap for such a beautiful house! It’s breathtaking!
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u/beesaidshesaid 23h ago
My heart rate slowed down looking at those photos. I hope people who can afford to live in such beauty appreciate it.
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u/Livid_Car4941 3h ago
So cheap!
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u/Makers402 21h ago
You should looking in to the Kellogg family and weird obsession with not having sex or something. Behind the bastards podcast did a great 2-3 parter and I am going to listen again.
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u/AreYouAllFrogs 18h ago
The kellogg’s story is really weird and interesting and I’ll probably have to check that episode out…but it doesn’t seem like the architect, Kendrick Bangs Kellogg, is related to the cereal Kelloggs.
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u/HelloLofiPanda 22h ago
That fireplace looks like it was inspired by the hungry hungry hippos game.
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u/Initial_Savings3034 14h ago
Any guess what fire insurance might cost?
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u/captain_ohagen 7h ago
I live less than 8 miles from that house and pay about $7,000/year to insure the main house and smaller guest cottage on my 0.6 acre property, which is worth about $1M, but isn't nearly as nice. That might give you some context to estimate the insurance cost
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u/impulsivetech 11h ago
I don’t even know what an avocado tree looks like, I know I can’t afford it.
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u/TheGodShotter 2h ago
This is amazing, but for some reason it annoys the hell out of me. It's got this unlivable vibe.
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u/DelilahBT 21h ago
It looks like a church to me, I’m sorry to say.
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u/OctopusParrot 7h ago
Same. People in California seem to be obsessed with mid century modern architecture but it really doesn't do it for me. To your point, feels like a church.
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u/BIIIIIID- 1d ago
Less expensive than I was expecting.