Knights Valley 257-Acre Ranch

18730 Highway 128, Calistoga CA 94515

This Knights Valley 257-Acre Ranch has a Calistoga address just outside the Napa County line in Sonoma County. This property has dual zoning including both Diversified Agriculture (DA) with 20-acre parcel size minimums in the front 41.6+/- acres and Land Extensive Agriculture (LEA) with 100-acre parcel size minimum in the back 200+/- acre portion of the land. This zoning gives this property the potential to have as many as 4 main homes built, even without being required to go through a subdivision process. In addition to 4 potential homes, this zoning allows for an additional ‘Granny Unit’ or Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) of up to 1,200 square feet in size, as well as a ‘Guest House’ of up to 640 square feet in size. If the property were to be subdivided to 4 legal parcels, it would be able to have 4 Granny Unit ADU’s as well as 4 Guest Houses in addition to the 4 main houses it is zoned to accommodate (all subject to Sonoma County PRMD guidelines, rules, regulations, building codes and procedures, of course).

There are more than 4 premium million-dollar build sites to choose from on this gorgeous ranch. Two or more of the potential build sites have knoll-top panoramic vineyard view settings looking out over Knights Valley with arguably the most desirable Mt. St. Helena views available anywhere. Two other potential building sites are nestled in its own private valley looking over the properties California State registered 2.5+/- surface-acre pond and 1+/-acre vintage Cabernet Sauvignon hobby vineyard. Additional potential build sites have meadows and 360-degree views encompassing the Napa and Sonoma County wine country and Mt. St. Helena in front and center.

Knights Valley is an extremely sought after and desirable area within the Sonoma and Napa Wine Country region. This ranch, having a premium location in Knights Valley, along with its premium building sites, flexible zoning, and existing improvements make for a rare offering perfect for someone who wants to create their dream family compound and live life to its fullest.

The views and improvements offered here include majestic Mount Saint Helena prominently featured throughout the property, existing infrastructure including established roads, a private well, 1 previously used septic system where the original house was located, newly restored PG&E power brought to the interior of the property, a 2.5+/- surface-acre legal pond, and gorgeous building sites with easy access and power available now. Nature abounds on this property with open meadows, redwood groves, mostly gentle topography, perfect privacy and quiet serenity for you to enjoy.

The access to this Knights Valley 257-Acre Ranch is through its own private gate off Highway 128. It has a mile long private driveway winding through the center of the parcel past its hobby vineyard to where the owner’s family home had been built back in 1963 overlooking the pond. The drive was paved in the 1970’s. It cost more than the original house construction did back then. It is still a decent access road today with a good road base, proper drainage and 60 years of use over it. Some rehab work will be needed to be done as part of the property’s redevelopment work in the future. The pond was built in the summer of 1963 and was originally 25 feet deep. For decades the pond had been stocked with Bass and Sunfish. There is some Azolla currently growing on the ponds surface, which is a common occurrence on ponds throughout the area and not an over-whelming condition to mitigate.

The property has a private well. The previous well pump has been cleared from the well casing and is ready for a new well pump to be installed. Power still needs to be brought to the well head, but it is nearby. There is also an old spring that had previously been developed and used for additional landscape and agricultural water prior to having the well. The status of the spring is currently unknown. The well production capacity is also currently unknown. The house septic tank is a standard system with a cement 2-chamber tank believed to be a class 3 system by Sonoma County standards, which will allow a replacement home to be built using Sonoma’s streamlined resiliency program rather than the normal permit process required by Sonoma County Permit and Resource Management Department (PRMD). Being able to use the Resiliency Department is a huge time and dollar savings for the rebuilding of the main home that was lost in the Tubbs fire.

In addition to the mile-long private driveway, there are miles of old logging roads in good condition that wind their way throughout the property giving access to 4 additional ways to exit the property through adjacent properties aside from its main gated driveway. All of these can be driven with the listing agent Doug Swanson as part of your property tour.

This area is rich in history as well as beautiful for it oak studded hills and rolling vineyards. Wine country visitors making their way from Calistoga, Napa Valley and Healdsburg often lose track of where they are as they wind through rolling hills and manicured vineyards, navigating Highway 128. Enter Knights Valley, one of the most unique wine-growing regions in the world & the best kept secret in Sonoma County every wine enthusiast should put on their radar.

In the mid-1850’s, Knights Valley was named for Thomas B. Knight, a fabled member of the Bear Flag Revolt. This group and their Bear Flag are the original creators of what has become the California Republic Bear Flag we all celebrate and fly today.

In 1983, Knights Valley became one of the original five sub-appellations of the newly minted Sonoma County AVA. Today, growing wine grapes the biggest business in Knights Valley.

From this Knights Valley 257-Acre Ranch, Healdsburg or Calistoga are short drives for dining or shopping. This property and its location are very easy to fall in love with.

For a personal tour please contact Doug Swanson, cell 707-291-4400 or click on the ‘Showing Request’ icon above.

Property Highlights:

257+/- acres total
Panoramic Mount Saint Helena views
Dual zoning DA & LEA with potential to be split to 4 parcels (2 in each zoning)
Multiple premium building sites
Existing well, spring and septic system
1 mile of existing private road
2.5+/- surface area California State licensed pond
2nd smaller seasonal pond
1+/- acre vintage cabernet sauvignon hobby vineyard
1 mile of restored PG&E newly installed to the former house site above the large pond.
Miles of dirt roads allowing for 4 additional exits from the property.
Redwood groves, open meadows and mostly rolling topography
Abundance of nature and wildlife
Private, quiet and serene

Distance to Calistoga: 5.2 Miles

Distance to Healdsburg: 19.8 Miles

Distance to Geyserville: 20.0 Miles

Distance to Santa Rosa: 19.6 Miles

Distance to Napa: 31.7 Miles

Distance to the Golden Gate Bridge: 67.8 Miles

Here are some interesting links containing more information for the area surrounding this Knights Valley 257-Acre Ranch & potential family compound:

Bear Flag Revolt – Mexican American War, June-July 1846

Knights Valley Wine Region and Appellation

Healdsburg.com

Sonoma County/Healdsburg.com

Healdsburg Wineries

Healdsburg Restaurants

Healdsburg Parks, Beaches & Activities

Calistoga Attractions – Nature & Parks

Healdsburg Upcoming Events

Healdsburg Tuesdays in the Plaza Summer Concerts

Calistoga Special Events Calander

Calistoga Summer Concerts in the Park Info