Jim Wilson, the Hollywood producer known for the Oscar-winning smash hit "Dances with Wolves," and worldwide crowd favorite "The Bodyguard," has sold his 190-acre ranch in Calabasas, Calif., for $13.9 million, according to reports. And he did it by marketing the property with a couple of winning Hollywood touches, including a soaring orchestral soundtrack and video footage shot from helicopter drones.
House shoppers got a sweeping bird's eye view of the property, with its 7,600-square-foot main ranch house, guest house and equestrian facilities. It is also located only 30 minutes from Los Angeles and major studios, so the new owners won't exactly need a helicopter to commute!
Avalon Ranch was custom built in 1998 as a horse lover's retreat. The main house has seven bedrooms, five full bathrooms, and multiple indoor and outdoor living rooms, and a fully equipped gourmet kitchen. Many rooms, like the rounded breakfast nook, take full advantage of the stunning views of the private valley. The ranch also has two-bedroom guest quarters, located over the garage, which also happens to have sweeping views of the estate. The equestrian facilities are top-flight, with a 16-stall barn with tack room, a day barn, one-acre horse pasture and miles of trails. That ought to be enough to keep a horse enthusiast busy, and give a trainer enough space to put a future prize winner through the paces!
Aside from horse riding, Avalon Ranch has many other luxury amenities to help pass the time, like a dark-bottom pool and spa with a fireplace-equipped pavilion, a tennis court, and a fruit orchard.
Not many properties get a marketing push, with a full cinematic treatment. But that is apparently what helped seal the deal for Avalon Ranch. Originally listed at $25 million in 2010, the price was brought down to $14.5 million in October 2014, before it was finally sold, according to reports. That's when Wilson stepped in to produce a short film showing off the property's bucolic beauty.
