This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive commission for purchases made through these links. Price at time of publish date may change.
For some, ranch life is something they’ve always wanted; for others, it’s something they’ve only just realized they’re interested in; and other times, it’s a mix of divine timing. This week on Chasing the West, Drew and Jonathan are helping Vivian and her daughter Celeste, and Connecticut dreamers Angelina and Russell, find their dream ranches in the California countryside. For Vivian as well as Angelina and Russell, they’ve always loved being out in nature, but they’re coming from cities where it’s hard to find that peace. Recently though, both families have realized that their next chapter might be somewhere else. So, they’re making the move and crossing their fingers to find their little slice of ranch life paradise.
Drew and Jonathan are taking them on a journey to find the spot that feels like home and fits their unique needs. Vivian wants to start a horse sanctuary, whereas Angelina and Russell are searching for a wide-open space to raise their little ones and start up Russell’s new construction business. Out West, anything is possible—and the Bros are here to make sure that these folks’ dreams can come true… Of course, with some reality checks along the way. (Like, holding a chicken for the first time.) Come explore the properties and the stories behind these new ranch owners.
Vivian and Celeste
Vivian has a big family. With five sisters and two daughters, her family is her life. And after losing her father a year ago, Vivian wants to be closer to her mother. So, she’s dreaming of making the move out West. Vivian is currently a makeup artist in Los Angeles, but her passion lies in helping horses. She has three right now, and they’re her life. She’s been boarding them outside of LA for years now, but wants to house them on her own property and start a horse sanctuary. Her ideal place to land is Agua Dulce. It’s just an hour away from LA, so her commute will be short, but it’s also a very horse-friendly town with that Western vibe that she’s craving. She’s looking for a property with three bedrooms and horse facilities on-site, with a budget of $1.1M. Her youngest daughter, Celeste, is coming along to help her find her dream ranch. Vivian has been searching for a while now, but since the area sells fast, she hasn’t had any luck. Hopefully, with the Drew and Jonathan’s help, she can secure her ideal horse ranch.
Mi Casa es Su Casa
2.8 acres | $880K | 4 bed/3 bath
Well under Vivian’s max budget, this Spanish-style ranch has all of the horse amenities she’s hoping for, including outdoor pens, a lean-to barn, and a round pen. The property is allotted 4 horses per 1 acre, so she also has the potential to house about 12 horses on-site. Though the inside of the house is pretty turn-key, it’s a little too modern for Vivian’s style.
Wild West Oasis
7 acres | $1.05M | 4 bed/3 bath
A 1950s dream, this home is a mash-up of additions that have been done over the past 70 years, but it flows together nicely to create a huge 4,300-square-foot layout complete with a private courtyard, a saloon-style bar and living area, and a pool in the yard—not to mention, 7 stalls for horses on the property. However, this would mean that Vivian has a lot of upkeep to do in order to maintain such a large property on her own.
The Cozy Corral
5 acres | $840K | 3 bed/2 bath
This property is a nice middle-ground between having a good amount of acreage without it being too intimidating. The only catch? Vivian would have to do some renovations, which includes building her own barn. There is a corral already built, and it is a working ranch, so she could immediately jump in with space for the horses. But that breezeway barn she wants will be its own project.
After talking it over with Celeste, Vivian decided on The Cozy Corral. Vivian’s mother has already moved in, and they’ve begun to fill the space with family, horses, and memories. It offers everything she wants in a home, and there wasn’t as much work that needed to be put into the house as they first thought. Obviously, the barn is the first priority on their list of additions! “It’s my dream come true,” Vivian says, “And I can’t wait to make it a safe place for horses.”
Angelina and Russell
Angelina and Russell have moved across the country to California from Connecticut with their two little ones, with a dream of living in their own home on the range. While in the city, they found themselves inside most of the time—which isn’t what they wanted, for themselves or their kids. But in the concrete jungle, they didn’t find the outdoors to feel as magical and rewarding as open land. So, they’re moving to California, not only to be closer to Russell’s family, but also with the hopes of reconnecting with nature and the outdoors. They have their sights set on Jackson, a Gold Rush town that seems to be the perfect combination of small town charm and modern convenience. Angelina and Russell want at least 2 acres and space for a shop or garage for Russell’s construction business, with a budget of $450K.
Ready Ridge Ranch
2 acres | $585K | 3 bed/2.5 bath
Above their budget but checking off all their boxes, this property offers everything: privacy, proximity to town, a three-car garage plus a shed, and it’s completely turn-key. They wouldn’t have to do much work at all to make it their own, outside of building a larger space for Russell’s shop. But Angelina was hoping for more land, and she wants plenty of space for farm animals.
Whispering Woods Ranch
10 acres | $400K | 2 bed/2 bath
Angelina wanted more land, and she definitely gets that with this property! It also has a huge shop on site that can be used solely for Russell’s business. However, it’s about 30 minutes outside of Jackson, and since Angelina doesn’t drive, she is concerned about cases of emergency when Russell isn’t home, and the lack of convenience into town. The interior definitely needs some updating as well, but because it comes in under budget, they have the wiggle room they need to make the changes. There’s a lot of potential here.
After mulling it over, Angelina and Russell decided to go with Whispering Woods Ranch. “There’s a lot of work, but it’ll be what we want, and what we want to build together,” Russell says. They went back and forth between the two for a while, but ultimately, Whispering Woods felt more like home.
City Slickers Chase a Dream Home on the Range
Will Brandon and Chelsey and Sherry and Nico find their dream homes?
Read More
