Exploring the Sea Ranch: A Blend of Nature and Design

The Sea Ranch was conceived in the 1960s as a place where humans could live in harmony with nature. This stunning coastal community is now beckoning a new generation to experience its wonder.

When the Sea Ranch, a planned community on a remote stretch of northern California coast, opened in 1965, its designers proclaimed it “the most unusual second-home colony ever conceived by nature and man.”

My husband, Jason, and I first learned about this remarkable place in 2019. Friends had visited an exhibition about its history at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and they made the three-hour pilgrimage. “The hedgerows!” one of our friends gushed, attempting to capture what made the Sea Ranch so extraordinary.

Initially, Jason and I resisted the idea of visiting—why spend days trapped in a glorified gated community? It turns out we were very wrong.

The Vision Behind Sea Ranch

The idea for the Sea Ranch was born in the early 1960s, when an unconventional developer named Al Boeke discovered a rugged, 1,000-acre former sheep pasture just south of the small town of Gualala. While the project was ostensibly a financial investment for the Hawaiian company employing Boeke, it also offered an opportunity to explore the intersection of design, ecology, social justice, and living lightly with the land—a principle articulated by one of the Sea Ranch’s architects, Donlyn Lyndon.

Boeke enlisted San Francisco-based landscape architect Lawrence Halprin to spearhead the project. Halprin resembled an architectural shaman, often wearing cowboy boots and creating hand-drawn plans resembling artistic manifestos.

His guiding principle for the Sea Ranch was to preserve the natural character of the landscape. He assembled a talented team that included future graphic design icon Barbara Stauffacher Solomon, architects Joseph Esherick, Charles Moore, William Turnbull, and master builder Matthew Sylvia.

Staying in the Sea Ranch

Staying in Sea Ranch feels like a “choose your own adventure” experience. You can rent accommodations on a windswept bluff, immerse yourself in the redwoods, stay in a minimalist cabin, or reside in a glass box—options abound.

What transpired in this idyllic place was magical. Houses were constructed with both charm and an air of modesty. Development bylaws ensured the land remained shared and unspoiled. Trails meandered along cliffs to private beaches and into forests filled with redwoods, creating communal spaces equipped with swimming pools, tennis courts, and saunas, decorated with vibrant motifs later dubbed “supergraphics.”

The Evolution of the Sea Ranch

However, the idyllic vision was eventually challenged. Utopian ideals began to clash with capitalist goals, and the duality of the project became evident. Over the subsequent decades, some architects departed, revealing a mix of architectural styles and even a few mega-mansions among the community’s approximately 2,200 properties.

Nevertheless, thanks to Halprin’s enduring vision, the spirit of Sea Ranch flourishes. A renewed enforcement of development bylaws helps to preserve its character. A new wave of families is moving in, and a younger generation of design enthusiasts is discovering its charm.

Given that the Sea Ranch is a private community, visitors must rent a house within its boundaries to access exclusive trails, beaches, and recreation centers. The options for accommodation are diverse, providing a unique experience for every visitor. Upon arrival, you might wonder, “What’s the big deal?” However, after witnessing the enchanting fairy rings of redwoods and the striking Modernist structures peeking through the rising sea mist, you’ll undoubtedly become a believer.