Historic Villa Calafia Estate Lists for $18.5 Million

Located in Carpinteria, California, a historic estate known as Villa Calafia has been listed for sale at $18.5 million. The 16-acre property was commissioned in 1927 by the Wilbur family and is one of only two estates in the Santa Barbara region designed by architect Gordon Kaufmann, who also designed Greystone Mansion, the Los Angeles Times Building, the Hollywood Palladium, and the Hoover Dam. Villa Calafia is named after the mythical queen Calafia and is meant to emulate a Tuscan-inspired retreat.

“This is a truly special place—rich in history, architecture, natural beauty, and art. A magical estate that’s both a home and a legacy,” listing agent Kate Blackwood of Compass tells Galerie. Constructed in 1930, Villa Calafia boasts a four-bedroom main residence, as well as scenic ocean views, a seasonal river, and citrus and avocado groves. The property includes a one-bedroom Tower House, a one-bedroom Serenity House, and a two-bedroom Woods House. Each of these two-story guest residences features its own kitchen and living room. Amenities include equestrian facilities, a tennis court, and covered parking for up to eight cars.

Throughout its history, the villa has been owned by a number of notable people, including the aforementioned Wilbur family, Montecito heiress Lucy Dabney, and art collectors and philanthropists Robert and Mary Looker, who are the current owners and have been since 1964. 

Courtesy of the Lookers, art is scattered throughout the property, commissioned by visiting artists such as Richard Hambleton. The couple has amassed a wide-ranging collection that includes Cuban and Latin American modernism, mid-century American art, and German Expressionism. 

Robert and Mary Looker have made significant contributions to various art institutions, including the National Gallery of Art (NGA), the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), and the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA). Two notable artworks they’ve gifted include The Painted Cock by Mariano Rodríguez and Gonzalo Fonseca’s Constructivist Cabinet, both of which are part of LACMA’s permanent collection. 

The original homeowners, the Wilbur family, resided at Villa Calafia from 1930 to the 1940s. This included Van Rensselaer Gideon Wilbur, a veteran oilman and entrepreneur, and Marguerite Eyer Wilbur, an author and historian. Like the Lookers, the Wilburs were longtime patrons of the arts. They supported institutions such as the Opera Guild of Southern California, and they served on boards for the Southwest Museum, Scripps College, and Harvey Mudd.

The sprawling property is just minutes from Montecito and Santa Barbara, and a short drive from Los Angeles.