Historic Clovis-area ranch where Hollywood stars once partied for sale at $25M

A 107-year-old farmhouse in the Clovis area that once hosted movie stars and has more land than ever before. Size of Disneyland resort area is for sale.

Steeped in colorful Central Valley history, the original Balfe Homestead and 535 acres of land located on the north side of Herndon Boulevard and just east of McCall Boulevard. On the market since November.

The asking price is $25 million, making it currently the fourth most expensive property for sale in the central San Joaquin Valley and the second most expensive in the Fresno area. 3,000 acres of rolling hills north of Fresno worth $117 million.

Real estate agents representing the Balfe Ranch House property believe the development opportunity on the land is worth $1.5 billion.

“It is truly a rare opportunity to have so much land grouped and located so close to the city of Clovis,” said real estate broker Catrina Girard. Sotheby’s International Real Estatespecializes in luxury real estate.

“The potential for this land to be transformed is endless. And if the buyer wants to keep the building and develop the land, this is a very nice property.”

The Balfe Farmhouse was built in 1919 by New York businessman Harry Balfe after he purchased 760 acres northeast of Herndon and Thompson streets from the Roeding family.

But Balfe did not build a seven-room house with only five guest houses.

The property also included a private airstrip, race track, vineyard and orchards.

Including final visitors of the place Hollywood star Gary CooperHe is best known as a strong, silent hero who starred in Westerns and was later referenced frequently in HBO’s hit series The Sopranos.

In addition, Fred MacMurrayThe actor, who has appeared in more than 100 films throughout his career spanning half a century, came to the property.

According to archive stories from the Clovis Independent, the National Geographic Society described the Balfe farm as “a garden area in the desert: a place not to be duplicated in England within 100 years,” with fruit trees and vines.

Fresno Bee archives note that the farm was once “one of the show places of (Fresno) County.”

“It’s certainly a very interesting property,” Girard said. “It was the place to be, there were amazing parties there with lots of Hollywood scenes.”

During its more than 100 years of existence, Balfe Farmhouse has been owned by four families.

• Oscar-winning actor Victor McLaglen purchased the farm from Balfe in 1939.

• Farmer William Birieff bought the farm in 1950.

• John Indart purchased the property in 1953.

• Son Tim Indart and his wife, Andrea, began restoring the house in stages starting in 1966, according to the Clovis Independent.

The Indarts’ renovations and restorations included repairing their elaborate backyard fish pond and painting the master bedroom walls pink.

“We feel their spirit,” Andrea Indart said of the former residents in a 2007 Clovis Independent story about the Balfe Farmhouse. “The house holds so many memories for so many people, and we had the privilege of living there.”

The house itself is approximately 4,800 square meters and has a Spanish architectural design. There are four bedrooms, three bathrooms, 12 closets, two laundry rooms, two living rooms, a game room, a mudroom and a dining room with a fireplace.

There is a separate building, museum and wine cellar from the main house.

The property also includes a large swimming pool, rock garden and pond, tennis court, and acres of farmland.

“It’s a very open, picturesque backyard, full of trees,” Girard said. “And as you walk from one area of ​​the house to another, you see different eras of the house.

“But it’s time. The Indarts believe it’s time to pass the torch to someone else.”