The combination of man’s and nature’s best are lovingly on display throughout this 74-acre property in Woodside, California. Green Gables not only promotes safe, resilient, healthy living but offers all of the resources of Silicon Valley as well as those of San Francisco less than 30 minutes away—including the leading-edge medical centers of Stanford University and UCSF.
A HISTORIC, WELCOMING SANCTUARY
The creation of Mortimer Fleishhacker, banker, civic leader, and philanthropist, this storied estate has remained intact since its inception in 1911 and has long been a world unto itself, a sheltering oasis promoting personal freedom, well-being, and a oneness with nature. At the heart of Green Gables rests its magnificent main residence and sustainable gardens that remain home to the Fleishhacker family.
AN OASIS OF SUSTAINABLE LIFESTYLES
These spacious grounds—a rarity in the Silicon Valley area—promote therapeutic and healthful lifestyles beyond compare. Orchards and large vegetable and flower gardens provide produce for the estate, from dahlias and roses for the vases, to tomatoes, onions, peppers, and all manner of fruits, vegetables, and herbs for the table. The entire estate is irrigated using water from its expansive reservoir. The grounds of Green Gables are a mix of formal gardens surrounding the main house and natural woodland filled with native California shrubs and wildflowers. Majestic old-growth trees include oaks, giant redwoods, blue spruce, Monterey pines, and eucalyptus. Two private roads and wooded trails wind through the verdant grounds, perfect for riding, bicycling, hiking, or jogging. Closer to the main house, the Camperdown Elm Allée is a striking avenue of trees and one of the finest examples of its kind, ideal for open-air walks or strolls.
A LEGACY OF ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN
Designed by Charles Sumner Greene and Henry Mather Greene, leaders of the early 20th-century Arts and Crafts movement, the rooms in Green Gables’ main house are oriented to maximize the spectacular views of the property’s celebrated gardens and grounds. This signature aspect of the Greenes—who envisioned an entire living environment as an integrated gestalt—is what has endeared them to many residential architecture enthusiasts. The estate also includes six other dwellings, each nestled in its own private setting, creating separate discrete residential enclaves. The property is also home to three swimming pools and a tennis court, further emphasizing its support of active and healthy pastimes.
THE ATTRACTIONS OF WOODSIDE AND BEYOND
One of the oldest settlements on the San Francisco Peninsula and originally a bountiful logging community, Woodside today is one of Silicon Valley’s wealthiest enclaves. The town, midway between San Francisco and San Jose, is home to many of the world’s tech billionaires.
Sand Hill Road and the center of the venture capital universe is just five minutes away and Stanford University is a 10-minute drive. Woodside also has its own horse tack store, an indication of the popularity of equine pursuits among residents. Woodside’s great outdoors includes the Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve and Wunderlich Park, both popular among horse lovers, and Skeggs Point, a magnet for mountain bikers.
Atherton, Menlo Park, and Palo Alto are among the nearby towns and cities, while nearby San Francisco International Airport offers flights to Los Angeles taking 60 minutes and New York five to six hours. The beautiful drive to the Pacific coast and the famed Half Moon Bay seaside resort takes just 25 minutes.
“The self-contained aspect of this estate with its farm-to-table gardens and private water supply as well as its size, heritage, and location in the heart of Silicon Valley are what make Green Gables such a unique offering. I am not aware of another property like it—a major landholding at the center of an incredibly valuable residential property area that fosters self-reliant and sustainable lifestyles with ready access to the abundant resources of both Silicon Valley and San Francisco. The estate offers total privacy, architectural mastery, and natural beauty yet is only a 20-minute drive from the headquarters of the biggest names in technology. While it is noted for its seclusion, Green Gables has also long been a place where notable events have been held. It has welcomed European royalty, senators, governors, congressmen and women, business leaders, and creative luminaries. In 1965, the United Nations commemorated its 20th anniversary with a gala dinner here. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to acquire a property of such size, beauty, and history.”—Dan Conn, CEO, Christie’s International Real Estate
[ Excerpt from Christie’s International Real Estate’s 2019 Luxury Edition — A curated collection of the world’s finest properties. Explore more properties here ]
