FROM RANCHO TO RESIDENCES: Robert McLean, former owner of the Santa Barbara News-Press, transformed the landscape of Las Fuentes Rancho into what is now one of the most exclusive residential golf communities in the world: Birnam Wood, located in foothills of Montecito, California.

McLean purchased the 223.6 acre lemon orchard in 1964 that had been processing lemons from central coast groves. He and his business partners, including realtor William W. “Pete” Sears, landscape architect Thomas D. Church, and golf architect Robert Trent Jones, Sr., created what Jones considered as the toughest short course in the United States.

The architectural firm of Warner, Morris and Wilson undertook the task of preserving and remodeling the old packing house that Chinese stone masons had hand built in 1892 from native quarried rocks. It stands as the centerpiece of the development, and is now an historical landmark.

Today the Birnam Wood Community consists of approximately 140 homes, all built around the 80-acre, 18-hole golf course.

The entire community is fenced and secure, with a 24-hour manned gatehouse built from the original packing house stones.