New Thomas Mountain Ranch community in Anza ideal for equestrians, hikers

Families looking for a country home where they can have space, breathe fresh air, and have room to ride horses or hike for miles with unfettered views, should look at the options at the new Thomas Mountain Ranch (TMR) in Anza.

Located at the base of Thomas Mountain, this location remains a bit of untouched nature in Southern California where the heart can still dare to dream. Yet, it is not far from unique shopping and dining experiences that can be found in neighboring areas like Temecula's Wine Country, Palm Desert, or the rustic mountain community of Idyllwild.

The 265-acre parcel of land that is now TMR has an interesting past. The new housing community is the dream child of Greg Burnet and Cindy Barker and it is nestled upon land once set aside by the U.S. government for a railroad that never ended up traveling through the area.

Close to the headway to Bautista Canyon, the valley was once known as the Cahuilla Plain/Valley until the 1900s and, named after the local tribe, meets the edge of the TMR development. It is a part of the once-popular mission trail from Sonora, Mexico, to Alta (Northern California) California's Monterey beach. The trail was known only to the native population until the mid-1700s when it was explored and made famous by Spanish explorer Juan Bautista de Anza. When the area received its first post office in 1926, the valley was renamed in Anza's honor.

Unlike today's "Deed of Trust" held by landowners, the Thomas Mountain Ranch acreage was marked Land Patent #110, signed and executed by the U.S. President at that time. It has had only two owners since the acreage was granted title on March 17, 1871 by an Act of the United States Congress; a railroad company and the TMR group.

When Burnet and Barker purchased the 265-acre parcel, it still had its wild, natural beauty, since the rail company owners before never bothered to develop it. It boasts a wealth of unique and diverse native flora and fauna that the TMR group has gone to great lengths to preserve.

With this in mind, TMR was created as a low density 46-home development. It is planned with homes clustered on a part of the 265-acres leaving a jointly owned open area for recreation. Its two- to four-acre home sites, with 2,000-plus square foot Mission style house plans, are arranged for the best use of the land's topography and the preservation of native foliage. TMR developers say this is to insure pride of ownership.

Homes are arranged on their individual lots to create a feeling of privacy. Many sites boast beautiful views of the valley and surrounding mountains. If a visitor comes at dusk and sits on a hill, they can experience the quiet of the day and watch the spectacular Anza sunset. After dark, a clear, starry sky will appear above. At TMR, no two places are exactly alike, yet each has a high standard of style with a great attention to detail.

TMG developers, with an eye toward land preservation, have established a nursery with almost 10,000 native plants that residents can plant to reestablish the native species. The dream is to create a low-maintenance park-like setting with a low water use. Each home site also allows for a second unit that could include vineyards, horses, barns, additional garages, or whatever the new owner desires.

There are developed common use areas within the TMR community. They include covered patios, tennis courts, and a planned equestrian arena with trails available on the remaining open acreage for horseback riding, hiking, or other recreational uses.

To learn more about Thomas Mountain Ranch, visit www.tmranza.com or call (951) 763-2167.