A Journey Through Reagan Country
the restaurant, and I was The Foundation’s good at it. I realized I had private preservation eagan ounTry our a knack. You do it yourself of the home allows a if you think you have a tour unobstructed by M c c onnell ’ s I ce c reaM shot at it, and that’s what velvet ropes or throngs 201 West Mission Street happened.” He became of tourists, inviting a Santa Barbara, California a restaurant manager, sense that the man could (805) 569-2323 and later opened the walk in at any moment. www.mcconnells.com Village Grill in Montecito, The surrounding land, featuring a menu of too—all 688 acres of Fess Parker’s DoubleTree resorT esorT Florida-style Caribbean his ranch—have been 633 East Cabrillo Boulevard Santa Barbara, California food. It closed after three meticulously preserved. (805) 564-4333 months. He called his ranch an www.fessparkersantabarbarahotel.com “open cathedral,” a place “People didn’t like it,” from which he gathered said Mr. Boxer. “People The nuggeT his strength, and it’s wanted simplicity and 2318 Lillie Ave impossible to visit without value. I shut the doors Summerland, California understanding exactly of Village Grill on a (805) 969-6135 what he meant. Wednesday, and two JeDlIcka’s saDDlery The President made days later we reopened as 2605 De La Vina Street a lasting impression on Palazzio.” Santa Barbara, California our nation and the world, Despite the havoc of (805) 687-0747 including the countless suddenly preparing Italian www.jedlickas.com Californians he would cuisine almost overnight, meet during his time in the restaurant has become FIresTone VIneyarDs and around Santa Barbara. an institution in Santa 5000 Zaca Station Road His vision, values, and Barbara, known for ample Los Olivos, California (805) 688-3940 lasting accomplishments portions and the selfwww.firestonewine.com live on in the Reagan serving wine station. The Ranch Center on State pride of the establishment PalazzIo Street, at the Ranch home remains the Presidential 1026 State Street he loved, and in the stories Tiramisu, served to Reagan Santa Barbara, California told by the community and his staff at his Los (805) 564-1985 members and business Angeles office on February www.palazzio.com owners he inspired. His 25, 1994, during one of own love of the Golden Mr. Boxer’s visits with the State is, however, best President. A congratulatory summarized in his own letter with a picture of words: Reagan hangs at the “During the eight years entrance, and the owner we lived in the White is renowned for regaling House…I never stopped guests with stories of the Rancho del Cielo missing California… President. California, I like to say, For those lucky enough isn’t a place, it’s a way of life.”1 to visit, perhaps no place in the world meticulously preserved by Young better epitomizes the life and spirit America’s Foundation exactly the 1 R Reagan, Ronald. An American Life. (New of Ronald Reagan than his majestic way Reagan kept it, from the books York: Simon and Shuster, 1990), 389. Rancho del Cielo, still waiting for its lining the walls and the hat resting by absent owner on the sun-crowned the door to the “Liberty Bell” shower hills of the Santa Ynez Valley. The head in the bathroom and jar of surprisingly modest ranch has been jellybeans in the living room.
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Young America’s Foundation | Libertas | 15th Reagan Ranch Anniversary Issue
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