An Afternoon at Rancho del Cielo in California 

Sancerres at Sunset

“We’re in Ronald Reagan‘s closet,” I said to my brother, my eyes wide. “I know!” he stage-whispered, equally incredulous.

Surrounding us in the small walk-in were a few Western shirts, denim jeans, riding boots and britches, Nancy Reagan‘s red robe.

We were enjoying a private tour of Rancho del Cielo, the Reagan Ranch in California, the “Western White House” in the ’80s.

Like everything else at the Ranch, the simple closet softly whispered the strong and humble character of Ronald Reagan, an intimate portrait of what made him the greatest President in modern times.

A small shelf of mock books holds a few of the volumes that shaped Ronald Reagan’s philosophy.

From Santa Barbara, Alec drove us out the Ranch itself, much of the way up a long, steep, narrow, winding road, before finally arriving at the 688-acre property.  

A telephone-pole fence leads away from the sign; Ronald Reagan built the fence. Just beyond the house, there’s glorious Lake Lucky with a small dock; he built the dock, and the Lake.

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