Notes from the host
Green Hill Ranch in Newcastle
Perfect for family reunions, friend gatherings, private or corporate retreats, and birthday and holiday celebrations. Also, a great place to house the guests of the bride/groom attending one of the local wedding venues!
Amidst the rolling hills and dramatic Sierra Foothills, this spacious turn-of-the-century 4,100 sq ft home on five rustic acres is within walking distance from Folsom Lake. Located in Newcastle, California, this historical home has a classic veranda with swings, rocking chairs, and outdoor dining space. This property sleeps 12-18 comfortably in beds (plus another 5-10 people on air mattresses) and is air-conditioned for comfort throughout the summer months. The Victorian farmhouse features charming European style throughout, with plenty of comfortable reading nooks and quiet spaces along with five fireplaces (non-working). The main sitting room has a classical piano with plenty of seating, and the billiard room has a gorgeous vintage pool table and plenty of kid's games.
Green Hill Ranch is a place where time stands still. It's like stepping into a Norman Rockwell painting. Much of the furniture is over 100 years old, and the home has a timeless elegance. Once you have experienced its rustic charm, you will want to return again and again.
Included in this rental is the Victorian farmhouse, or 'Main House', which has four bedrooms and three bathrooms. The master bedroom has a king bed, and the other three bedrooms have one set of twin beds, each for a grand total of seven beds. Two twin beds can be strapped together to make a king-size bed if that configuration is more conducive to your needs upon request. A crib, pack-n-play and portable high-chair are also available upon request. These requests need to be made prior to your visit, so the caretaker knows to have them ready. We have five adult sleeping bags, four children's sleeping bags, and two queen-sized air mattresses, two twin air mattresses, plus blankets and pillows for everything. The master bedroom and the back bedroom have a private full bathroom. Two of the bedrooms are adjoining and share a bathroom. The TV room has a sleeper sofabed, cable DirectTV, a Roku and a VHS/DVD player. The library has plenty of cozy chairs for reading and a desk for doing work. The kitchen is well equipped with a microwave, dishwasher, Mr. Coffee and Keurig coffeemakers, tea kettle, rice cooker, pancake griddle, waffle iron, crockpot, pots/pans, Alhambra cold/hot water dispenser, paper towels, hand towels, dish soap, garbage bags, and more. We also have a second full size refrigerator/freezer in the basement for guests to use.
Also included in this rental is the bungalow, or 'Honeymoon Cottage' as it's called, which has a bedroom with a king bed and a sitting room with two twin size beds , two chairs, a small Wi-Fi enabled Smart TV, a mini refrigerator, Alhambra cold/hot water dispenser, and a Keurig coffee/tea station. This cottage has a small bathroom with a shower but no kitchen.
If your group needs additional sleeping quarters or use of the commercial teaching kitchen, the entire 'Caretaker Cottage' may be available on special request for an extra fee of $225/night. It has one bedroom with a queen bed, another bedroom with two twin beds, one bathroom, and a beautiful renovated commercial teaching kitchen.
The property has a full regulation tennis court, two pickleball courts, an informal half basketball court, ping pong table, and horseshoe pit. If you are serious about tennis, pickleball or ping-pong, you may want to bring your personal rackets or paddles, although we do have older ones.
The large swimming pool has a 'springy' diving board and is sparkling clean and inviting. There's a separate pool house with his/her changing areas, a bathroom, and an outdoor shower. There are plenty of umbrellas around the pool, comfortable seating, a large dining table, gas fire-pit, pool towels, some pool toys, and floats, including some child-friendly flotation devices. Still, you may want to bring any favorite water toys and plenty of sunscreen. You may request to have a professional masseuse come to the property for a lovely massage, poolside or anywhere else on the property.
Take a stroll through the working fruit orchard. Depending on the time of year, enjoy multiple varieties of almond, apple, apricot, cherry, grapefruit, lemon, lime, nectarine, orange, peach, pear, persimmon, plum, tangerine, and more! You and your family can pick your own fresh fruit off the tree. You can even take a box home with you. In the summer, you can pick fresh berries to your heart's delight. When our vegetable or herb garden is producing, feel free to pick some fresh produce for one of your meals during your stay.
Folsom Lake is only a few minutes down the road from the ranch, and you can rent horses and boats. It's a short drive to old town Auburn if you'd like to experience gold rush history along with fine dining, antique shops, and boutiques. Nearby, there are horse stables, riding trails, wineries, golf courses, whitewater rafting, water-skiing, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, and camping. Lake Tahoe and its nearby ski resorts are just over an hour away, and San Francisco is only a couple of hours away.
Note: We do NOT allow any weddings or large events on our property at this time. However, Newcastle Wedding Gardens and Red Horse Barn and The Flower Farm in Loomis are great local venues that several of our guests have used. We can then host any of your guests at our property (like the bride's or groom's family, or even the wedding party), who may need a place to stay or want to stay together as a group.
