When Paul and Ronda Forgette bought their Covina home 11 years ago, they had a clear vision for the place.
But that vision wasn’t realized overnight. It entailed three years of intensive remodeling and countless upgrades to the 7,238-square-foot hillside estate and its adjacent pool area. They built a barn and horse riding arena and also expanded the garage space to accommodate up to 11 vehicles and a workout room.
A total revamp
“When we moved in it was pristine, but it just wasn’t our style,” Ronda said. “It was very dated from the early 50s — sort of a ranch-style, mid-century style home. They named it ‘Castle in the Sky’ in the paperwork and we thought we needed to do something deserving of its namesake. We wanted to design it to look a little more castle-like.”
By any measure, they have succeeded. The sprawling East Lorencita Drive home and its surrounding property, now known as “Rose Gables Ranch,” casts an imposing silhouette. And it’s full of creative touches that would make virtually any home connoisseur envious.
The estate’s exterior wood siding was replaced with stone masonry and the entryways were likewise expanded outward to include turrets. Inside, the estate’s doors, door frames, window frames, ceiling beams, cabinetry and other accents were redone in dark cherry wood, giving the interior a warm and elegant feel that is somehow timeless.
And that’s just the beginning.
They converted the enclosed attic — previously accessible only by a drop-down ladder — into a second story with several rooms and an open walkway that overlooks one of the downstairs rooms. And if you’re not paying close attention, you’ll miss the tiny, fully furnished mouse house that’s built into the base of the upstairs wall. It can be seen by opening a small, rounded door.
A nod to Disney
The upstairs belfry tower is another striking feature, inspired by the Disneyland ride, “Snow White’s Scary Adventure.”
“The window is a replica of the ride … except ours is wider,” Ronda said.
Each of the home’s four themed bedrooms and 6 1/2 baths are unique. One of the bedrooms has a distinct western flair while another is set up as a bride’s dressing room. One of the bathrooms features a winter-in-Paris motif with a raised ceiling painted to look like the sky. The lush landscaping and stone walkways that surround the home add additional ambiance to the property, which boasts an expansive view of the distant San Gabriel Mountains.
“In the winter time the snow just completely covers those mountains,” Ronda said, gazing out the window. “It’s wonderful.”
One of the property’s most striking features is the pool area which has been converted into a virtual theme park in miniature. It has been upgraded to include a lazy river and multiple channels, islands, bridges and waterfalls, along with a hot tub and a tree-shaped water slide. It also features a large pool house and a full outdoor kitchen and bar. And if that wasn’t enough, there’s a rusty mining cart that appears poised to enter a deep mine shaft and a sword in the stone that can be pulled out only when released by a remote control device.
A final upgrade worth mentioning — one that’s not so much for ambience but more for practicality — is the property’s state-of-the-art security and alarm system. It ensures that the property is amply protected.
A popular film location
“Our home has been featured in a lot Hallmark and Lifetime TV movies,” Paul said. “There’s probably been about 14 different movies filmed here. A lot of them are Christmas movies.”
The home and property are visually stunning. But as impressive as the place is, the Forgette’s have put it on the market for $5.6 million.
Time to downsize
“While we were in construction all three of our kids got engaged and within six months they had all moved out,” Paul explained. “We’re mainly moving because it’s now just the two of us. We’d like to see someone really utilize the facilities. If our daughters were still around we’d stay here. But we’re still torn about it.”
That $5.6 million price tag isn’t exactly cheap. But Kimberly Olbrich of Century 21 Citrus Realty, who co-listed the property along with Geni Addicott of Coldwell Banker Top Team, says it’s a bargain for the right well-heeled buyer.
“There is no other estate nearby in Southern California that is anything of this nature,” she said. “It’s one of a kind. You are buying not just the property, but art because it really is a vision of art. You can’t replicate this. If this home was in Beverly Hills or Malibu it would be a $20 million property or more because of the size of the lot.”
Several people have expressed interest in buying the home, according to Olbrich.
“So far, the people who have shown the most interest have been movie and music producers,” she said. “There was also a potential diamond dealer from Belgium. It will probably be a star or a producer who, when they’re not on a project, wants to still be close to Hollywood.”