"Mikie's Fun House"

I lived there and entertained and learned about how life can be lived in a place other than a miniature apartment, and planned the ultimate place to live. This was the first, version 1.0, and the next version was going to be even better.

Thus began the search for a such a place. In all of Southern California, only one such place existed, and it was found on a private airport, shared by only about a dozen homeowners, in the desert east of San Diego. It was, when purchased in 1994, simply an airplane hangar, but of sufficient size, and with zoning that also allowed it to be used as a residence.

It was immediately improved to support life as well as aircraft, and I lived there for a year to take the measure of the place, and the moods of the desert. Then a major renovation was started to upgrade the place to a truly unique, first class home that would fulfill the fantasy of "Mikie's Fun House".

The main complex consists of a 4-car attached garage on the left, the main two story hangar/home in the center, and a walled-in pool and patio area on the right.

Visitors enter the home through the main double gate in the walled-in pool/patio area, are invited into the courtyard, which is thoroughly shaded with trees to the right and left, and on the far side of the courtyard two more trees, with a hammock hanging lazily between them. Between the entryway, and the far wall of the courtyard is a 45' lap pool, with Jacuzzi, and a waterfall at the far end to the right. The entire pool is surrounded with lush vegetation in tiered and walled gardens.

The visitor is escorted past the pool, and around to the left, under the long shade structure attached to the home, and into the living quarters through double French doors. The first stop is the kitchen and breakfast area that overlooks the pool and gardens. Walking through the kitchen, and another set of double French doors, the visitor enters the massive 3000 s.f. Great Room, with its 16' high ceiling. The front part of this room is for the Waco biplane, and the Ferrari, and the Scaglietti, a rare old Corvette with a hand built Italian body, of which only 3 were made.

(click to enlarge)

All sections of the Great Room have views of the desert and the mountains beyond through 4 massive 4' x 8' windows in a huge 50' wide bifold door that raises to allow the plane and cars access to the outside world.

There are other sections of the home that are more private. A guest bedroom is on the second floor, has its own fireplace and master bathroom, and a balcony that overlooks the Great Room below. A great place to have a morning cup of coffee and enjoy the view.

The second floor also features a Pub, which has special observation windows looking into the Great Room, and a balcony that offers completely unobstructed views of the Great Room. Also on the second floor is a small communications center that houses the central security alarm systems, the telephone PBX, the central computer network file server, and the main controls for the rooftop weather system that feeds displays of winds, temperature, humidity, etc. to every TV in the home).

Another guest bedroom is on the first floor, with fireplace, and double French doors to the patio and leading out to the walled-in back yard, with its shade trees, lawn, and gardens.

From the Pub on the second floor, there is a stairway leading to the roof deck, which is the highest point in the entire valley, and the view is spectacular. Another hammock is set up here for sleeping under the stars. The sky photo shown was taken at dawn from the rooftop deck.

Mikie's Fun House is the scene for at least one large P A R T Y every year, in the Spring, when the desert is in full bloom and the climate is at its most temperate. The property is in the middle of California's largest state park, so there is more hiking and 4 wheeling, and exploring than you could do in a lifetime. Aviators fly in from all over the area, and many offer free rides to party guests before taking the day off to enjoy the pool, and the many other toys and diversions of this landmark resort/home.

An example of the spare-no-expense focus on details is the 4 car garage, selected for the cover of a book showing "How to Design and Build Your Auto Workshop" (above). This fabulous fantasy home was sold in April 2003.