Robert A. Daly is a prominent American media executive who served as chairman and co-CEO of Warner Bros. from 1980 to 1999. Alongside his longtime partner Terry Semel, Daly reinvented the legacy studio into a global entertainment powerhouse, overseeing the production of over 400 major films (including Oscar winners Chariots of Fire, Driving Miss Daisy, and Unforgiven) and hit television series (Friends and ER).
His home in Calabasas, Calif., a 19-acre horse ranch known as Oaktree Ranch, was put on the market in 2023 but saw no activity at its original $25 million price tag. In late 2024, it was reduced to just under $20 million and its present state of ownership is unknown.
Nonetheless, the 7,500-square-foot manor house and its surrounding 19 acres remain as photogenic as ever.
The property, at 715 Crater Camp Drive, is easily reachable from the area’s most familiar points of origin: Burbank, Simi Valley, and Thousand Oaks. Regardless of their point of destination, visitors will, upon arriving, know they’re somewhere special.
The inside décor is rustic, an appropriate aesthetic for a ranch. Its design makes extensive use of wood and other natural materials. The Great Room is a perfect example, blending different tones and textures but unifying them under an earthy palette.
The reverse shot of the great room shows more of the unobstructed traffic flow to the dining room and beyond.
The kitchen has been designed to bring in plenty of natural light to aid in cooking and other meal-prep tasks. After dark, the upscale lighting fixtures can do the job.
The dining room, conveniently close to the kitchen, also benefits from windows that provide excellent views of the property outside. Their ambiance creates a relaxing and beautiful setting for gathering around the table.
The transition from the first floor to the second is seamless, as the staircase has also been fashioned in the natural material from below. The embedded bookcase not only furthers the use of wood from the first floor, but it also provides plenty of storage.
At the top of the stairs, a simple but elegant light fixture ensures the safety of those traversing the steps. A spacious office is handily adjacent.
The master suite is roomy, quiet, and luxurious. The slanted ceiling makes for a unique architectural touch.
The master bathroom could well be a film set in a biopic about a fortunate millionaire. It’s an archetype of a place where pampering is always a priority.
Captains of industry need a wardrobe befitting a corporate superstar. All those shirts, shoes, ties, and other essentials need a place for organized, clean, and easily accessed storage. The master suite’s closet checks all those boxes.
Despite its tony amenities, Oaktree Ranch is an operating site for livestock. Serving the needs of animals that may be onsite is a barn with spacious stalls.
For the exercise, grooming and training of horses, a full-size corral is nearby.
A different kind of equine engagement is possible on the riding path that winds its way across the property.
Because Daly was as interested in raising chickens as he was horses, he had the property outfitted with a chicken coop. Of course, no ordinary henhouse would do. This one is appropriately posh for poultry.
Not all the grounds are ceded to animals. Trading the racket of the livestock for a tennis racket is an easy swap at the onsite tennis courts.
An artistically augmented pool is also on hand, providing a cool escape from the Southern California heat.
Potential purchasers interested in more details about Oaktree Ranch, 715 Crater Camp Drive, Calabasas, Calif., can find them at Realtor.com and Redfin.
