What To Do With Ranch House Once Owned By Desi Arnaz

EASTVALE (CBSLA.com) — A Spanish-style ranch house in Eastvale once owned by legendary entertainer Desi Arnaz now belongs to the Jurupa Community Services District, which is trying to decide what to do with the property.

"Ricky Ricardo" designed the Arnaz Ranch himself. The "I Love Lucy" star lived there after his marriage to Lucille Ball ended in 1960.

Last year, the Jurupa Community Services District paid $2.5 million for the 3,500-square-foot hacienda that sits on 14 acres of land.

Parks and Community Affairs Director Richard Welch gave CBS2/KCAL9's Joy Benedict a tour. "It is one of the few things left in Eastvale with some history to it," Welch said.

But the house was not built in Eastvale. Its was built in Corona on Arnaz's horse farm. "This home was modeled after his childhood home in Cuba," Welch said.

In the 80's long after Arnaz sold the home, his old horse farm was being turned into a cheese factory. That was when the previous owner had the house cut into sections, the pieces hauled across the Santa Ana River to Eastvale and the house reassembled.

The Jurupa Community Services District plans on restoring the house but has no solid plans yet on what to do with it. But Welch said there are some ideas. "We would like to be able to host parties, may be weddings."