Our Story

A Place Where Legends Gathered

Eagle Oak Ranch was built by Ken Kragen and his wife, actress Cathy Worthington, as their private retreat from the pace of Hollywood. Kragen was a legendary entertainment manager whose clients included Kenny Rogers, Lionel Richie, The Bee Gees, Trisha Yearwood, Travis Tritt, and Harry Chapin. He was the executive producer of The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and received the United Nations Peace Medal for his humanitarian work.

But Kragen is perhaps best remembered for organizing two of the most ambitious charitable events in American history: the 1985 recording of “We Are the World”—which brought together Michael Jackson, Bruce Springsteen, Cyndi Lauper, and dozens of other artists to raise $64 million for famine relief—and Hands Across America, a human chain of 6.5 million people stretching coast to coast.

This hilltop estate was where Kragen retreated from that world. He and Cathy lived in a small apartment above the barn for nearly a decade while they designed their dream home with local architect Woody Woodruff—a Mediterranean-style villa with a wine cellar, four fireplaces, and a celestial observatory on the top floor.

“I’m an amateur astronomer,” Kragen once explained. The observatory features an electronically operated sliding roof and a professional telescope that drew astronomers from Berkeley and other universities for private stargazing events.

But it was the views that captivated him most. “Unbelievable,” he said. “You can sit on the back patio and look out for 25 miles.”

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Where Music Filled the Hills

The ranch became a gathering place for Kragen’s closest friends and clients. Kenny Rogers was a frequent guest. So was Dolly Parton. As legend has it, she and Kenny would climb to the lookout peak at sunset and sing together, their voices carrying across the golden hills. Lionel Richie visited too—musicians would gather around the campfire at the top of the property to share stories and songs under the stars.

Cathy and their daughter were accomplished equestrians, devoted to dressage and carriage driving. At its peak, the ranch was home to world-class thoroughbreds, including Preakness and Breeders’ Cup winners. The property once held over 400 horses grazing across its rolling pastures.

“When we were at the ranch with our family, we could put all of them up,” Kragen said. “We could sleep up to 23 people.”

That spirit of gathering—of family, of friends, of celebration—is woven into the land itself.

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A Search for Something Real

The property’s next chapter began with a different kind of journey.

Growing up, our family matriarch spent summers at her cousin’s ranch in Paso Robles. Those long days under oak trees, surrounded by family, left an indelible mark—the kind of memories that shape who you become.

Years later, after surviving breast cancer and losing her young husband unexpectedly, she found herself searching for something she couldn’t quite name. With two grown daughters and four grandchildren, she wanted to find a place where her family could build the same kind of memories she’d treasured as a child.

She visited property after property, looking for that je ne sais quoi. Nothing felt right—until Eagle Oak Ranch.

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Love at First Sight

The estate had fallen into disrepair. But standing on that hill, looking out at 751 acres of rolling pastures and ancient oaks, she saw what it could be. What it had been. What it would become again.

She left no stone unturned in the restoration—returning Eagle Oak Ranch to its prime while honoring the magic that made it special in the first place. The infinity pool that seems to spill into the valley. The olive orchard, now producing award-winning oil. The seven distinct gathering spaces, each with its own character and view.

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A Family Legacy

Today, Eagle Oak Ranch remains family-owned and operated. Three generations work together to welcome guests, tend the olive groves, and ensure every celebration feels as personal as the ones that inspired this journey in the first place.

We believe the best memories are made when people come together in beautiful places—unhurried, unplugged, and surrounded by the people who matter most. That’s what this land gave the Kragens. That’s what it gave our family. And it’s what we hope to share with yours.

Welcome to Eagle Oak Ranch.

The Partnership

Eagle Oak Ranch partners with Bella Vita Events to bring your celebration to life. Their team serves as our on-site specialists—guiding you from first visit to final toast with creativity, care, and meticulous attention to detail.