“Everything from the little snacks that we bring in or the cookies we deliver at night, the Calamigos wine that we curate - it's creating these little moments for you. We try to overindulge you, so you want or need for nothing, right? But really what we want you to experience is the 300 acres. We give you a map and we want you to explore, get lost. Have an experience - climb to the top of the ranch where you can see the ocean, the vineyards from ranches next door, all the way into the valley. It's so magical.”
We’re in great company with Garrett Gerson, 4th Generation Owner & Co-CEO of Calamigos Ranch, perched above the quaint city of Malibu, California amidst majestic mountains and dramatic elevations. Here the Gerson family invites guests to a different time - an all-but-forgotten lifestyle of quiet elegance and unparalleled natural beauty.
What started as a family dedicated to nurturing and preserving this land over 80 years ago, transformed into a unique opportunity for them to invite, immerse and expose guests to an untouched, and elegantly rustic lifestyle, now known for being Malibu’s premier location for wellness, community and celebration.
In this episode, Garrett shares stories of trials and triumphs, innovation and restoration, family and friends who over the years have created the extraordinary - turning moments into memories for locals and travelers alike.
Top Takeaways
[1:50] From purchasing the original 10 acres back in 1947 to now stewarding over 300 acres across the working ranch, one thing has remained the same across generations, “come as my brother, come as my friend” as was given by the Chumash name ‘Calamigos’.
[3:10] Learning from the wise words of their grandfather, Garrett and his brother have come to realize since their childhood upbringing on the ranch that “the more high-tech things get, the more high touch the experience needs to be.”
[10:10] How the Gerson family sees setbacks - such as the devastating fires that destroyed much of the ranch in the 1970’s and again in the early 2020’s, before being hit again by the global pandemic - as opportunities for reinvention, reinvestment, and renewal of the Calamigos commitment to its guests and community.
[19:00] Whether you visit with family or friends, for team building or to celebrate love, there is so much to see, sip and savor around the ranch and overlooking the views of Malibu coast.
[23:45] Dine In Good Company with Chinese-inspired and iconic American dishes and drinks, fresh from the local land, makers and purveyors, yet rooted in childhood home-cooked memories.
[26:00] The Gerson’s family motto around wellness is not about the medicine you have to take, but rather the lifestyle you live immersed in nature, and how the healthier you are, the longer you get to live and be here to enjoy it.
[27:45] How Calamigos Ranch is creating a family-focused membership club unlike many stereotypical vacation or country clubs - by being high-touch, high-experience, being with each other, immersed in nature, and making memories along the way.
