Massive rock formation became indoor waterfall in Sacramento area home listed at $1.7M

In the late 1970s, massive boulders in the middle of a residential lot east of Sacramento deterred everybody from building there.

The only two choices seemed to be blowing up the ancient rock formation or building a home at the very back of the property.

Jerome Hoberg had a better idea.

“My father bought that lot that no one wanted because it had rocks in the middle,” his daughter Karen Hoberg, owner-broker of Rancho Murieta Homes and Land, told The Sacramento Bee. ”He said, ‘Yes, you can build on it,’ and then proceeded to design that house to fit into the rock outcroppings.”

So, how’d that work out? Pretty well, in fact.

The 14-foot indoor waterfall Hoberg built out of those enormous boulders is the centerpiece of the expansive Rancho Murieta home now on the market for $1.688 million.

The stunning waterfall cascades down from a formal entry into a koi pond in the living room one level below. A curved staircase is suspended over the waterfall. The water flow can be adjusted to various power levels, too. The result is dramatic.

The Hoberg family no longer lives there, but the current owners have decided to sell their one-of-a-kind, Zen-like retreat after 17 years.

The five-bedroom, six-bathroom home is the largest residence in Rancho Murieta — spanning 8,225 square feet — and sits on one of the community’s largest lots (.66 acres), said Hoberg, who is also the listing agent for the property.

Rancho Murieta is a gated community about 20 miles east of Sacramento, California.

The style of the home, built in 1983 on Guadalupe Drive, is reminiscent of Frank Lloyd Wright, one of Jerome Hoberg’s favorite architects along with Richard Neutra.

“It’s quite a feat of design, engineering and architecture,” Karen Hoberg said. “It’s like being in a museum with the art, landscaping, the rocks and the waterfalls.”

The house — with Japanese-style green ceramic roof tiles, lush landscaping and streams running down rocks — was designed to blend with the natural environment of native oaks, redwoods and outcroppings.

An expansive redwood deck and free-form pool — fed by another, outdoor waterfall — offer views of the 14th tee and fairway at the Rancho Murieta Country Club golf course.

Inside, the extraordinary architecture is supplemented by walls of glass, detailed hand-carved teak cabinetry and furniture from Thailand, redwood paneling and high-quality Van Luit wallpaper — all designed by Jerome Hoberg.

Buddhist statues, Asian artwork, hanging light fixtures from Bangkok and Zen-like spaces lend an elegant warmth and serenity to the home. The motif carries throughout the house.

“My father designed the furniture and had it built in Thailand,” Hoberg said. “It took a couple of years to put the furniture together. He had it all shipped over.”

Across from the waterfall, pond and stairway, impressive bell-shaped light fixtures from Thailand hang from the living room ceiling. The lights also adorn the master bedroom.

“The wonderful light fixtures are the same bells that are found in the (Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Bangkok),” Hoberg said.

Other elements, including heat-resistant soapstone counters in the kitchen, modern appliances and travertine flooring were added during various remodels and upgrades over the years by the sellers, who are private business people and philanthropists.

With a total of 21 rooms, the multi-level residence also features a library, sauna, three fireplaces, private office, den with a wet bar, and a fitness room.

The home is designed for entertaining. Off the gourmet kitchen is a butler’s pantry with a temperature-controlled, glass-encased wine room. The butler’s pantry leads from the kitchen to a formal dining room via a hidden door — a great set-up for hosting dinner parties.

It’s no surprise that Jerome Hoberg, who will soon turn 95 years old, was influenced by Asian art and architecture. The retired Air Force brigadier general served with medical evacuation units in Korea, and lived in Japan. He also speaks Japanese. His second career began when he studied architecture at USC. He’s designed more than 100 other homes in Rancho Murieta, Hoberg said.

For the Guadalupe Drive house, “he built it like a commercial building, so it has steel and glulam beams to be able to actually work around the rocks underneath the house,” Hoberg said. “You have to span over the rocks, so it’s built really well.”

In addition to his military and home-building careers, Jerome Hoberg flew Ronald Reagan’s airplane when Reagan was governor of California, his daughter said. He also piloted jets for Bob Hope during the comedian’s famous overseas USO tours to support and entertain members of the U.S. Armed Forces, she added.