Riven Rock, Montecito

Riven Rock is a residential subdivision[1] and former country estate in the unincorporated area of Montecito, California (near Santa Barbara, California).[2]

The estate was formerly owned by the McCormick family, who purchased it in 1896 and built a large two-story Mission Revival home on the premises.[1] The name came from an oak tree which had grown out of and split a large boulder.[1] The estate was the site of the confinement of Stanley McCormick, the youngest child of Cyrus Hall McCormick and Nancy Fowler McCormick, who suffered from schizophrenia for much of his life.[1] His story was the basis of T.C. Boyle's 1998 novel Riven Rock.[2][3]

The main house was demolished after the 1925 Santa Barbara earthquake.[1] The estate was eventually subdivided, with its outbuildings sold off as separate residences.[1]

In August 2020, it was reported that Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex of the British royal family had purchased the mansion 'Chateau of Riven Rock' at Riven Rock following their decision to 'step back' as senior members of the royal family.[2] The Duke and Duchess bought it for $14.6 million from the Russian oligarch Sergey Grishin in June 2020.[2][4]