‘High Octane’ Desert Ranch That Boasts Airplane Hangars, Racetracks, and Custom Dune Buggies Hits the Market in California for $15 Million

A “high octane” oasis tucked away in the California desert has been put on the market for $15 million, offering wealthy thrill-seekers a once-in-a-lifetime chance to snap up their very own adrenaline-inducing adult playground.

To anyone with a passion for off-road riding and racing, “Glamis Sand Dunes” are magical words. Each year, more than one million people drive their RVs to this remote location in the Imperial Valley so they can zoom around the sand in all manner of high-speed vehicles.

But there is only one private residence among the storied dunes that epitomizes this lifestyle—and that’s the 420-acre Dune Ranch, which boasts so many “thrilling” amenities that even the bravest of daredevils will be spoiled for choice.

The expansive property, which is made up of multiple buildings, including an 8,144-square-foot main house, features two enormous racetracks, multiple private runways, airplane hangars, and garages—and comes complete with a collection of rare off-roading vehicles.

It’s an adventure lover’s paradise that merges high-octane thrills with luxurious comforts, says listing agent Dug Mitchell, of Mitchell Realty. He enthusiastically enumerates the property’s myriad virtues, which are longer than a Costco shopping list for a family of eight.

The vast, ultimate desert rider destination was carefully developed in 2007 by a wealthy business tycoon who visits the sprawling estate four or five times per year, according to Mitchell.

But his friends and family, many of them NASCAR drivers and their crews, also come and go during the desert racing season, which lasts from approximately October through April.

“It’s paradise for three seasons—fall, winter, and spring. In the summer, it’s hell,” laughs Mitchell.

Where heat, wind, and sand combine, ubiquitous dust and grit result. But on this oasis, the owner has spared no expense to mitigate them.

Desert motor mecca

The new owners could virtually visit the estate every weekend for nine months of the year and not ride the same vehicle twice.

The offering includes something for every rider, young or old. It comes with 13 custom sand cars (worth upward of $150,000 each, according to Mitchell)—10 Polaris RZR RS1s, an entire garage full of kid-size Razors, quads, and riding gear—even a customized desert-riding school bus, circa 1958.

Then there are the maintenance vehicles, which most little boys dream of driving one day—there are actual theme parks where people can drive heavy equipment and push dirt around.

This place is like that. It comes with numerous tractors (Caterpillar, Massey, John Deere, Case, etc.), water trucks, Kubota utility vehicles, Kawasaki Mules, and giant water trucks.

“What are the giant water trucks for?” you may ask. They’re for watering down and compacting the two race tracks and four runways on the sandy desert plot. The tankers, as well as the entire estate, are supplied by two 350-gallon-per-minute wells.

There are also virtual warehouses full of specialty tools, parts, and machinery to maintain them all, included in the selling price. Rumor has it the elaborate Christmas decorations stored there are also part of the deal.

In addition, each sports vehicle comes with two mounted American flags, and there are hundreds more on hand to replace them if they get lost or mangled.

Desert resort accommodations

Most people who visit Glamis sleep in RVs or pitch tents; but if you’re lucky enough to get an invitation to this spread, your accommodations would be Beverly Hills-worthy.

All told, there are 10 bedrooms and 12 baths on the property, most of which are in the 8,144-square-foot main house. More can be found in the 1,223-square-foot casita; the private bungalow with two one-bedroom, one-bath units; and the caretaker’s home.

In addition, there are three luxury Arctic Fox trailers with full hookups, plus 16 additional RV hookups for sewer, water, and electricity.

The main house alone accommodates an entire tribe. A dozen of them could belly up to the bar in the spacious kitchen. Dozens more could be entertained in the 2,100-square-foot game room—all the games you see in the photos, as well as the mounted cars, are included in the asking price.

All that fancy furniture? It too comes with the place.

“There is no other place like this on earth,” summarizes Mitchell. “The owner bought the original parcel and spent years adding to it. Most of it backs up on BLM land, so it can never be duplicated.”