Also could that president's ranch have been down where I now live--Santa Barbara/Santa Ynez Valley?
Yes, well, it's highly likely.
A lovely drive up in the mountains with (AIR) a nondescript iron gate entrance on a curve in the road which is (or was) lined with trees and underbrush?
I'll add that I was amazed (being, at the time, from New England) how one could go from the warm beaches of Santa Barbara up into the mountains and having to pass a road grader which was moving snow. It was more interesting being on a m/c and not adequately dressed for this!
Cresting a mountain top and seeing the spread of open desert below added to the days ride. I used Solvang as an end point before returning to S.B. (that route being another experience since I followed my nose instead a map).
You live in a beautiful area.