This gated enclave is one of Central Malibu's best-kept secrets.

Serra Retreat has a rich history. On the prominent knoll overlooking Surfrider Beach and the Malibu Colony, May Ringe planned to build a family mansion that would be unrivaled in its scale in grandeur. Nearby, she also built a tile factory, which created incredible custom tiles that can still be found throughout Malibu today.

Unfortunately, the factory burned down in 1931, and after running out of money, May Rindge had the mansion boarded up never be inhabited. A year after her death, Franciscan Friars purchased the property in 1942 and continue to run it to this day as a refuge from the busyness of city life.

The homes of Serra Retreat are equally fascinating and eloquent. Many of the sprawling compounds on exceptionally large lots are some of Malibu's most exclusive landside real estate. With two gated entrances, easy golf-cart access to the centers at Cross Creek, and a total sense of peace of privacy, Serra Retreat remains an incredible and unique escape.