Historic 43-Acre Bible College Up For Sale In Murrieta

MURRIETA, CA — An iconic and historic 43-acre site in Murrieta is up for sale.

The Murrieta Hot Springs Christian Conference Center and Bible College Campus located at 39401 Murrieta Hot Springs Road has hit the market, according to The Hoffman Company, which has the listing and said no sales price has been set.

"We will let the market price it, though we would expect interest in the $50 million range," according to a statement from the brokerage firm.

The church’s decision to sell the historical landmark "was prompted by a shift in focus for the church, only exacerbated by the closure of its facilities since last March under COVID-19 restrictions," according to The Hoffman Company, which announced its representation on Thursday.

As a condition of the sale, CCBC will remain on the Murrieta campus until the end of the spring semester, allowing leadership time to actively seek a new facility for the start of the 2021–2022 academic year, according to church officials, who in November announced the intention to sell the property.

“Educating Christians for the future remains a key strategy, and the Bible college is central to that mission. We are committed to supporting and developing CCBC in the future, including finding them a new home," said Jordan Taylor, executive pastor for the organization.

“In this new season, we believe the Lord is directing us to new strategies in equipping His people and advancing the Gospel,” said CCCM senior pastor Brian Brodersen. “For many years, large-scale conferences were an effective tool for us in achieving that vision. The COVID-19 pandemic restrictions have forced us to take a hard look at our three conference centers in Southern California and prayerfully seek to better steward our resources.”

First developed into a luxury health retreat in 1902, the site was a resort that attracted locals, travelers and celebrities lured to natural hot springs in the area. In 1908, California Hotel was completed at the site, and much of the original architecture remains today.

More accommodations were erected over the years, but in the 1980s the property fell into disrepair then came back to life in 1995 when Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa purchased the site for $6.5 million and invested $38 million to restore, upgrade and expand it into a Christian conference retreat center and Bible College Campus.

“This is one of the most remarkable properties available today in the Inland Empire,” said Hoffman's Justin Esayian, who is handling the sale. “Given its unique history, the scale, scope and excellent condition of its facilities and the beautiful landscaping, we expect a lot of interest from a broad range of potential buyers, including educational, medical, hospitality, religious and senior housing organizations.”

The gated campus is zoned for civic or institutional land use and is offered in its current condition. It features approximately 279,000 square feet of infrastructure, including 38 buildings, a dozen lodges with 248 rooms. It can accommodate up to 1,200 overnight guests, and has two large auditoriums, two commercial kitchens and dining halls. There are classrooms, meeting spaces, administrative offices and 741 parking spaces.

The grounds are manicured with walkways meandering through landscaping, a small lake and numerous outdoor recreational amenities including nine tennis courts and a newly renovated sports field. The tennis courts are leased by the Murrieta Tennis Club.

Original to the property are the hot springs that feed into a large pool. There are also five soaking spots and a Roman spa, Esayian said.

“Part of what makes this property so special are all the uses and improvements you get in one place: natural hot springs, the ability to lodge large numbers of guests, numerous indoor and outdoor meeting and dining spaces, recreational amenities and all within a mature, lush and beautifully manicured setting,” Esayian continued.

It is expected that some prospective buyers will want to redevelop all or part of the site into new housing with mixed-use retail, while others may be interested in repurposing the existing campus, Esayian explained.

“The ideal buyer is someone who will purchase the property in its current, as-is condition,” he said. “This is a turn-key campus that has everything in place to operate a university or boarding school. Several private universities have shown interest including nursing schools, which would lean on the large presence of medical services in Murrieta and Temecula.”

The natural hot springs, soaking pools and recreational facilities make the property ideal for senior housing or long-term rehabilitative care, Esayian said, and converting the property back to a resort with a wellness focus would be a clear fit for a hospitality operator.

Various religious organizations and churches have also shown interest in acquiring the site to serve as global or regional headquarters, and to serve K-12 schooling and higher education, according to Esayian.

“Whether the property remains educational or religious in purpose or is reimagined as something completely different, it’s a serene setting in one of the fastest-growing job markets in the state that can easily be accessed from anywhere across Southern California,” Esayian added.

Interested buyers can contact Justin Esayian at 949-705-0921 or jesayian@hoffmanland.com.