Whether you're an Eichler enthusiast or simply interested in Midcentury Modern architecture, Preserve Orange County's Eichler Home Tour is sure to satisfy your curiosity. While prolific builder, Joseph Eichler, has become renowned for his modernist communities in and around San Francisco, his work in Southern California is rare. In recognition of their significance, the City of Orange recently designated Orange County's only Eichler communities- Fairhaven, Fairmeadow and Fairhills- as local historic districts. Constructed between 1960 and 1964, a select collection of homes in these three tracts will be open to the public for just two short days. 

Aside from the special chance to view these private homes, this event affords an opportunity to dig deeper into just what an Eichler home is, and why this visionary developer has become known for bringing modernism to the masses. The tour will feature homes by Eichler's most preferred architectural firms- Anshen and Allen, Jones & Emmons, and Claude Oakland- and show how the current stewards of these properties are preserving these emblematic representations of Southern California living during the mid-20th century. 

Eichler Romanza Don't miss our companion event on Saturday, May 18 from 7 pm to 9:30 pm. Join Preserve Orange County at this private event to celebrate the recent landmark designation. The reception will be held at an Eichler home not open as part of the public tour. You'll mingle with Eichler homeowners and preservation supporters, while enjoying great food, drink, and musical entertainment. The evening will also feature a lively panel discussion with experts on the subjects of Joseph Eichler, modern architecture and Orange County at mid-century. Attire from the period is encouraged, but not required. Tickets for this event also include full access to the public tour. For more information about Eichler Romanza, please click here. 

Proceeds from the tour and reception will benefit the mission of Preserve Orange County, established in 2017 to promote the county's architectural and cultural heritage. To learn more about Preserve Orange County, please click here, or copy and paste www.preserveorangecounty.org into your browser.

General Tour and Ticket Information

Tour Dates: Saturday, May 18 and Sunday, May 19, 2019

Tour Times: Houses will be open from 10 am to 4 pm, both days 

**Please note: Opening hours for tour headquarters are different. Tour headquarters will be open from 9:30 am to 3 pm, both days** 

Tour Location:  You'll begin the tour at our Tour Headquarters, 850 E Chapman Avenue, in Orange. The building is called the Fairbairn Professional Building and it's located at the corner of Chapman Avenue and Cambridge. There, you'll be given a tour booklet and directions to the houses. If you don't purchase your tickets online in advance, you may purchase tickets at the Tour HQ on both days of the event, while tickets are still available. 

There are 7 tour houses in total. All 7 will be open on both days of tour weekend. Your ticket gives you access to the houses on both days. The houses are spread out between 3 neighborhoods (Fairhaven, Fairhills and Fairmeadow), and the neighborhoods are a 5 to 10 minute drive from each other. Within each neighborhood, you may park and walk between houses. The tour booklet you receive at Tour Headquarters will contain a map with directions. 

Tour Booklet: Although knowledgeable docents will be available at each of the houses, the tour is self-guided. The tour booklet is your guide to the architecture, history, and conservation of the Orange Eichlers.  The tour booklet is also your 'ticket' to view the houses. Each visitor who is 16 years old and over must show their tour booklet before being admitted inside a house. 

Tour Accessibility:  Due to their dates of construction, the houses on the tour are not ADA accessible.

Animal Policy:  The tour sites are private residences, therefore neither service animals nor pets are allowed inside the houses on the tour. 

Younger Guest Policy: Guests aged 16 years old and over must have a ticket in order to gain admission. Children 6 years old and under must be held by the hand inside the tour houses. 

Tickets: Tickets should be purchased online in advance of the tour. You can also purchase tickets in person at tour headquarters on the weekend of the tour. When you purchase a ticket, you'll receive an email that contains a barcode. You must present this email with barcode to Preserve Orange County staff at the tour headquarters on the day of the tour in order to receive a tour booklet. Paper tickets will not be circulated. To gain admission to houses on the tour, each visitor must show their tour booklet.

Ticket Prices

General Admission: $60  Ticket provides both Saturday and Sunday access to all houses on the public tour. 

Guests aged 16 years old and over must purchase a ticket. 

Member Admission: $45  Become a member of Preserve Orange County today, and receive generous discounts for our events. Membership fees begin as low as $25. Membership may be purchased or renewed here.  Upon joining or renewing your membership, you will receive two emails. The first will appear automatically and contain a receipt. The second email will contain the special code. Please note that the second email is not automated. It is sent from our office, so it may not land in your inbox right away. When buying your Eichler Home Tour ticket, select Member Admission and use your code to unlock the $15 discount. 

Preserve Orange County is a registered non-profit and tax-exempt charity founded in 2017 to support the conservation of our county's architectural and cultural heritage.

Student Admission: $45  Please email preserveoc@gmail.com and include your name, school name and student number. Preserve Orange County will email you back a student discount code. When buying your home tour ticket, select Student Admission and use your code to unlock the $15 discount. 

Eichler Owner Admission: $45  If you're an owner or resident of an Eichler house, select this ticket category, provide your home address, and the $15 discount will be available to you. A maximum of 4 tickets available. 

AIA-OC Admission: $45  If you're a member of the Orange County chapter of the American Institute of Architects, you may purchase tickets at this reduced rate and earn learning units by attending the tour. 

Backdoor Pass: $25  If you have limited time, the Backdoor pass allows you to avoid queues by providing express access to all homes on the public tour. The Backdoor pass is only valid with purchase of General Admission, Preserve Orange County Member Admission tickets or Cocktail Reception ticket. 

Cocktail Reception, Eichler Romanza: $150/$95/$75  There are three ticket categories for this special evening event, to be held on Saturday, May 18, from 7 pm to 9:30. For $150, you get access to the home tour and the evening reception. For $95, you get access to the evening reception only. And for $75, you get access to the evening reception with the purchase of four or more tickets. 

VIP Package:  $185  A $200 value, the VIP Package is for those who want to do it all. Includes a ticket to the home tour and to the evening cocktail reception ($150), a Backdoor Pass ($25), and membership in Preserve Orange County (Individual category $25). For more information about Preserve Orange County and membership benefits, please click here.

MaxLove Project Family Day: FREE  On Sunday, May 19 from 10 am to 4 pm, local children's charity, the MaxLove Project, will provide family-friendly activities in Eichler houses on the tour route. (Please note: children participating must be accompanied by an adult over 16 years of age who has purchased a ticket.)