SIMI HILLS, CA — If you have a few million dollars and a taste for the bizarre, the site of one of California’s most explosive cult endings is officially on the market.
In March 2026, the historic 23-acre grounds of the WKFL Fountain of the World monastery in Box Canyon were pitched to luxury buyers, a far cry from the barefoot, robed mystics who built the compound by hand 75 years ago.
The land, once the headquarters for a self-proclaimed "Jesus" named Krishna Venta, is now a prime target for celebrities and sports stars seeking a high-end "off-the-grid" escape in the rugged Santa Susana Mountains.
**The Legend of Krishna Venta
Born Francis Pencovic, Krishna Venta arrived in the Simi Hills in the late 1940s claiming to be the latest in a line of saviors. His group, WKFL (Wisdom, Knowledge, Faith, and Love), became local legends for their humanitarian work, often seen fighting the canyon’s dangerous brush fires barefoot.
However, the "Messiah" had a dark side. By 1958, rumors of sexual misconduct and financial manipulation reached a boiling point within the community.
The "Explosive" Ending
On the night of December 10, 1958, two disgruntled former members, Peter Kamenoff and Ralph Muller, walked into the monastery headquarters with 20 sticks of dynamite and three detonators concealed in a duffel bag.
The explosion was heard 20 miles away and was powerful enough to blow a neighbor a mile away out of her bed.
The blast dissolved the stone building, killing Venta, the two bombers, and seven others. It also ignited a massive brush fire that threatened the nearby Rocketdyne nuclear research facility.
Venta was so thoroughly "blown to pieces" that he had to be identified by a single piece of jawbone and his dental plate.
From Cult Site to "Xanadu" Real Estate
Fast forward to 2026, and the property now being marketed under the name "Xanadu" is listed for upwards of $4.8 million to $6.2 million, depending on the parcel configuration.
- The rocky lots that once housed dormitories and "temples" built from river rock are being rebranded as a "secure and serene compound for wellness."
- The site’s eerie history didn't end with the explosion. A decade later, Charles Manson and his "family" briefly stayed at the property with the surviving WKFL members before being kicked out and moving four miles up the road to Spahn Ranch.
- Today, the land is being flipped as a "hidden gem" estate featuring caves, a concealed waterfall, and seven residential structures that still retain the eclectic stonework of the original cult builders.
While the "explosive energy" of the 1950s remains etched into the canyon’s history, the high-end real estate market is betting that buyers will care more about the panoramic views and celebrity neighbors than the bearded mystics who met a violent end on the same soil.
Transparency notes
Published: Mar 6, 2026. No major post-publication update has been logged.
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