1789 Monita Drive

1789 Monita Drive

Gray Phoenix House

1789 Monita. The Hicks / Gray Phoenix House

This home carries both memory and resilience.

For two generations, 1789 Monita was cherished by the Hicks family. Their three daughters grew up here, playing in the street with neighborhood friends — even sharing their backyard with a donkey, an unlikely gift to Bob Hicks from a grateful customer. When it came time to pass the house along, daughter Kim and her husband Bill Gray became the next stewards, with one promise: they would host Christmas every year.

Then came December 2017. The Thomas Fire swept through Hobson Heights with terrifying speed — flames leaping from hillside to hillside, embers swirling in the air. Friends, neighbors, and family fought alongside Kim and Bill, desperate to save the house. But despite their efforts, the fire claimed nearly everything.

Starting from scratch, Kim and Bill were determined not just to rebuild, but to honor what was lost. They worked to recreate the Spanish-style architecture as faithfully as possible, preserving what they could: the original tile fountain, salvaged metal light fixtures, and even installed rich pocket doors like the ones that once closed on Christmas morning. Details like the wrought iron railings were painstakingly reproduced from old photographs. The fireplace, once on the north wall of the living room, was relocated to the west to extend the views of the courtyard.

Today, the home stands as a symbol of resilience and renewal. And most importantly, the tradition continues: the pocket doors once again slide shut on Christmas Eve, waiting for the moment the family bursts through on Christmas morning. After fire and loss, the Christmases are back — filled with the same laughter, love, and legacy that this house has always held.