Annie Leibovitz, America’s most famous living photographer, discovered an unexpected historical connection when she purchased her 26ha home and farm in Bolinas, California, in 2019.
The property’s barn had been photographed a century ago by Ansel Adams, the country’s most famous photographer of the 20th century.
This serendipitous discovery was the perfect metaphor for Leibovitz’s acquisition of The Hideaway, according to TopTenRealEstateDeals.com.
Leibovitz is celebrated for her intimate celebrity portraits featured in Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair, and Vogue.
Her iconic work includes portraits of Mick Jagger, Adele, Queen Elizabeth II, Bruce Springsteen, The Blues Brothers, and the Barack Obama family.
Notably, her snapshot of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, taken hours before Lennon’s death, remains one of Rolling Stone’s most famous cover images.
Her photographs of Miley Cyrus marked a pivotal moment in the young singer’s career.
As the first woman to have a feature exhibition at Washington’s National Portrait Gallery, Leibovitz was declared a Living Legend by the Library of Congress.
Born in Connecticut and based in New York, Leibovitz describes herself as a “California Person.”
She purchased The Hideaway to spend more time on the West Coast, where she had majored in photography at the San Francisco Art Institute.
However, with her three adult children on the East Coast, she has decided to list the property for sale at US$8.9 million.
Dating back to the 1800s, the property has undergone more than $US2 million in improvements under Leibovitz’s ownership.
It includes a four-bedroom home, a guest house, a caretaker’s residence, and a converted garage.
A previous owner, Warren Hellman, added a recording studio and a performance venue with a banquet hall.
The equestrian-friendly property features a 30m by 60m all-weather riding arena and a top-of-the-line, seven-stall barn with exposed beams and an attached office.
The rolling hills and lush pastures are perfect for horses, cattle, or other livestock.
The property offers breathtaking views of Bolinas Lagoon, Stinson Beach, Mount Tamalpais, the Pacific Ocean, San Francisco, and the surrounding countryside.
Bolinas, located on Bolinas Bay, offers a small-town atmosphere and is only an hour’s drive north of San Francisco.
Known for its reclusive residents, the town is accessible only via unmarked roads.
The Hideaway is near bird and seal sanctuaries, botanical gardens, and kayaking and surfing spots.
The area is also home to other celebrities like director Joel Coen, actress Frances McDormand, chef Alice Waters, and Third-Eye Blind frontman Stephan Jenkins.
