For sale: $999,000
It’s the kind of home the neighbors love to talk about. One says she saw John Lennon on the patio a number of times. Others say even Bob Dylan was a frequent guest.
“I’ve been hearing more and more stories from the neighbors, as well as the previous Realtor,” said listing agent Jo O’Key. “There’s been quite a slew of names that went through it.”
The Hollywood Hills home is perched far above the city lights in the pocket neighborhood of Laurel Canyon, and it’s the views and the privacy that has attracted a long list of celebrity owners and guests. There are 90-something stairs that lead to the front door, says O’Key.
“You have to purposefully go there,” she said. “It makes sense they went up there for privacy.”
Actor John Compton purchased and built the home in 1961. Compton moved out from Tennessee and worked his way into the industry. He was best known for his 1947 role in “Jesse James Rides Again,” and the 1959 TV series “The D.A’s Man.” The home he had built emphasized the treehouse feeling of the property with dark woods, wall-sized windows and numerous decks.
The decks are the starring feature of the home. Each level of the home has one, including one off the bedroom, a private lower level deck and then an enormous entertaining deck with sweeping views of the entire city below.
Compton sold the home in 1977 to Elliot Mintz, a friend and spokesman for John Lennon and Yoko Ono, as well as a media consultant and publicist for Bob Dylan, Crosby Stills and Nash, Diana Ross, Paris Hilton and more. It was during Mintz’s ownership of the home — from 1977 to 1989 — that neighbors noticed the star-studded parties.
“Yoko stayed there for a period of time,” said O’Key. “John Lennon was a guest there from time to time. When you stand on the deck, it’s funny to say the words out loud — ‘I’m standing where John Lennon stood.’ You can imagine him writing there.”
Later on, another celebrity — an Olympic gold medalist — bought the home in 2006. Property records confirm the owner to be swimmer Ian Thorpe, who, like the previous residents, was attracted to the privacy and the views.
But Thorpe is now based in another country — and although he loves the home, he isn’t home to enjoy it, says O’Key. Previously he rented the 2-bedroom hideaway but now is ready to sell.
Laurel Canyon has been home to a number of celebrities. Jim Morrison once had his own hideout there, and reportedly members of The Mamas and the Papas, as well as Carole King and Brian Wilson also lived in the neighborhood.
The monthly payment on this slice of history is $3,854, calculated with Zillow’s mortgage calculator and assuming a 20 percent down payment on a 30-year mortgage.
See more photos of the home on Zillow here.
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Erika Riggs, a real estate writer for Zillow Blog, covers celebrity real estate, unusual properties and home design trends. Read more of her work here.