Buyers are now eager to get away from it all in Frank Sinatra style. They’re flying in on helicopters and private jets to take a look at the legendary entertainer’s custom-built mountain retreat, perched above the Coachella Valley. It’s now back on the market for $4,250,000.

Although the 7.5-acre estate in Palm Desert, CA, has been on and off the market for years, “The property and the market are now in alignment,” says the listing agent, Markus Canter of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices.

Canter noted that potential buyers are coming in from Seattle, Austin, and New Jersey, to name just a few locations, and there’s even been interest from as far away as England and Italy.

The appeal—in addition to the fact that Ol’ Blue Eyes built this place for his personal enjoyment and left his indelible stamp on it—is obvious to anyone who follows the real estate market.

Buyers are looking to escape crowded and stressful city centers and find tranquil escapes where the air is clean and the views are phenomenal—where working from home feels more like a vacation.

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Canter says that the estate, christened Villa Maggio by Sinatra, has the added advantage of being only about a 20-minute drive down the mountain to the shops and restaurants of Palm Desert. The drive from some parts of Los Angeles is a little over two hours.

“While you feel as if you’re miles away, everything you need is easily and quickly accessible,” says Canter.

Of course, once you arrive at what Sinatra created as his own private luxury resort, you’ll be reluctant to leave.

After an extensive search for the ideal location, Sinatra bought the property in 1967, and completed his own private utopia in 1970. He intended it to be a place where he could relax and entertain pals, fellow celebrities, and even international royalty.

With its five-bedroom main house, three-bedroom guesthouse, and one-bedroom pool house, the house sleeps 16 adults, or eight couples, according to the agent.

Guests can arrive by car (there’s parking for over 20 autos) or helicopter, since the property comes with a helipad. The helipad is currently not permitted, but it could be brought up to date, should a buyer so desire.

There’s plenty to keep friends and family entertained once they arrive. They can hike the property and the nearby National Forest trails, lounge about by the resort-style pool, or play a few sets of tennis on the fully lighted, professional-grade court.

Or they can gather around the fire in the evening, telling stories and enjoying an adult beverage.

Guests’ appetites can be accommodated by the restaurant-quality kitchen, which has an island and three stainless-steel refrigerator/freezers.

Most of the bedrooms are luxurious guest suites and with their own bathrooms. In all, there are nine bedrooms and 12.5 bathrooms on the property. Some suites, including the master suite, have fireplaces as well as balconies or adjacent decks.

With nine fireplaces on the property, guests are always able to warm themselves when it gets cold. Although the desert is currently sizzling, it does snow in the mountains, and residents often enjoy a white Christmas, according to Canter.

Other luxe features include an art studio, an elegant office, media room, gym, library, home theater, and an inviting lounge with a custom bar.

The current owners, collectors of antiques and art, have spent quite a bit of time and effort to update the house, and to restore and renovate, rather than remodel. Canter says it was important to them to keep the architecture pure and authentic to Sinatra’s designs, noting that wood, stone and other natural materials were sourced locally. All those features remain.

Sinatra enjoyed the rustic retreat for 14 years with his fourth wife, Barbara. It was eventually donated to Loyola Marymount University, then sold to a private buyer.

Buyer interest in Villa Maggio is no surprise, given the number of folks now looking for space to spread out. Whoever makes the winning offer will doubtless remember 2021 as a very good year.

By Lisa Johnson Mandell
Jun 17, 2021

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