By ,
Published February 02, 2017
Time to downsize? The Dude abides.
Actor Jeff Bridges, known to fans of a certain age as Jeff "the Dude" Lebowski, is selling his family's 19.5-acre estate in Montecito, Calif., for $29.5 million, according to his wife, Susan Bridges.
Mrs. Bridges says the property includes a more than 9,500-square-foot, five-bedroom, five-bathroom Tuscan-inspired home built in 1988, a music recording studio, guesthouses, a small vineyard, a greenhouse for orchids and her husband's aloe tree collection.
"Jeff and his beloved aloe trees," she mused. "They look like Dr. Seuss plants and require very little water."
The couple, who have been married for 38 years, bought the property in 1994 from musician Kenny Loggins and his then-wife, Eva, according to Mrs. Bridges and public records. A spokesperson for Mr. Loggins confirmed that he sold the property to the Bridges and was responsible for much of the design, including antique tiles from Italy and a stone fireplace mantel.
Mrs. Bridges, 62, said the property has served as the couple's primary home, where they raised their three daughters. The grounds include what she calls Mr. Bridges' "fort" -- a quiet spot with a hammock, swings and benches, where he occasionally makes pottery. Walking trails lead to a nearby natural hot spring and the property overlooks Montecito and the Channel Islands. A recirculating creek appears to flow into a pool near the home.
While living at the home, Mr. Bridges, 65, worked on many of his best known films, including "The Big Lebowski," "True Grit" and "Crazy Heart," for which he won the 2010 Academy Award for Best Actor. He has recorded some of his own songs at the home's music studio, Mrs. Bridges said. Mr. Bridges was unavailable for comment, because he is currently filming the action-thriller "Comancheria."
They are selling because their daughters, who went to schools in the area, are grown and they have bought a smaller home in the area. They also own a ranch in Montana, Mrs. Bridges said.
The listing agent, Suzanne Perkins of Sotheby's International Realty, said it is rare to find a property of this size for sale in the affluent Montecito area, where listings are usually less than 3 acres. This is the first time the couple have listed the home, she said.
https://www.foxnews.com/real-estate/actor-jeff-bridges-lists-montecito-estate-for-29-5-million