Joni Mitchell’s Former Malibu Beach Retreat Hits the Market for $27 Million

Music legend Joni Mitchell‘s former Malibu beach house has been put on the market for $26.99 million—listing for the first time in nearly 40 years.

The property was custom-designed for the “Big Yellow Taxi” singer, who purchased beachfront land in the early 1980s, then commissioned acclaimed architect Ron Goldman to craft her perfect retreat, according to information shared with Realtor.com®.

Mitchell later sold the property in 1988 to a Walt Disney Company board director, in whose family it has remained. Now, they are ready to give someone new the chance to own the “truly exceptional offering,” which is located in the exclusive Malibu Colony enclave and features several rare amenities that likely could not be replicated today.

Those include a “grandfathered pool and spa” that are nestled in an enormous backyard deck overlooking Colony Beach, offering incredible—and completely unobscured—ocean views.

Because of updated coastal regulations, these features “would be extraordinarily difficult to recreate today,” according to a statement shared by Joyce Rey of Coldwell Banker Realty, who is co-listing the property with her colleague, Nanette Iggulden, as well as Jody Katz and Leona Katz of Estates and Trusts Realty.

“This property is magnificent in every respect, from its refined architectural design and beautifully considered interiors to its rare beachfront amenities and irreplaceable Malibu setting,” said Rey.

“The grandfathered pool and spa would be extraordinarily difficult to recreate under today’s coastal regulations, making this a truly exceptional offering within the luxury coastal market.”

To take full advantage of the incredible beach views, the Cape Cod-inspired abode features a wall of windows on the beachfront side of the property, which not only turn the vistas into a living work of art, but also help to fill the living spaces with natural light.

“Sun-filled interiors blend warmth and sophistication through vaulted wood-beamed ceilings, expansive walls of glass and an airy open floor plan that seamlessly connects the living spaces to the shoreline,” the listing states.

Nature plays a significant role throughout the home, which features numerous windows and skylights throughout. Stone flooring runs through the main level and extends onto the deck.

At the back of the property is an idyllic courtyard, which serves as both an entertaining and dining area. Large hedges and trees surround this outdoor space, helping it to feel intimate and private.

Inside the home itself, an open-plan living and kitchen area help the property to feel incredibly spacious, while a fireplace provides comfort and coziness. Separating the living room from the pool area is an elegant solarium, which comes with space for a small dining table and some chairs.

A formal dining area can be found between the living room and the kitchen, and a second living area is located just off the courtyard.

The beach-facing primary bedroom is a serene retreat, complete with an elegant bathroom and a private balcony overlooking the ocean. Two more bedrooms can be found on this floor.

The fourth bedroom is located on the floor below, and the fifth is located in a detached guesthouse, which sits on the opposite side of the courtyard, along with the garage.

The listing notes that there is an office area that could be used as a flex space.

“A gated entry introduces a serene retreat where timeless architecture, irreplaceable beachfront features and an unmatched Malibu lifestyle converge,” the description adds.

While updates have been made to the dwelling since it last changed hands in 1988—for just $2.75 million—the property remains true to Goldman’s original design.

“What makes it especially compelling is the combination of design heritage, oceanfront setting, and irreplaceable features, which create a rare opportunity to acquire a true legacy estate in one of the world’s most recognized beachfront communities,” Iggulden explained.

“Malibu buyers consistently seek properties that deliver both privacy and convenience, and this residence offers the exclusivity of Colony Beach with effortless access to everything Malibu has to offer.”

Mitchell, who is originally from Canada, has been based in California for nearly six decades now, having moved to the Golden State in the late 1960s, when she bought her first property in the area—a petite cottage in Laurel Canyon.

The singer used the royalties from her debut album, “Song to a Seagull,” to pay for the property, where she later wrote and recorded new music, including the 1970 album, “Ladies of the Canyon,” which was inspired by the home’s location.

Today, 82-year-old Mitchell resides in a historical Bel-Air mansion that she has owned since the mid-1970s and which she previously showcased in a shoot for Architectural Digest.