It would be a challenge to find a property more steeped in rock and roll history than Jerry Garcia‘s “Sans Souci” home located in Marin County's Stinson Beach. French for “without worry,” the home has been renovated and updated since the legendary Grateful Dead frontman lived there in the 70's but his spirit and a few Grateful relics remain. The 1.1 acre-property was recently listed for $4.35 million.
Garcia's former home is considered the “crown of Stinson Beach,” and sits adjacent to Mount Tamalpais State Park. With incredible views from the Bolinas peninsula in the north to San Francisco in the south, the property was initially developed in 1947. Garcia and his wife, Carolyn, bought it in 1971 from a retired airline pilot.
The couple saw it as the ideal place to escape from Garcia’s busy touring and recording schedule. Their three daughters grew up in the home and they had an interesting menagerie of pets, including a horse and a domesticated crow.
Garcia entertained and jammed with other musical icons at Sans Souci, including Bob Dylan and John Lennon. He started the bluegrass band Old and in the Way with David Grisman and Peter Rowan on these very premises. The studio door, crafted with brass inlay by a local artisan, still stands today.
But more than just music legends visited Sans Souci. Charles Reich and Annie Leibovitz visited for a Rolling Stone interview and photo session, which became a book titled, “Garcia: A Signpost to New Space.”
Back in the 1970s, Sans Souci was a bit more rustic and bucolic while today, the four-bedroom, 4.5-bathroom compound has everything a luxury home buyer desires, including open living spaces with vaulted ceilings, reclaimed wood walls, beautiful hardwood floors, sliding glass doors with automated window treatments, an open kitchen with Viking and Miele appliances, and smart home features.
There are three structures on the property, including the three-bedroom, 2.5-bath main house. Across the courtyard is a guest apartment and a guest cottage, which is perched upon the highest point of the property and features a clever sleeping loft that once served as Garcia’s studio.
The lovely yard features a black-bottom pool and spa as well as an outdoor kitchen with a built-in grill and stove. The grounds feature California poppies, hydrangeas, and roses shaded by citrus, cypress, and redwood trees.
Whoever nabs the "crown of Stinson Beach" not only will enjoy stunning views and incredible luxury but will be 'grateful' to own an iconic piece of American musical history.
Article written by Lisa Johnson Mandell, featured on Realtor.com. Photos courtesy of realtor.com
