Filmmaker Steven Spielberg has pulled his Los Angeles ranch off the market after listing it for $29.9 million last month, Realtor.com reported. For nearly 27 years, Steven Spielberg, 79, and Kate Capshaw, 72, held a 2.8-acre property in Sullivan Canyon, Los Angeles, though they never lived there. The land was for the horses, and the couple’s plans for it were far bigger than a stable and a paddock.
They bought the ranch in 1999
Pic credit: The Agency
Spielberg and his wife bought the estate in 1999 for $5.75 million. The property, now known as Dogwood, spans two parcels and sits in one of the city’s quieter canyons. Soon after the purchase, they began planning a major overhaul. They wanted to incorporate a five-storey riding facility, a guesthouse and a three-storey guardhouse, with a renovation budget of more than $7 million. Few homeowners in Los Angeles would take on a project like that, and fewer would attempt it in a residential canyon. Not everyone was happy with the scale of the plan. Many residents objected to the project’s size, and the criticism grew loud enough to slow it down. In January 2001, the couple withdrew their permit application, according to the LA Times. Their representatives said they would consider the residents’ concerns before going ahead. Later, the plan was scaled back to an outdoor riding ring. They dropped the covered structure that had drawn the most complaints.
A ranch with horses
Pic credit: The Agency
Architect Michael Kovac, interior designer Michael Smith and landscape designer Christine London worked on the property. It now features a 20,000-square-foot riding arena. The main house, known as Dogwood, has seven bedrooms and 9.5 bathrooms. The property offers an impressive array of equestrian amenities alongside its luxurious living spaces. The couple listed the property for $29.9 million with Sandro Dazzan of The Agency.
Pic credit: The Agency
“Nestled in the ultra-private Sullivan Canyon, Dogwood is Los Angeles’ premiere equestrian ranch – a rare masterpiece designed by renowned architect Michael Kovac with interiors by Michael Smith and landscape design by Christine London,” the listing says.
Pic credit: The Agency
The main house leans into warmth. Walnut floors and wood-covered ceilings give the rooms a rich, rustic feel, while large windows fill them with natural light. The living room has several seating areas arranged around two fireplaces, making it suitable for quiet evenings and larger gatherings alike. That same natural look carries into the chef’s kitchen, with extensive wood cabinetry, an oversized centre island, high-end appliances and an eat-in nook. “The chef’s kitchen with eat-in dining nook and wood-burning fireplace connects to a cozy family room and IPE-clad terrace overlooking a tranquil reflection pond,” the listing describes. The kitchen opens onto a cosy family room and an IPE-clad terrace overlooking a tranquil reflection pond. Upstairs, the primary suite has its own wood-burning fireplace and a private covered terrace. Downstairs, a media room doubles as a games room, and a wine cellar rounds out the interior.
Pic credit: The Agency
The setup puts the horses at the centre of the property. Guests would notice the stables and the arena before the living spaces, the reverse of what one would expect at most Los Angeles estates.The couple used Dogwood as a private retreat for their horses rather than as a home.In September, when the couple put the property up for sale, they asked $29.9 million, roughly five times what Spielberg and Capshaw paid nearly three decades ago. Their plan to offload the property seems to have been put on hold, as property records now reveal that the home is off the market, the outlet confirmed.