Mansion Global reports that Rancho Pavoreal, a Southern California ranch once owned by John Wayne, has sold for $11.25 million. The 2,000-acre property is a colossus by Riverside County standards. It listed for $8 million ($6,000 an acre) in 2019. Tatiana Novick of Coldwell Banker represented the seller.

The Duke’s Heyday

 John Wayne lived with his family on the property in the 1930s and 1940s. During that span, the legendary actor was at the height of his career. Following the success of Stagecoach (1939), the Duke graduated from low-budget Westerns to major studio productions. He starred in Flying Tigers (1942) and Sands of Iwo Jima (1949), which earned him his first Academy Award nomination. By the start of the 1950s, the Iowa native had become Hollywood’s leading box-office draw. His renown only increased in the decades to come. In 1970, he capped his career by winning Best Actor honors for his performance as Rooster Cogburn in Henry Hathaway’s production of True Grit (1969). It was a fitting tribute to a lifelong professional whose career began in the silent-film era.

Iconic setting

Improvements on Rancho Pavoreal include a 3,000-square foot ranch house constructed after Wayne sold the property. Other improvements include a barn, three wells, extensive horse trails, and cross-fencing. According to the listing, Rancho Pavoreal could continue as a cattle ranch or an equestrian center. Offering panoramic views of the surrounding valley and Palomar Mountain, the ranch could also appeal to investors seeking to establish a shooting range or a private retreat.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get your hands on the former ranch of the iconic Western film star John Wayne,” Novick told Realtor.com. “As an action hero to many, John Wayne’s presence still lives on in Rancho Pavoreal’s very masculine and Western aesthetic.”

This post was updated to include details of the sale.