Johnny Cash's Ventura County House for Sale

By the edhat staff

The former home of legendary country singer Johnny Cash is for sale in Ventura County.

The rural Casitas Springs property outside of Ojai was custom built and designed by Cash in 1961, intended to be a quiet haven for himself, his first wife Vivian, and their three daughters.

"The story is told that Johnny bought the land and built the house to his exact specifications; walking the rooms and deciding on exact placement and layout. He created a secluded sanctuary, unique to this rural small-town enclave. Longtime locals recount stories of Johnny setting up speakers on the hillside outside the house, and playing concerts for the townspeople down below," according to the property listing.

(courtesy photo)

Located at 8736 Nye Road, Cash built the 4,500-square-foot home on six acres of privacy nestled against a hilltop overlooking the small town of Casitas Springs. The mid-century modern ranch-style home features double-gables, five bedrooms, four-and-a-half baths, an office, and custom wood built-ins.

The listing states most of the interior remains original to Cash's design including painted ceilings imbued with glitter, an original wall-mounted turntable and intercom system, and a curved brick fireplace in the family room.

"The wood-paneled studio where Johnny sequestered himself to write many of his hit songs is timelessly preserved, with high windows allowing the six-foot Johnny to peer out onto the grounds but providing him with complete privacy within. Johnny's habit of staying up all night writing music, then sleeping all day necessitated two distinct his-and-her master bedroom suites since their sleep habits were so different. The suites showcase their personalities: stark original period wallpaper and dark tiled shower in 'his' bathroom contrast sharply with the pastel feminine sensibility in 'hers'. Even Johnny's famous black commode remains intact," the listing states.

(courtesy photo)

The exterior features a ton of live oaks and verdant gardens, corrals and fields ready for horses or livestock, a private pool, and a barbecue area where Cash reportedly taught his daughter's target practice. 

The Cash family lived there for six years until Johnny and Vivian divorced in 1966 and she sold the house. Johnny married June Carter Cash two years later and they lived in a massive waterfront estate in the Nashville suburb of Hendersonville, Tenn.

The listing price on Cash's former estate is $1,795,000 and hasn't been on the market in over 10 years.

It's listed by Adam McKaig and Melissa Borders with Douglas Elliman. More information can be found on the property listing. 

(courtesy photos)