Privately offered is one of Sausalito’s most historically significant and visually commanding hillside properties, an irreplaceable parcel originally selected over a century ago by William Randolph Hearst, media magnate and cultural icon, as the site for his private castle.

Chosen for its elevation, proximity to the waterfront and San Francisco, and sweeping, unobstructed Bay views, this promontory was considered exceptional long before the Golden Gate Bridge even existed. The original castle was designed by Julia Morgan, a pioneer of California architecture, and construction began with the original foundation completed before the project was ultimately abandoned, leaving behind a rare, unfinished monumental vision.

In 1950, famed Bay Area architect Joseph Esherick designed the primary residence directly on top of the original Hearst foundation, thoughtfully honoring the site’s architectural lineage rather than erasing it. The resulting home is an enduring, architecturally significant residence where history and modern living exist in quiet balance. Curved interior walls subtly reference elements of the original turrets.

One of the two turrets from the Julia Morgan–era foundation has been thoughtfully repurposed into a temperature-controlled wine cellar, holding over 3,000 bottles, set against the original stone retaining wall at the base of the main home, an extraordinary example of historic preservation meeting modern lifestyle.

Current owners invested approximately $2.5 million to build a fully separate circular guest house/ADU atop the third turret, completely independent from the main residence. Essentially, a second luxury home on the property, ideal for guests or multi-generational living.

MAIN RESIDENCE
• Approximately 3,200 square feet
• Four bedrooms | three-and-a-half bathrooms
• En suite bedroom on the main level
• Timeless design and exceptional construction
• Commanding San Francisco Skyline, Angel Island, The Bay Bridge/East Bay views

SEPARATE GUEST HOUSE / ADU:
• Approximately 829 square feet
• One bedroom, living room, full bath, kitchen
• Built atop the third original turret footprint, resulting in a rare and striking circular architectural design
• Private view patio and hot tub
• Completely independent from the main residence
• Built at an estimated $2.5 million investment, essentially a second luxury home

OUTDOOR LIVING AND PARKING:
• Approximately 1,100 square feet of non-living outdoor space, including expansive patios, Built-in barbecue, fire pit, terraced landscaped garden areas and multiple decks, all designed to embrace the ever-changing Bay vistas
• Two-car garage plus additional off-street parking for up to four vehicles, a rare offering in this hillside setting

Both residences enjoy unobstructed, cinematic views spanning the Belvedere Peninsula, Raccoon Strait, Angel Island, Downtown Oakland, the Bay Bridge, and the full San Francisco skyline.

Properties with this level of land prestige, architectural pedigree, and historical provenance rarely trade. The home has not changed hands in over 22 years, and prior to the current ownership had not been on the market for over 35 years.