Bob Dylan's Malibu House Clipping Brings Back Memories

From time to time I get asked where Bob Dylan lives now. I interpret this to mean how many houses does he own, and answer as if this were the question. To this I reply that he has a property next door to his brother David on the Crow River, a little West of the Twin Cities, an oceanfront property in Malibu and a third property in Scotland. 

What brought to mind his Malibu house was an article I uncovered in the archives of our Duluth Public Library. (above) Here's the story from the Associated Press that appeared in the Minneapolis Star, September 8, 1976.

Bob Dylan builds a $2 million mishmash

MALIBU, Calif. (AP) Perched high above the cliffs of Malibu looms a spawling architectural wonder that a building Inspector calls a "terrible mishmash," but Bob Dylan soon will call it home.

The dwelling--part ranch house, part castle--reportedly is costing the singer-songwriter nearly $2 million. Dozens of artisans and craftsmen have worked several years to give it a folksy, handcrafted appearance.

A huge onion-shaped dome protrudes from the center section, creating the impression that "someone dropped a clump of ice cream," according to one neighbor.

"THE DOME originally was going to be an eagle's nest, you know, just a little hideaway," said architect Dave Towbin, who has been in on the project since it started several years ago. "Then it was going to be an observatory, then something else, and now it's an onion-shaped copper dome." Towbin says the place has "taken on several new directions," an architect's way of saying it has been rebuilt more times than he can count.

"But I think the house hangs together pretty well for the form it is," he said. "It's kind of hard to put a label on it, but I guess I'd call it stick-and-timber eclectic."

IN THE back, Dylan has constructed a huge pool, with plenty of room for his five kids and their friends. "It's a lake," one observer noted. 

The project started out as a $50,000 remodeling of a house that once belonged to a Los Angeles Times columnist, said Towbin, "but then the thing began to grow and grow and grow, and a lot of things began to change." Whatever Dylan's Malibu creation is, he can be sure there's nothing like it anywhere in the world.

"It's kind of unreal," said one Malibu resident of his famous neighbor's new home, "But if he can stand it, I can."

* * * 

Stumbling across this article unearthed a memory that lay dormant in the back of my mind for decades. I vaguely recall reading somewhere at some time that this house contributed to the dissolution of Dylan's marriage to Sara Lownds, a marriage that spanned more than a decade, ending in June 1977, when their divorce was finalized. 

The memory I have is that Bob was so distracted by his career he failed to work much on completing the house, compounding the stress on their relationship. I know from experience and observation that home construction projects can strain relationships due to financial costs, decision-making conflicts, and disruptions to daily life. 

After researching further, I learned a little more about that challenging period. While the slow construction progress in the 1970s likely added stress to Dylan’s marriage to Sara, given its cost and disruption, there’s no definitive evidence it was a primary cause of their 1977 divorce. Instead, Dylan’s infidelity, frequent absences, and personal struggles (e.g., substance abuse, fame) were likely more significant factors, as evidenced by Sara’s eviction of him in 1974 and the emotional weight of Blood on the Tracks.

The Dylans moved to Malibu in 1973, selling their Woodstock home to purchase the property on Point Dume, initially renting actor Martin Milner’s house while their estate was built. Construction was ambitious, with features like a tile factory on-site and a focus on custom, artisanal work. The project was described as a “real castle” rising from the earth, with a whale-watching tower and themed rooms, indicating a complex, time-intensive build.

Dylan’s Malibu estate, located in the Point Dume neighborhood, is a sprawling, eclectic compound that reflects his artistic personality and penchant for privacy. Purchased in 1979 for $105,000, the property has been expanded over the years through the acquisition of neighboring lots, transforming it into a 6,000-square-foot residence with six bedrooms and seven bathrooms. Below is a detailed description based on available sources:

The house blends rustic-modern, coastal, and Mediterranean influences, described as a “visual symphony” of sleek modern lines and traditional aesthetics. It features a mix of American Victorian, Mediterranean, and New Mexico-inspired elements, with a focus on artistic and vintage touches.

The centerpiece is a circular room beneath a massive copper dome, visible from afar, which some have noted makes the house stand out in Malibu’s landscape. Other features include a whale-watching tower, a cathedral room, a storytelling room, and extensive use of handmade Malibu tiles (with a tile factory set up on-site during construction). The property also has a million dollars’ worth of custom tile work, blacksmith-worked iron accents, and antique furnishings curated by designer Martin Newman, who worked closely with Dylan.

No primary sources explicitly link the house’s construction to the divorce that I am aware of. Biographers like Howard Sounes and Michael Gray emphasize Dylan’s infidelity, lifestyle, and the emotional toll of his career as primary drivers of the split.

When Dylan was evicted by Sara in 1974, the marriage was already deteriorating, as evidenced by his stay at the Malibu Riviera Motel. Construction, while ongoing, was not yet at its most intensive phase, suggesting other relational issues took precedence.

When he's not on the road, the house purportedly remains Dylan’s primary residence, a private retreat that has weathered wildfires and criticism, much like his career. 

* * * 

For what it's worth, when I was an student in college I imagined my future home being an eclectic design, small a first with a new addition added annually in a different style, each reflecting a different period in art history. In retrospect I have to laugh out loud at the impracticality of it all. Where would I put it? And how could I afford it?

Bob found a place for his dream house, and he likely didn't have to worry about what it cost. With able assistance, the home is in harmony with the laws of physics and, like Dylan himself, there's indeed nothing like it in the world.

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A Few Comments on Bob Dylan's Malibu by Martin Newman