In 1984, Patrick Swayze bought a 4.5-acre ranch outside Los Angeles and built it into an Arabian-horse retreat with a 16-stall barn, two arenas and a dance studio; after his death, it sold for $2.9 million and later listed for $4.5 million | World News
American actor and dancer Patrick Swayze spent much of his career moving between Hollywood sets and the dance floor. Away from both, he and his wife, Lisa Niemi, built a very different kind of retreat in California. A 4.5-acre ranch where they bred and rode Arabian horses and created dedicated spaces for both equestrian activities and dance.Known as Rancho Bizarro, the property in the San Fernando Valley included a 16-stall barn, two arenas, a round yard, and a dance studio. Decades after Swayze and Niemi bought the property, it returned to the market with a $4.5 million asking price. An entity tied to philanthropist and oil heiress Aileen Getty had bought the ranch from Niemi for $2.9 million in 2015, Mansion Global reported.
The ranch Patrick Swayze built around horses and dance
Swayze and Niemi bought the 4.5-acre property in the 1980s and developed it into an equestrian estate. In a 1997 interview, Swayze described the setup as including a 16-stall barn, a round yard and two arenas. The couple also spent their free time breeding and riding Arabian horses.The property sits in Sylmar, in Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley, behind gates at the end of a cul-de-sac. It combines a 1940s ranch-style house with equestrian facilities and a guest cottage. The main residence covers about 3,516 square feet and has three bedrooms and five bathrooms.The house still holds Swayze’s dance studio. The space has mirrored walls and enough room to serve as a rehearsal area.The house includes a living room with exposed beams and a fireplace, while the kitchen opens towards a glass-enclosed atrium overlooking the grounds and swimming pool. The property also includes covered outdoor areas, a guest cottage and a detached garage.The equestrian section includes a barn with horse stalls, a tack room, laundry facilities and grooming areas, along with a riding arena. The listing also mentioned two goats, Cocoa and Caramel, and two ducks named Baby and Johnny.
Patrick Swayze with Australian actress Olivia Newton John/Image: Getty Images
From $2.9 million sale to $4.5 million listing
Niemi sold Rancho Bizarro to an entity connected to Aileen Getty in 2015 for $2.9 million, according to property records cited by Mansion Global. Getty is a philanthropist and oil heiress, and the ranch remained associated with her ownership when it was listed for $4.5 million in 2023.The $4.5 million asking price represented a $1.6 million increase over the property’s 2015 sale price.
Patrick Swayze with wife Lisa Niemi/Image: Getty Images
Who was Patrick Swayze?
Swayze rose to global fame with Dirty Dancing in 1987, playing dance instructor Johnny Castle opposite Jennifer Grey. He followed that success with films including Road House in 1989 and Ghost in 1990. He also starred in the 1991 action film Point Break.Dance remained an important part of Swayze’s life beyond his screen roles. He was a trained ballet dancer, and his work with Niemi extended into their shared interest in horses and equestrian activities.Swayze and Niemi married on June 12, 1975, and remained together until his death in September 2009. Swayze died at 57 after battling pancreatic cancer.Swayze also had a connection to music through Dirty Dancing. He co-wrote and performed the song “She’s Like the Wind” for the film’s soundtrack, which became a hit in 1987. Singing, however, remained secondary to his acting and dancing careers.Niemi later married jeweler Albert DePrisco in May 2014.
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