Sonny Bono’s Palm Springs Home Hits the Market for Nearly $7.5 Million

Sonny Bono’s former estate, a piece of local history in Palm Springs, California, has come up for sale.

The desert residence, on the market for $7.49 million, was home to the singer, songwriter, congressman and Palm Springs mayor from 1986 until his death in 1998, records show.

“Opportunities like this simply do not come around often,” said listing agent Louise Hampton with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California, who brought the home to the market last month.

“A hillside estate of this size, with this level of privacy and this historical connection stands among the most compelling offerings in today’s desert market.”

Bono was perhaps most famously the other half of singing duo Sonny & Cher, but also served as the mayor of Palm Springs from 1988 to 1992, and as the U.S. representative for California’s 44th district from 1995 until he died in a skiing accident in 1998 at the age of 62.

Located in the city’s Mesa neighbourhood on a hillside parcel, the colourful seven-bedroom property combines Mid-Century Modern design with Italian influences across its almost 9,000 square feet and multiple structures.

The house last changed hands in 2021 for $4.35 million. The sellers couldn’t be reached for comment.

There’s a great room, a formal dining area with a rock fireplace, a chef’s kitchen with two wine fridges.

The seven bedrooms include a primary suite with a walk-in closet and a “spa-style” bathroom with a soaking tub and steam shower, according to the listing. Several of the home’s guest suites include private patios or separate entrances.

Outside, there are lawns, olive trees, date palms and cacti alongside terraces, a new travertine pool deck, a pool, a tennis court and an oversize motor court with space for more than a dozen vehicles.

Abadeen, the Lower North Shore’s most active and prominent residential developer, together with investment partner Phoenix Property Investors, has lodged a State Significant Development Application to transform the former Honeysuckle Garden and Midas site on Military Road into 100 premium new homes.

With an estimated completed value of $230 million, the proposed development will transform the former Honeysuckle Garden and Midas site into a landmark mixed-use residential community comprising 100 premium residences, activated ground-floor retail and a resort-style rooftop wellness and recreation precinct designed to become one of the Lower North Shore’s most exceptional resident amenities.

The proposal has been carefully designed to respond to the site’s varied street frontages and surrounding neighbourhood. The building comprises predominantly five and nine storeys, steppingdown towards Hale Road to reduce its visual impact, with the tenth level rooftop
wellness facilities rather than residential apartments. This built form remains below the 12-storey outcome identified through Mosman Council’s recently endorsed Masterplan process, demonstrating a considered approach to delivering much-needed housing while respecting the site’s context and neighbouring properties.

Designed by leading Australian practice DKO Architecture, under the direction of Senior Associate Matthew Ritchard, the proposal has been conceived as a contemporary response to Mosman’s unique landscape, history and community.

Occupying a prominent position on Military Road between Cremorne and Mosman villages, the site is close to boutique retail, acclaimed dining, harbour beaches, leading schools and excellent public transport connections. Upper-level residences would enjoy panoramic views stretching north across Middle Harbour, south to the Sydney CBD skyline, east to Balmoral and Sydney Heads, and west across the Lower North Shore.

Abadeen Executive Chairman Justin Brown said the project represented an opportunity to deliver a new generation of homes for Mosman that responded to changing buyer needs while remaining respectful of the suburb’s established character.

“This is one of the most significant sites to come to market on the Lower North Shore in many years,” Brown says.

“The apartments have been designed as genuine long-term homes, with efficient floor plans that maximise usable living areas, generous internal storage, strong natural light and practical connections between internal and external spaces. A diverse range of apartment sizes and configurations provide greater housing choice for individuals, couples, families and local downsizers.

“The focus has been on creating homes that caters for a broad range of buyers, from young professionals purchasing their first home, to couples establishing themselves, growing families and local downsizers who want to remain in Mosman.”

Sonny Bono’s Palm Springs Home Hits the Market for Nearly $7.5 Million

The desert residence belonged to the singer, who also served as mayor of the California city, for more than a decade.