When you think of John Wayne, you probably picture him on a dusty trail in Monument Valley or maybe squinting into the sun on a movie set in Durango. It’s easy to forget the man actually had to go home at night. He wasn't just a wandering cowboy. Honestly, the question of where did John Wayne live is way more interesting than just a list of zip codes because his houses reflected exactly who he was trying to be at different stages of his life.
He didn't live in some ultra-modern glass box in the Hollywood Hills. That wasn't his style. He wanted space. He wanted dirt. Or he wanted the ocean.
The Humble Iowa Roots
It all started in a tiny four-room house in Winterset, Iowa. He was born Marion Robert Morrison there in 1907. If you visit today, the house at 224 South Second Street is basically a shrine. It’s small. Kinda cramped. It definitely doesn't scream "future biggest movie star in the world."
His family moved around Iowa a bit—hitting Earlham and Brooklyn—before his dad, Clyde, decided he’d had enough of the Midwest. Clyde had some lung issues and thought the dry air out West would help. So, they packed up and headed to California.
The "Glorified Shack" in Palmdale
By 1914, the Morrisons were in Lancaster, specifically an area now known as Palmdale. They tried their hand at homesteading on an 80-acre ranch. Wayne later called the house they built there a "glorified shack." It was roughly 500 square feet with a tin roof.
Think about that.
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One of the most powerful men in cinematic history grew up in a desert house with no insulation, fighting off rattlesnakes and scorpions. This is where he learned to ride a horse—not for a movie, but to get to school.
Moving to the City: Glendale and Encino
Eventually, the farm failed. The family moved to Glendale, which felt like the big city compared to the Mojave. Duke went to high school there and then on to USC. But once he hit it big in movies, he started looking for that "ranch" feel again.
In the mid-1940s, he bought a massive five-acre estate in Encino at 4750 Louise Avenue. This place was the real deal. It had a 22-room farmhouse and a ten-foot-high brick wall to keep out the fans. He lived there with his second wife, Esperanza, and later his third wife, Pilar. He actually built a lot of that wall himself. He liked working with his hands.
But Encino was changing. The San Fernando Valley was getting crowded. The suburbs were creeping in, and Wayne started feeling boxed in.
The Legend of the 26 Bar Ranch
If you really want to know where did John Wayne live to find his soul, you have to look at Arizona. In the early 1960s, he co-owned the 26 Bar Ranch near Eagar, Arizona. This wasn't a hobby. It was a 64,000-acre working cattle ranch.
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He spent weeks there at a time, raising Hereford cattle. He even worked with a young Temple Grandin to design better cattle chutes for the ranch. He felt at home in the White Mountains. He’d wear his old clothes, play cards with the ranch hands, and just be "Duke."
The Final Anchor: Newport Beach
Despite his love for the dirt, his final and perhaps most famous home was on the water. In 1965, he moved the family down to Newport Beach. He bought a house on Bayshore Drive that looked right out over the harbor.
It was a big, rambling white house. Nothing too flashy, but it had a private dock for his beloved yacht, the Wild Goose.
He lived there for the last 14 years of his life.
The house sat on a 30,000-square-foot lot. He filled it with Native American art, kachina dolls, and brass rubbings from his travels. He loved that house because he could walk out his back door, hop on his boat, and disappear into the Pacific.
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Why the Newport House is Gone
Surprisingly, if you go to Newport Beach today looking for the John Wayne house, you won't find it. After he died in 1979, the house was eventually sold. The new owners, Robert and Beverly Cohen, decided the old structure wasn't up to modern standards.
They tore it down.
In its place, they built a 12,000-square-foot mega-mansion. It caused a bit of a stir at the time. People were upset that a piece of history was gone. But to be fair, the city couldn't make it a landmark because it was inside a gated community. The only thing left of the Duke there now is a small memorial plaque in the yard.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're looking to walk in the Duke’s footsteps, here is how you can actually see where he lived:
- Visit the Birthplace: The Winterset, Iowa home is fully restored and open for tours. It’s the most "authentic" look at his early life.
- Drive by the Encino Gate: The house at 4750 Louise Avenue in Encino still exists, though it’s been heavily remodeled. You can still see the massive wall and gate he put up.
- Stay at the 26 Bar: The main house at the 26 Bar Ranch in Arizona has operated as a B&B in the past. It’s currently owned by the Hopi Tribe, so check local listings for access.
- The Wild Goose: Since his Newport house is gone, the best way to feel his presence in California is to book a tour on his yacht, the Wild Goose, which still sails out of Newport Harbor for private events.
Knowing where did John Wayne live helps peel back the layers of the movie star. He was a man who constantly oscillated between the rugged isolation of the Arizona desert and the breezy comfort of the California coast. He never stayed in one place too long, but he always made sure wherever he landed had enough room for a horse or a boat.