It is a quiet street. Honestly, if you didn’t know the history, you might just drive right past the property at 171 Lake Washington Blvd E and think nothing of it other than "wow, that person must be rich." It’s tucked away in the Denny-Blaine neighborhood, surrounded by lush evergreens and the kind of stillness that only exists in the more expensive pockets of Seattle. But for a specific generation, and for anyone who still wears a flannel shirt with a sense of reverence, this address is a pilgrimage site.
It was the home of Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love.
People call it the "Kurt Cobain house," but that feels a bit reductive. It’s a massive, 8,000-square-foot Queen Anne-style home built back in 1902. When Kurt and Courtney bought it in January 1994, they paid about $1.48 million. In today's Seattle real estate market, that sounds like a steal, but back then, it was a massive statement. They were moving away from the gritty, rainy apartments of their youth and into something that looked like "stability." Or at least, the version of stability you buy when you're the face of a global cultural movement.
The Architecture vs. The Legend of 171 Lake Washington Blvd E
You can’t see much of the house from the street. A large, weathered wooden fence and a thick wall of privacy hedges keep the curious at bay. This isn't a museum. It is a private residence. Since Courtney Love sold the property in 1997 for roughly $2.9 million, it has changed hands and undergone significant renovations.
The structure sits on a nearly three-quarters-of-an-acre lot. It overlooks Lake Washington. It’s beautiful. Yet, the beauty is often overshadowed by the greenhouse that used to stand above the detached garage. That is where Kurt Cobain's body was found on April 8, 1994. The greenhouse is gone now—torn down by the owners in the late 90s to discourage trespassers—but the energy of that event still clings to the perimeter of the property.
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Viretta Park: The Unofficial Waiting Room
Because you can't actually get onto the grounds of 171 Lake Washington Blvd E without catching a trespassing charge, fans congregate in Viretta Park. It’s a tiny, unassuming slice of green space right next door. There are two wooden benches there.
If you look at those benches, they are covered in graffiti. It’s not "ugly" graffiti, though. It’s a layer of collective grief and love. Lyrics, "RIP Kurt," flowers, and cigarette butts are constantly left behind. It’s one of the few places in Seattle where the city government basically looks the other way regarding vandalism because they know how much it means to the community. People sit there for hours. They stare at the house. They listen to In Utero. It’s a weirdly peaceful spot for such a tragic association.
Real Estate Reality and Market Value
Let’s talk money for a second because the numbers are staggering. In 2019, the home was put back on the market for $7.5 million. It eventually sold for around $7.05 million. When you look at the tax records for 171 Lake Washington Blvd E, you see the trajectory of Seattle itself. The city went from a sleepy, industrial port town to a tech titan hub, and the property values in Denny-Blaine reflect that perfectly.
The house has four bedrooms and four bathrooms. It’s classic. It has those deep, wrap-around porches and shingles that turn that specific shade of grey-blue when the Seattle mist hits them. Most people who live in this neighborhood are CEOs or old-money families. They value their privacy above all else. Imagine being the neighbor who just wants to prune their roses but has to see teenagers from Germany crying on a park bench every Tuesday. It’s a strange juxtaposition.
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The interior has been modernized, obviously. You won't find 1994 grunge aesthetics inside anymore. No peeling wallpaper or 90s clutter. Modern listings describe it as having "graceful proportions" and "exquisite millwork." It’s a far cry from the "MTV Unplugged" vibe people associate with its most famous inhabitant.
Why the Address Still Pulls Us In
Why do we care about a house? It’s just wood and stone. But 171 Lake Washington Blvd E represents the peak and the precipice of the Seattle Sound.
By the time Cobain moved here, he was trying to escape the very fame that paid for the house. There’s a cruel irony in buying a "dream home" only to spend your final days hiding in the room above the garage. For many, the house is a symbol of the struggle between being an artist and being a commodity. It’s a physical landmark for a moment in time when Seattle was the center of the universe.
Misconceptions About the Property
- It’s a museum: No. Do not knock on the door. It is a private family home.
- The greenhouse is still there: It was demolished in 1996. The current garage area looks quite different.
- You can see the lake from the park: Sort of, but the foliage is thick. The house has the view; the park gets the shade.
Navigating the Neighborhood
If you’re planning to visit the area, be cool. Seriously. The residents of Denny-Blaine are used to fans, but they don't love loud music or blocked driveways.
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Park a few blocks away. Walk down the hill. Feel the air—it’s always a little cooler near the water. Look at the architecture of the surrounding homes, like the nearby Epiphany Parish. This area is one of the oldest residential neighborhoods in the city, and the history goes way back before the 90s.
Actionable Steps for the Respectful Visitor
- Visit during daylight: Viretta Park isn't lit well at night, and neighbors will likely call the police if they see flashlights wandering around the fence line after dark.
- Bring a sharpie, but be mindful: If you feel the need to leave a message on the benches, keep it respectful. The benches are periodically sanded down or replaced, so nothing is permanent.
- Check the weather: This sounds like "thanks, Captain Obvious," but the path in the park is dirt. If it has been raining (and it’s Seattle, so it has), it will be a mud pit. Wear boots.
- Explore the rest of the "Grunge Trail": Don't just stop at the house. Head over to the Central District to see where Jimi Hendrix grew up, or go to the MoPOP (Museum of Pop Culture) to see actual artifacts from the era.
- Respect the "No Trespassing" signs: The current owners have security cameras. Don't be the person who tries to climb the fence for an Instagram photo. It’s disrespectful to the family living there and the memory of what happened.
The legacy of 171 Lake Washington Blvd E is complicated. It’s a mix of architectural beauty, astronomical real estate value, and a deep, lingering sadness. It remains a waypoint for those trying to understand a man who changed music forever, even if the man himself only lived there for a few turbulent months.
If you find yourself standing on that sidewalk, just take a breath. Look at the trees. Realize that for all the fame and the millions of dollars, at the end of the day, it was just a home where someone was looking for a peace they couldn't quite find.