A huge 1,100-acre estate high on the slopes of Sonoma Mountain has sold for $38.5 million (£29.2 million), setting a record for the highest residential property sale ever recorded in California's Sonoma County.
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The large agricultural property, known as The Summit and located at 3100 Sonoma Mountain Road, was bought in 2014 by tech entrepreneur Mark Leslie and his wife, Debra Leslie.
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According to property records and reporting by The Wall Street Journal, the couple paid $12 million for the undeveloped land and later spent another $33 million to redesign, restore and build a highly self-sufficient private estate.
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couple → accord → estate
The sale broke the previous county record, set in 2023 when an estate in nearby Glen Ellen sold for $35 million.
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estate → break → million
Transforming raw land into a self-sufficient compound
When the Leslies bought the land in 2014, the mountainous property was mostly undeveloped and needed years of earthworks, infrastructure work and landscape restoration.
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property → transform → earthworks
During their 12 years of ownership, they turned the hilltop into a large private estate, building a modern main house along with guest homes, barns and specialised farming facilities.
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Official MLS listings (ML82046933) show that the estate has 14,966 square feet of total living space across its buildings.
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It includes 10 bedrooms, seven full bathrooms and three partial bathrooms.
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The main house has large open-beam timber ceilings, floor-to-ceiling glass walls and stone fireplaces.
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Its design takes advantage of uninterrupted 360-degree views stretching from Mount Tamalpais and Mount Diablo across San Pablo Bay to the San Francisco skyline.
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design → take → skyline
Beyond the main living areas, the estate has major agricultural facilities, including three modern commercial greenhouses, a 12-car underground display garage and an independent off-grid energy system.
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estate → have → grid
The system uses large solar arrays, backup generators and deep freshwater wells.
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Extensive ecological restoration on Sonoma Mountain
A large part of the $33 million spent on improvements went towards restoring the natural environment across the 1,100-acre property.
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To improve natural drainage and reduce erosion on the steep canyon slopes, environmental crews removed invasive vegetation, strengthened natural creek beds and built several private lakes and fillable swimming basins.
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The project also included planting millions of seasonal daffodils alongside native oak trees, creating open meadows that provide a habitat corridor for local wildlife.
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The property also has fruit orchards, terraced organic vegetable gardens and dedicated vineyard areas suitable for winemaking.
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property → have → winemaking
The property's remote location makes it one of the most private estates in Northern California, while still being less than an hour's drive from San Francisco.
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A landmark transaction for Northern California real estate
The property was first listed with an asking price of $39.995 million before selling for $38.5 million.
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MLSListings records show that the sale closed on August 21, with listing agents from Golden Gate Sotheby's International Realty and The Dreyfus Group representing the transaction.
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"The Summit is a world entirely of its own, offering an unmatched level of privacy, seclusion, and self-sufficiency in one of Northern California's most breathtaking natural settings," the listing agency's marketing material stated.
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The buyer's identity has not been revealed in public county land records.
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However, real estate brokers familiar with the deal said wealthy buyers continue to value large and secure properties in coastal California that offer full off-grid independence while remaining close to major technology centres.
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The Aporia
