Cape Cod Estate Where the Kennedys Summered Lists for $23.85 Million

A rare piece of American history and coastal elegance is now on the market in Cape Cod’s exclusive Oyster Harbors enclave. The historic estate once owned by philanthropists Paul and Bunny Mellon—and a favoured summer retreat of President John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy—has been listed for $23.85 million.

Set on 7.5 manicured acres with sweeping views of Nantucket Sound, this extraordinary waterfront compound has long been synonymous with American high society, design legacy, and presidential lore. It is currently owned by billionaire businessman and America’s Cup champion William I. “Bill” Koch, who purchased the property in 2013 and has since preserved its timeless charm.

Listed by Joanna Dresser and Kelly Crosby of LandVest | Christie’s International Real Estate, the property is one of the most prestigious and storied homes on the East Coast. “This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to own a legacy property with both historical provenance and limitless potential,” said Dresser.

The Mellons, heirs to a banking dynasty and icons of American culture, acquired the Cape Cod site in the 1950s, envisioning it as a peaceful summer escape. Bunny Mellon, renowned for her redesign of the White House Rose Garden, personally curated the estate’s landscape—an evolving composition of native plantings, specimen trees, fruit orchards, and winding pathways. The result is a living masterpiece of coastal landscaping, seamlessly blending natural beauty with refined design.

At the heart of the estate is a 7,300-square-foot main residence, where expansive living and dining areas still reflect the Mellons’ understated elegance. Eight bedrooms open out to either lush gardens or breathtaking sea views, creating a continuous connection to nature. Additional buildings on the grounds include two two-bedroom guest cottages, a beach house, a private suite that once served as Bunny Mellon’s art studio, and a greenhouse.

The estate offers over 500 feet of private waterfront, its own deepwater dock, and access to a nearby private island, now a protected bird sanctuary. To ensure privacy from the shoreline, the Mellons famously had 2,000 tons of sand delivered to create a 20-foot-high artificial dune—a signature touch that remains to this day.

Throughout their decades at the property, the Mellons hosted a guest list that included movie stars, industrialists, and global leaders, most notably their close friends Jack and Jackie Kennedy. The beach house remains largely untouched, echoing the days when the Kennedys were regulars at Mellon-hosted gatherings.

Koch, who also made headlines for recently auctioning nearly 8,000 bottles of wine from his private cellar for a record-breaking $28.8 million at Christie’s, has maintained the integrity of the estate in tribute to its original owners. “It is important to me to preserve the home the way I remembered it when I used to visit Paul and Bunny, and maintain their influence and style over the estate,” he said.

Interested buyers can view the full listing at Christie’s International Real Estate.