On Nov. 26, the late great entertainer Tina Turner would have been 85 years old. Turner, who died on May 24, 2023, helped transform music through her unique fusion of rock, soul, and rhythm and blues. The world followed her journey from performing with her husband, the tortured musical pioneer Ike Turner, in the Ike & Tina Turner Revue, to fighting her way back after leaving the abusive Ike to becoming a hugely successful solo artist.
Their tumultuous marriage lasted from 1962 to 1978, and one of the places they lived together was in Southern California. After 40 years, the ranch-style property sold twice to two different owners in a year, with one seller turning a more than half-million-dollar profit.
The first time it was sold was 2017, and then it changed hands the following. The history of the famed home recently resurfaced on social media, via an Instagram post by an account named tina_turner_big_fan.
Fans of “What’s Love Got to Do With It?” will remember the dramatic scene where Tina, portrayed by Angela Bassett, flees Ike, marking a pivotal moment in both the movie and her life. That life-altering escape happened in 1976, and by 1977, the Turners had left the home behind, finalizing their divorce in 1978.
Where Tina Turner Once Called Home
While there seems to be little info on what the property looks like today, the couple purchased it in 1964, eight years after it was built. It was a prime piece of property in L.A.’s exclusive View Park, a neighborhood often called “the Black Beverly Hills,” due to its rich history, architectural beauty, and its long-standing status as a hub for affluent Black professionals.
This reputation was solidified during the mid-20th century when prominent figures like Ray Charles and Nancy Wilson called the area home. Currently, celebrities like Regina King and Issa Rae live in the community that has several properties on the National Register of Historic Places. Surprisingly, whites were encouraged in the 1960s not to sell to “negroes,” according to the Los Angeles Public Library.
Known for its stunning mid-century and Spanish Colonial Revival homes, View Park stands out as a community of luxury and cultural significance.
The house remained a time capsule from the 1970s when it sold in 2017, complete with vintage velvet decor and quirky features like a wet bar and a family room waterfall that once housed koi fish. The property also played a supporting role in the 1993 biopic, adding cinematic significance to its already storied past.
In 2017, the house changed hands for $870,000, though it was originally listed at $999,000, the Daily Mail reported at the time.
It sold again in 2018 for a cool $1.4 million, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Spanning 3,000 square feet, the home boasts four bedrooms and five bathrooms, with a master suite that opens directly to the outdoors, and a two-car garage,
The open-concept design connects the living, dining, and family rooms to a sleek, modern kitchen. The midcentury charm remains intact, with a double-door entry and a flagstone fireplace adding to its character.
Not to be overlooked, the custom front doors — designed specifically for Tina Turner —feature handles shaped like arms and hands, a personal touch from the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll herself.
The backyard is an entertainer’s dream, offering a pool, cabana, and fire pit lounge area, perfect for soaking up the California sun. With its rich history and stylish updates, it’s easy to see why this home continues to attract attention.
The house even served as the backdrop for the 1993 film “What’s Love Got to Do With It,” making it a relic of both Hollywood and rock ’n’ roll lore.
Given its preserved retro charm and history as a movie set, many wonder if Tina and Ike Turner’s former home could one day become a museum, much like Elvis Presley’s iconic Graceland.
Although the current owners’ plans for the property are unknown, with its ties to music history and Hollywood, the Turners’ former home seems ripe for such a transformation, offering fans an immersive experience into the life and times of one of rock ’n’ roll’s most legendary duos.
