Aug 20, 2019
Home of the Week: The Private Airport Where John Travolta Has a Home Lists for $10.5 million
Home of the Week: The Private Airport Where John Travolta Has a Home Lists for $10.5 million The exclusive Jumbolair fly-in community comes with a runway long enough to land a 747 jumbo. By Howard Walker A fly-in Florida airpark that boasts the longest private runway in the US— and Saturday Night Fever star John Travolta as one of its homeowners— has just come on the market with a $10.5 million asking price. Jumbolair Aviation Estates, seven miles northeast of Ocala, includes a 7,550-foot-long main runway that’s long enough to accommodate planes as big as a Boeing 747, or Travolta’s beloved 707 jetliner. The property, which covers over 550 acres, also includes a separate 3,600-foot-long lighted grass runway, a 7,686-square-foot mansion once owned by horse breeder Muriel Vanderbilt, an 8,700-square-foot conference center, and 17 unsold estate lots with runway access. Travolta, 65, and his wife Kelly Preston, bought one of the first Jumbolair lots back in 2001 and built a 6,600-square-feet home here. The appeal? He could park his iconic, Qantas-liveried 1964 Boeing 707-138B right outside his front door, along with his Bombardier Challenger 601 business jet. The actor recently donated the 707 to an Australian aircraft preservation group. “This is a place for someone with a passion for aviation. Just bring your Boeing,” says listing agent Bartow McDonald, of SVN Florida Commercial Real Estate Advisors. Back in the 1960s, the property was a vast 380-acre horse ranch owned by Muriel Vanderbilt Adams, the socialite, horse-breeder and great-great-granddaughter of railroad and shipping magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt. In 1980, the inventor of Nautilus exercise equipment, Arthur Jones, bought up the Vanderbilt estate that included Vanderbilt’s 7,700-square-feet home, along with 450 surrounding acres. The inventor and fitness guru proceeded to develop the site, building the paved runway for his fleet of charter Boeing 707s, adding an 88,730-square-foot warehouse and manufacturing complex, a 400-seat banqueting hall, plus a refuge for African wildlife. At one time, orphaned elephants, crocodiles, rhinos and a 600-pound gorilla called Mickey lived on the compound. When Jones and his wife Terri divorced in 1989, she developed the Jumbolair property as a fly-in community for airplane owners, attracting the attention of the Travoltas. Originally, the property was developed for 38 “aviation” homes. Around 21 lots have already sold with a further 17 two- to three-acre lots included in the Jumbolair sale. All have direct taxiway access to the runway. The almost 1.5-mile-long main runway cost a reported $6 million to build, measures 210 feet wide and was supposedly designed to accommodate Arthur Jones’ dream plane, a 747 jumbo. “Jumbolair is the perfect property for anyone with a love of flying, who wants to further develop this exciting, vibrant community. It also makes a perfect point of departure for all kinds of private and business travel,” explained McDonald.
Home of the Week: The Private Airport Where John Travolta Has a Home Lists for $10.5 million
Home of the Week: The Private Airport Where John Travolta Has a Home Lists for $10.5 million The exclusive Jumbolair fly-in community comes with a runway long enough to land a 747 jumbo. By Howard Walker A fly-in Florida airpark that boasts the longest private runway in the US— and Saturday Night Fever star John Travolta as one of its homeowners— has just come on the market with a $10.5 million asking price. Jumbolair Aviation Estates, seven miles northeast of Ocala, includes a 7,550-foot-long main runway that’s long enough to accommodate planes as big as a Boeing 747, or Travolta’s beloved 707 jetliner. The property, which covers over 550 acres, also includes a separate 3,600-foot-long lighted grass runway, a 7,686-square-foot mansion once owned by horse breeder Muriel Vanderbilt, an 8,700-square-foot conference center, and 17 unsold estate lots with runway access. Travolta, 65, and his wife Kelly Preston, bought one of the first Jumbolair lots back in 2001 and built a 6,600-square-feet home here. The appeal? He could park his iconic, Qantas-liveried 1964 Boeing 707-138B right outside his front door, along with his Bombardier Challenger 601 business jet. The actor recently donated the 707 to an Australian aircraft preservation group. “This is a place for someone with a passion for aviation. Just bring your Boeing,” says listing agent Bartow McDonald, of SVN Florida Commercial Real Estate Advisors. Back in the 1960s, the property was a vast 380-acre horse ranch owned by Muriel Vanderbilt Adams, the socialite, horse-breeder and great-great-granddaughter of railroad and shipping magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt. In 1980, the inventor of Nautilus exercise equipment, Arthur Jones, bought up the Vanderbilt estate that included Vanderbilt’s 7,700-square-feet home, along with 450 surrounding acres. The inventor and fitness guru proceeded to develop the site, building the paved runway for his fleet of charter Boeing 707s, adding an 88,730-square-foot warehouse and manufacturing complex, a 400-seat banqueting hall, plus a refuge for African wildlife. At one time, orphaned elephants, crocodiles, rhinos and a 600-pound gorilla called Mickey lived on the compound. When Jones and his wife Terri divorced in 1989, she developed the Jumbolair property as a fly-in community for airplane owners, attracting the attention of the Travoltas. Originally, the property was developed for 38 “aviation” homes. Around 21 lots have already sold with a further 17 two- to three-acre lots included in the Jumbolair sale. All have direct taxiway access to the runway. The almost 1.5-mile-long main runway cost a reported $6 million to build, measures 210 feet wide and was supposedly designed to accommodate Arthur Jones’ dream plane, a 747 jumbo. “Jumbolair is the perfect property for anyone with a love of flying, who wants to further develop this exciting, vibrant community. It also makes a perfect point of departure for all kinds of private and business travel,” explained McDonald.
Aug 20, 2019
Posted Date
Jul 27, 2023
Historical Record Date
Aug 20, 2019
Source Name
The Robb Robert
Jul 27, 2019
Jul 27, 2019
Jumbolair Aviation Estates
You just got out of your afternoon meetings in Chicago. You live in Florida and you promised your son you would be home in time for his game. No problem, your private plane is fueled and ready for takeoff. In a few hours you will be landing in your own back yard and pulling your plane into the hangar attached to your home. You’re one of a fortunate few who live at Jumbolair Aviation Estates, home of the world’s largest, FAA licensed, lighted and paved, private airport. Jumbolair History Jumbolair, once home to three thousand crocodile, ninety eight elephants, three white rhinos and a four hundred pound gorilla named Mickey is on its way towards becoming the nation’s largest and most exclusive fly-in community. Jumbolair was conceived and built to be the perfect home and business center by Terri Jones and her former husband Arthur Jones, the avant-garde inventor of Nautilus exercise equipment. Situated in Ocala, Florida, Jumbolair’s rolling hills and sprawling oaks almost seem in direct contrast to its enormous 7,550-foot runway. And if it’s colossal length seems a little excessive, its width is almost confounding. The three Boeing 707s that Terri and Arthur once parked on the north end of the runway seemed dwarfed by the huge ten acre paved parking pad. Jumbolair is rich in history. Although originally owned by the Muriel Vanderbilt Adams, the legend of Jumbolair really began with the eccentricity of Arthur Jones. Jumbolair has been featured on such programs as 20/20, Lifestyles Of The Rich and Famous, The Tonight Show, Good Morning America and NBC Nightly News. Jumbolair is being developed by owner, Terri Jones, an accomplished pilot who is type rated in everything from a Citation to a 747. Terri’s plans for the community were born out of her love for aviation and not a developer’s formula for profit. Jumbolair’s 100′ elevation and indigenous lime-rock foundation keep runways dry in the worst weather conditions. It’s massive runway can accommodate virtually any size aircraft. Unlike many fly-in communities, Jumbolair home sites have separate roads and taxiways, so when you are taxiing, you won’t have an accidental meeting with a repairman’s truck. Jumbolair, a private, gated community will exceed your expectations with it’s lush landscaping and abundant natural beauty.
Jumbolair Aviation Estates
You just got out of your afternoon meetings in Chicago. You live in Florida and you promised your son you would be home in time for his game. No problem, your private plane is fueled and ready for takeoff. In a few hours you will be landing in your own back yard and pulling your plane into the hangar attached to your home. You’re one of a fortunate few who live at Jumbolair Aviation Estates, home of the world’s largest, FAA licensed, lighted and paved, private airport. Jumbolair History Jumbolair, once home to three thousand crocodile, ninety eight elephants, three white rhinos and a four hundred pound gorilla named Mickey is on its way towards becoming the nation’s largest and most exclusive fly-in community. Jumbolair was conceived and built to be the perfect home and business center by Terri Jones and her former husband Arthur Jones, the avant-garde inventor of Nautilus exercise equipment. Situated in Ocala, Florida, Jumbolair’s rolling hills and sprawling oaks almost seem in direct contrast to its enormous 7,550-foot runway. And if it’s colossal length seems a little excessive, its width is almost confounding. The three Boeing 707s that Terri and Arthur once parked on the north end of the runway seemed dwarfed by the huge ten acre paved parking pad. Jumbolair is rich in history. Although originally owned by the Muriel Vanderbilt Adams, the legend of Jumbolair really began with the eccentricity of Arthur Jones. Jumbolair has been featured on such programs as 20/20, Lifestyles Of The Rich and Famous, The Tonight Show, Good Morning America and NBC Nightly News. Jumbolair is being developed by owner, Terri Jones, an accomplished pilot who is type rated in everything from a Citation to a 747. Terri’s plans for the community were born out of her love for aviation and not a developer’s formula for profit. Jumbolair’s 100′ elevation and indigenous lime-rock foundation keep runways dry in the worst weather conditions. It’s massive runway can accommodate virtually any size aircraft. Unlike many fly-in communities, Jumbolair home sites have separate roads and taxiways, so when you are taxiing, you won’t have an accidental meeting with a repairman’s truck. Jumbolair, a private, gated community will exceed your expectations with it’s lush landscaping and abundant natural beauty.
Posted Date
Jul 27, 2023
Historical Record Date
Jul 27, 2019
Source Name
Irvin Homes
