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High Point of View: The Estate of Rock Icon and Philanthropist Jon Bon Jovi

Perfectly positioned on more than 15 landscaped acres with breathtaking vistas and over 700 feet of waterfront on the Navesink River, the High Point Estate is the home of rock ‘n’ roll legend and New Jersey philanthropist Jon Bon Jovi

High Point Estate, a timelessly beautiful château, is named for its majestic setting on the Navesink River in Middletown, New Jersey, just one hour from Manhattan. Its elegant, French-inspired symmetry and proportions are credited to Robert A.M. Stern, one of America’s great architects, and it is the home of Dorothea and Jon Bon Jovi, the great American singer-songwriter, record producer, actor, and philanthropist.

Inspired by grand French châteaux, the magnificent main house—18,000 square feet of peerless craftsmanship—was designed by Robert A.M. Stern in 1999. This exquisite style extends to the manicured 15-acre grounds, originally laid by the landscape architecture firm Olmsted Brothers, sons of the Central Park designer Frederick Law Olmsted. The private acreage includes 700 feet of river frontage with a private dock.

Life at High-Point Estate revolves around New Jersey’s majestic Navesink River, an eight-mile estuary that runs through Middletown, Red Bank, Fair Haven, and Rumson.

Jon Bon Jovi, the 2018 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee best known as the founder and frontman of the rock band Bon Jovi, met his wife of 30 years, Dorothea, when they were in high school. Together they have raised four children, and in 2006 founded the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation.

The foundation’s latest philanthropy is JBJ Soul Kitchen, serving restaurant-style meals to both paying and in-need customers. The nonprofit community kitchen has three restaurants: Red Bank, Toms River, and Rutgers University–Newark. The Bon Jovis opened the 50-seat Rutgers location on January 22, 2020, to help struggling college students. To date, JBJ Soul Kitchen has served over 100,000 meals.

The Navesink River offers opportunities for fishing, sailing, kayaking, bird watching, and rowing.

ARCHITECTURE AND SPACE

Spaciousness combines with splendor here, and also with the trappings of modern life—the living room spans 50 feet and has a grand fireplace, parquet flooring, intricately painted woodwork, and a custom movie screen that rises up at the touch of a button.

The warm, inviting interiors are masterfully decorated.
Parquet flooring, sumptuous gilding, handmade plaster finishes, custom-cut stenciling, and architectural trompe l’oeil are among the ornate details.

Exquisite detailing is everywhere: the kitchen with alabaster countertops, the light-filled dining room designed for a circular table seating 18, and the two-story foyer with bespoke staircase. Accommodation comprises six bedroom suites across two wings, while four outbuildings include a three-bedroom guesthouse, a recording studio, and the “Shoe Inn” pub, complete with a bar imported from France. A swimming pool and two cabanas, one with an indoor kitchen, are landscaped for total privacy.

The kitchen has handcrafted brick barreled ceiling with hand-painted beams, wide-planked wood floors, honed alabaster countertops, a large island, and state-of-the-art appliances. The adjoining breakfast room captures the river views.
The grand foyer features a custom-designed circular staircase detailed with a hand-forged wrought-iron banister.

EXPERT VIEW

“It is highly unusual for Robert A.M. Stern to design a single-family home and at High Point Estate he has created a rare and special property, comparable to owning an exquisite work of art. Outstanding architectural details include beautiful brick barrel ceilings, tall mullioned windows, and masterful decoration using Venetian plasterwork and trompe l’oeils by acclaimed French artist Pierre Finkelstein. The magnificent end result is only possible thanks to a dedicated homeowner with the vision to see this astounding project to completion. The house has been positioned on its grounds with the utmost care to ensure exceptional views throughout the day, from watching the sun rise over the Atlantic from the balcony and then, from the patio, seeing it set over the Navesink River. From all the principal rooms you can see the river and watch sailboats on the water.”—Gloria Nilson, Gloria Nilson & Co. Real Estate

Encompassing long, verdant stretches of lawn, a large slate patio, walkways, courtyards, and a pergola, the beautiful grounds evoke the spirit of a Renaissance garden.
Originally landscaped by Olmsted Brothers, known for designing the grounds of some of the most prestigious universities and parks in the United States, the gardens offer tranquility and astonishing river views.

The house has been positioned on its grounds with the utmost care to ensure exceptional views throughout the day. The estate’s proximity to Huber Woods Park and Navesink Country Club adds to the privileged outdoor lifestyle offered by this elegant residence, all in one of the East Coast’s premier locations.

The estate includes more than 700 feet of riverfront, which includes a dock with boat lift.

THE LOCATION

Middletown has a proud 350-year history—the first Europeans settled here in 1665. Today, with a population of some 67,000, it has excellent cultural and leisure options, yet remains compact enough to foster a strong sense of community and frequently appears in lists of the best places to live in the United States. With its extensive beaches, sports clubs, and more than 1,000 acres of parkland, its residents enjoy an active outdoor lifestyle. New York City is one hour away by train or car, while the Seastreak ferry takes just 45 minutes to travel from Atlantic Highlands to Wall Street. High Point Estate is in Middletown’s affluent Navesink neighborhood, set on what is considered one of the premier roads in the county, if not the state.

[ Excerpt from Christie’s International Real Estate’s 2019 Luxury Edition — A curated collection of the world’s finest properties. Explore more properties here ]

Original article by Cathy Hawker (Oct. 2019)
Editor of Christie’s International Real Estate Magazine

Updated by Lucy Carsen (Feb. 2020)
Christie’s International Real Estate