Country music legend Dolly Parton’s former cabin retreat has been put back on the market—less than a year after it was sold for $585,000 by a charity that the musician donated it to in November 2023.
The mountainside sanctuary, which is located in the idyllic town of Idyllwild, Calif., was owned by Parton, 79, and her late husband, Carl Dean, for decades before she decided to gift it to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern California, which offloaded it in July 2024, according to records.
However, her ties to the petite property remain—a fact that the listing is quick to call attention to, describing the three-bedroom abode, which is now on the market for $768,000, as “Dolly Parton’s former Idyllwild retreat—a home as iconic as the legend herself.”
“If walls could sing, this charming three-story mountain retreat would be belting out a country classic,” the description continues, noting that “nearly everything inside remains just as Dolly left it.”
Indeed, the property is filled with many of the personal items and collectibles that sat in the dwelling when Dolly last occupied the home, having used it as an escape for many years—although several modern updates have been made in the eight months since it last changed hands.
The listing notes that the home has been outfitted with a new luxury shingle roof, while an electric vehicle charger was also installed in order to add another layer of convenience, particularly given the home’s rather remote location.
Still, the new owners have taken pains to ensure that Parton’s presence remains in every room, with the listing photos revealing that a tea set has been placed on the kitchen table, along with printed instructions addressed “to Dolly, from Steve,” which detail how to make the perfect brew.
“Merry Christmas—2002,” the note continues, before laying out a step-by-step guide for brewing up “tea—English style.”
The recipe first notes that the water “must be absolutely boiling” in order to properly infuse it, while the author advises that the tea be made with bottled water “such as Evian” because tap water contains too much chlorine and can change the taste of the tea.
Elsewhere in the home, various knickknacks, including framed art, collectible plates, and various pieces of china can be seen adorning wooden shelves that run throughout many of the wood-paneled rooms.
A signed photo of Parton in her youth hangs on one of the walls, while one of the bathrooms has been outfitted with a guitar-shaped toilet seat for an added homage to her musical career.
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Multiple fireplaces can be found in the living spaces and in the primary bedroom, adding a cozy feel to the 1,800-square-foot property.
“Designed with midcentury chalet flair, the home features soaring wood-beamed ceilings, expansive windows, and a dramatic stone fireplace in a living room built around a massive granite boulder,” the listing notes.
“Dolly and her beloved mother were the last to occupy this home, leaving behind decor, collectibles, and furnishings, all included in the sale. Legend has it that the spacious loft was Dolly’s favorite place to write and play her music.”
Intriguingly, though the home now—quite literally—screams “Dolly Parton,” her ownership of the property remained a closely guarded secret for many years and was only brought to light when it was sold in July 2024.
According to property records, the cabin was originally built in 1996, before being sold for just $126,000 in December 1994, which is when Parton is believed to have purchased it.
It is a far cry from the expansive Tennessee estate where Parton and her late husband lived for many years, enjoying a sheltered and very private life away from the bright lights of the entertainment industry.
Together, the couple were fiercely protective of their privacy, with Dean—who died on March 3—opting to shy away from fame and publicity, even as his wife’s fame skyrocketed, having been by her side since she was a teenager.
The couple met on the day that Parton moved to Nashville, when she was just 18 years old—bumping into one another outside of the Wishy Washy Laundromat, according to the Associated Press.
