Realtor: Have $20M? You Can Buy the Garden of Eden … in Hawaii

Monday, December 26, 2016

Have $20M? You Can Buy the Garden of Eden … in Hawaii

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There are bigger properties for sale in Maui. And certainly less expensive ones. But none of those larger, pricier places can claim it’s the Garden of Eden.

Now available for $20 million, this 27-acre slice of paradise isn’t exactly a secret garden. It’s a well-known botanical garden called the Garden of Eden in Haiku, HI, that’s open to the public.

The owner, certified arborist and landscape designer Alan Bradbury, has been growing this magical masterpiece since he acquired the land in 1991. He’s reluctantly ready to part with it.

“I’m a creative person. This is one of my pieces of art,” says Bradbury, who has also designed parks and recreational areas. “When a piece of art is finished, you sort of have to move on to other things.”

Garden of Eden

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He purchased the land when it was nothing but thick jungle. “There was barely an ocean view when we started, it was so dense,” he recalls. It took two years to clear the land, including a year to lay down the half-mile private road, which took “hundreds of trucks of gravel.” While digging the road, Bradbury added “a bunch of cool plants” in the loose soil, the genesis of his divine garden.

Gateway to the Garden of Eden

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While work was underway, Bradbury would often leave the gate to the property open. Curious tourists would drive in to take a peek. Initially Bradbury, also a musician, had bought the space for a recording studio and retreat, but the air turned out to be too humid and salty for his equipment.

But it was perfect for a lush landscape. He decided to officially welcome the public by developing the gardens. When he first opened it, his 3-year-old daughter greeted guests. Now, it takes trained staff to manage the place.

Technically, “we’re considered a lowland tropical rainforest,” he says. “To me, it’s just a wonderland. There is so much in the region that’s incredibly beautiful.”

Palm trees

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Obviously everyone who goes there agrees. In fact it got its heavenly name because of how early visitors described it.

“This is a very special property,” listing agent Catherine M. Chamberlain says. As for the multimillion-dollar price tag, she says, “It’s almost worth more because it has such recognition. It’s constant revenue for someone who wants to do an eco business.” She notes that it could also be “the ultimate retreat, compound.”

Yes, indeed. While the property could continue as a tourist destination, it could also be converted into a posh private oasis. It would fit right in with the luxe tropical estates in the area housing such A-listers as Oprah Winfrey and Clint Eastwood.

Chamberlain says the location is perfectly perched at the 11-mile mark of the famous Hana Highway. So it’s private but also accessible, and not too far along that windy road. It’s become a popular destination from nearby hotel visitors and listed in guidebooks.

Keopuka Rock

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The site itself has had its screen time: Keopuka Rock can be spotted in the background in the opening sequence of “The Lost World: Jurassic Park.”

For the purchase price, instead of dinosaurs, a buyer will receive plenty of peacocks, plus 700 exotic species of plants, including a 100-year-old mango tree, a bamboo alley, a palm grove, and indigenous ti plants.

It’s also an incredibly edible property, with spice and fruit trees dotting the landscape. Bradbury’s favorite fruit is the rarely seen Rollinia deliciosa, an Amazon rainforest delicacy. “It is the best lemon meringue,” he says.

There are also two waterfalls, one 25 feet tall, the other about twice the height. Rainbows are a common sight.

Plantation-style home

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The redwood-lined plantation home with a wraparound deck is small, but there’s plenty of space to add another residence. The existing home could also be renovated and expanded.

If you want to take over the business, it’s a turnkey operation. There are multiple structures across the property, including an artist gallery, a restroom facility, a covered picnic area, rain shelters, and even a food truck.

The trails that feature views of the sparkling Pacific have been open to the public since 1996. The price back then was $3 stuffed into an honor box; it has since climbed to $15, which doesn’t seem to stem the tide of cars waiting to get in. The gardens receive about 300 visitors a day.

Although privately funded and maintained, the Garden of Eden received recognition from Hawaii in 1995 for its “conservation practices and proper land use and development techniques,” according to its website.

Bradbury, 65, says he’s ready to pass on both the breathtaking beauty and the backbreaking maintenance. “Better to put it in the hands of somebody who can take it to that next step. I’m at peace with it,” he says.

One thing’s for sure: For the buyer, paradise awaits.