The sprawling 2-acre Cape Cod compound where late “Psycho” star Anthony Perkins tied the knot with actress and model Berry Berenson has hit the market for $3.35 million—more than five decades after it played host to the star-studded nuptials.
The Outer Cape residence is nestled in the sleepy town of Wellfleet, MA, along the Cape Cod National Seashore, and features both a primary midcentury modern house, as well as a one-bedroom studio that has been used by several creative visionaries throughout its history.
Built in 1964, the property has undergone several updates in the years since, but still retains its classic design details, particularly in the midcentury modern main residence.
“There are midcentury details everywhere and it’s basically all in its original form,” said listing agent Kait Logan of Compass. “It still has got this old Cape Cod fisherman feel with the salty air, but there are a lot of trees buffering the dune to the beach.”
The four-bedroom main home boasts an open floor plan with vaulted ceilings, exposed beams, an eye-catching floating staircase, custom wood details, built-ins, and glass walls to capture the Atlantic Ocean views.
That midcentury modern residence was originally built in the 1950s, but was destroyed by a fire the following decade—leading its original owners, anti-war activist and minister Ernest Davis Vanderburgh and his wife, Jane, to rebuild it.
According to seller Theresa Rogers, the Vanderburghs’ son designed the dwelling, having intended to make the midcentury modern residence resemble the shape of a ship.
“[Vanderburgh’s] son, an architecture student at MIT, designed and built what we see now,” she told Boston.com. “It was meant to look like a ship, and made use of lots of reclaimed materials, including driftwood.”
The couple also added the studio, which was used as a kind of guesthouse, according to Logan. In fact, the 820-square-foot studio was said to have been home to playwright Michaela O’Harra for many years.
But perhaps the property’s most famous connection is its ties to Perkins, who was best known for his portrayal of the sinister Norman Bates in “Psycho,” and who wed his longtime partner Berenson on the grounds of the estate in August 1973.
Rogers reveals that the compound’s original owners, along with O’Harra, were close friends with Perkins’ mother, Janet Perkins, and would regularly spend time with the actor—which is how he ended up choosing the location as the venue for his wedding.
The wedding was described in a New York Times article as “highly informal” and was attended by only a select group of the couple’s closest friends. The bride went barefoot for the ceremony, wearing a “pink, blue, and green English silk granny dress,” as well as a pearl necklace that Perkins had gifted to her.
“Mr. Perkins was slightly more formal,” the outlet stated. “He wore white slacks, a white shirt and 15‐year‐old white bucks. He married his bride with a ring of Indian turquoise set in silver with little arrows along the sides.”
That informality is exactly what continues to make the property so special, Logan noted, explaining that it immediately transports visitors to a much more relaxed, carefree era.
“Wellfleet takes you back to a simpler time and still holds onto its original character,” Logan said. “It’s what people are craving these days, the simplicity of life. There is definitely something different about the Outer Cape for sure.”
Located near Newcomb Hollow Beach, the residence also features a solarium with brick floors, a cozy sitting room with fireplace, and a main living area with sliders that open up to a spacious deck for entertaining and relaxing.
While much of the dwelling features exposed wood, which adds an earthy feel in almost every room, the kitchen presents a surprising pop of color, complete with turquoise cabinets and pink countertops, a nod to the more vibrant trends of the midcentury modern era.
Rogers is only the second owner to occupy the estate, having bought it directly from Vanderburgh and his spouse—and the listing notes that there is ample chance for a future owner to expand the home if they wanted to.
“This exceptional property presents an opportunity to restore the existing home or design your own vision on a large parcel,” it states.
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