John Travolta’s Florida house is a $10 million midcentury mansion in Ocala’s Jumbolair Aviation Estates. The 7,000-square-foot property features five bedrooms, five bathrooms, a 7,500-foot private runway, and two aircraft parking pavilions where he parks his Boeing 707 and other jets directly at his front door.
Where Dreams Take Flight
Most celebrity homes have impressive garages or sprawling gardens. John Travolta’s Florida house has something else entirely: a private airport.
The Hollywood legend lives at Jumbolair Aviation Estates in Ocala, where his passion for flying meets luxury living. His property isn’t just a home. It’s a fully functional airstrip where he can taxi his Boeing 707 right to his doorstep.
You’re about to discover what makes this aviation estate one of the most unique celebrity properties in America.
A Pilot’s Paradise in Ocala
John Travolta’s house sits on 9.5 acres within the 550-acre Jumbolair Aviation Estates community, located seven miles northeast of Ocala in Anthony, Florida. The property serves as both home and personal airport.
Travolta and his late wife Kelly Preston were among the first residents to purchase land and build in this exclusive fly-in community during the 1990s. They bought the property for $3.5 million in 2001.
The estate is now valued at approximately $10 million. Its most distinctive feature is the 7,500-foot runway that extends directly to the home’s backdoor, with two aircraft parking pavilions positioned just steps from the front entrance.
Jumbolair Airport features North America’s largest private paved runway, measuring 7,380 feet long and 190 feet wide. This allows Travolta to operate large aircraft including his famous Boeing 707.
Inside the Midcentury Aviation Mansion
The main residence spans over 7,000 square feet of living space. Architect Dana Smith designed the home with thick white concrete walls, Grecian-style columns, and extensive floor-to-ceiling glass windows.
The home includes five bedrooms, five-and-a-half bathrooms, open-plan living areas, and a stunning outdoor pool. Every room was strategically designed with one goal in mind: aircraft visibility.
The estate features large 25-foot-high glass windows allowing Travolta to view his prized jets from the bedroom, great room, and dining room. This wasn’t accidental. The actor specifically requested this design element.
The entrance hall showcases Travolta’s aviation obsession. The floor displays a magnificent nautical compass image that Travolta personally designed, surrounded by model airplanes displayed on long wood cabinets.
The great room resembles a vintage 1960s travel lounge. Curved window walls with long blue curtains and double doors lead directly to the tarmac, while sophisticated furniture covered in patterned fabrics creates a cozy yet elegant atmosphere.
A gigantic mural in the formal dining area depicts a 1950s family at an airport, reminiscent of classic Pan Am era glamour. The decor pays homage to the golden age of air travel throughout.
Entertainment and Outdoor Spaces
The property includes a massive 16-car garage that Travolta has converted into a parkour-style gym for his son Ben. The garage reflects the actor’s willingness to adapt spaces for his family’s evolving needs.
The pool cabana functions as a grown-up playroom with big open space and stone flooring specifically designed for dancing, according to the project’s architect. The outdoor area includes a pool slide and extensive patio space.
Additional amenities include a private control center, an indoor pool area doubling as a cabana with a vintage airport lounge-inspired bar, and a dance floor with exquisite stonework.
The grounds feature a golf course and expansive areas for family gatherings. Travolta has described the backyard as his favorite space in the entire house.
The Aircraft Collection
Travolta obtained his pilot’s license at age 22 in 1978, though he began learning to fly at just 15 years old. His passion started even earlier.
During an interview, Travolta revealed he was only 5 years old when he fell in love with aviation. This lifelong passion directly shaped his real estate choices.
Over the years, he has owned several aircraft including a Bombardier Challenger 601, USAir Boeing 707, and a Boeing 707-138 that seats over 100 passengers. He holds licenses to fly Boeing 737, 707, and 747 aircraft.
Travolta serves as an active pilot ambassador for Qantas Airways, with his iconic Qantas-liveried 1964 Boeing 707-138B previously parked at his home. He donated this aircraft to the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society in Australia in 2017.
The property accommodates two aircraft simultaneously. Travolta designed the home so both jets are visible from inside, with parking ports positioned approximately 100 meters from the front door.
Living the Aviation Dream
Kelly Preston explained their vision in a 2004 Architectural Digest interview: “It was always John’s dream to have planes in his front yard, to practically be able to pull up to the house, so when you wanted to go to dinner, all you’d have to do is step out the door, get on the plane and whisk off.”
The design became reality. When Travolta filmed a movie in Tampa, he flew to and from work daily, with his children meeting him on the runway in a golf cart each evening.
The construction took two years, though planning stretched across six years. The couple lived in guest quarters during construction to supervise the project personally.
Travolta shares the home with his daughter Ella Bleu, 25, and son Ben, 14. His late wife Kelly Preston passed away in 2020 after battling breast cancer. Their son Jett tragically died in 2009 at age 16.
The family regularly shares glimpses of their unique home on Instagram. Photos reveal everything from Easter celebrations with the airport hangar visible in the background to Christmas gatherings in their cozy living spaces.
Community Challenges and Legal Battles
Travolta encountered legal trouble when the homeowners association argued his Boeing 707 was too heavy for the community runway. Professional engineers were called to assess the situation.
Though Travolta built a custom taxiway capable of supporting his Boeing 707’s weight, the runway weight restriction was eventually removed after engineering analysis.
In early 2024, Travolta joined neighbors to oppose zoning changes at Jumbolair that would allow increased residential and commercial development. The actor wanted to preserve the area’s rural character.
Travolta’s Hawker Investment Trust filed a lawsuit in January 2025 against Jumbolair Development LLC and the homeowners association after mediation failed. The disputes center on runway access rights and lighting agreements.
Travolta’s attorney stated the actor wants to remain a good neighbor to rural residents, noting that the farmland and rural feel were appealing factors when he chose to live there.
What Makes This Property Unique
Most residential airparks offer small runways for private planes. Jumbolair is different. The main runway measures 7,380 feet long and 190 feet wide, making it capable of handling aircraft as large as a Boeing 747.
The 550-acre Jumbolair property includes the main runway, a 7,600-square-foot mansion once owned by horse breeder Muriel Vanderbilt, an 8,700-square-foot conference center, and approximately 17 unsold estate lots with runway access.
The land has fascinating history. Arthur Jones, inventor of Nautilus fitness equipment, originally developed the property in the 1980s as a wildlife rescue park. He flew in elephants and exotic animals, hence the name “Jumbolair.”
Each residential lot includes direct taxiway access to the runway. This allows homeowners to taxi aircraft directly from the main runway to their properties.
Celebrity Aviation Living
Travolta isn’t alone in his passion for planes. However, few celebrities take it to this level. His home represents the ultimate expression of his aviation obsession.
The property allows him to operate his business and personal life with unprecedented freedom. He can fly anywhere in the world at a moment’s notice without traveling to a commercial airport.
Travolta stated during construction: “We designed the house for the jets and to have at our access the world at a moment’s notice, and we succeeded at that.”
The home perfectly balances family comfort with aviation functionality. Children can watch their father land planes from the backyard. Guests dine with aircraft visible through the windows. Every element reinforces the aviation theme.
Current Market Value and Real Estate Portfolio
Current estimates place the property’s value between $5 million and over $10 million, depending on market conditions and upgrades. Travolta listed the property for $10.5 million in 2019.
The actor owns multiple properties beyond Florida. His real estate portfolio includes a Mediterranean-style villa in Calabasas, California, purchased for $2.7 million in 2019. He previously owned a traditional Maine island estate.
Ocala sits about four and a half hours from Miami by car. But for Travolta, the commute is irrelevant. He flies directly from his front door.
The Aviation Estate Experience
Jumbolair offers a lifestyle unavailable almost anywhere else in America. Residents are aviation enthusiasts who understand the appeal of parking a jet at home.
The community provides privacy and security while maintaining an active aviation culture. Approximately 21 lots have sold since development began, with additional parcels still available.
For pilots with substantial resources, this represents the pinnacle of aviation living. You don’t drive to the airport. The airport comes to you.
Life After Kelly Preston
Since Kelly Preston’s death in 2020, Travolta has maintained the home as the family’s primary residence. The property holds deep emotional significance as the place they built together.
The home reflects their shared vision and collaborative design process. Every room tells a story of their partnership and love of aviation.
Travolta continues sharing the property with his children while managing his acting career and aviation activities. The home provides stability and connection to Kelly’s memory.
Your Aviation Dream Home
John Travolta’s Florida house represents more than luxury real estate. It embodies a lifelong passion realized through careful planning and substantial investment.
The property proves that with enough determination and resources, you can build a home perfectly suited to your deepest interests. Travolta wanted planes at his doorstep. He made it happen.
Whether you’re an aviation enthusiast or simply appreciate unique architecture, this estate stands as one of America’s most remarkable celebrity homes. It perfectly captures the intersection of Hollywood glamour and pilot passion.
If you’re considering luxury properties in Florida or exploring unique residential airparks, Jumbolair Aviation Estates demonstrates what’s possible when vision meets opportunity. Few homes anywhere can match this level of specialized design and aviation integration.
