In the early 1990s, piano-playing pop icon Elton John discovered a love affair that had nothing to do with music — but everything to do with Atlanta.
Fresh out of rehab and with a local love interest, the music maestro recounted his deep connection with the Georgia city in a candid interview with the Wall Street Journal. Atlanta’s warmth, its supportive recovery facilities — like the Triangle Club that became his daily refuge — and its down-to-earth denizens captured his heart, he said.
“The only people I knew were real people, who had normal jobs,” said the 76-year-old English singer, renowned for chart-toppers like “I’m Still Standing,” “Rocket Man” and “Candle in the Wind.”
“The city adopted me, and I adopted it.”
Initially taking residence in hotels, John eventually settled into the luxurious Park Place on Peachtree condominium complex in affluent Buckhead. He dubbed it “the Rolls-Royce of condos in Atlanta.”
Now, following the curtain call on his farewell tour, John has decided to part ways with his cherished Atlanta haven, listing the four-bedroom unit for a cool $5 million.
By 1992, he purchased a sprawling 2,500-square-foot duplex on the 36th floor. Over the next few decades, he acquired five more apartments within the building, combining them into a jaw-dropping 13,500-square-foot masterpiece that served as both his American tour home base and a personal gallery to house his extensive photography collection.
“I didn’t know what the first apartment that I bought would lead to,” the star reflected. “But it was a wonderful surprise. Everything about Atlanta was a surprise.”
Offering mesmerizing views of the city skyline, this opulent abode comes complete with a private gym, a relaxing massage room and a formal dining room adorned with an overhead gallery.
A wood-paneled office and lounge area provide ample space for artistic musings, while a grand salon boasts floor-to-ceiling windows.
The primary suite is a sanctuary onto itself, featuring a cozy adjoining seating area and a spa-like bathroom enveloped in lavish onyx. Not to be forgotten are the expansive closets that house John’s kaleidoscopic clothing collection.
For those who value both luxury and practicality, the condo boasts not just one, but nine reserved parking spaces, along with six private storage units and five dedicated wine storage units.
During his early Atlanta days, John realized that the city was the perfect touring hub. Departing from Dekalb-Peachtree Airport, he could perform in any corner of the nation and return to his Atlanta nest to sleep in his own bed.
“After years and years of touring, it was so comforting just to come home instead of staying in a hotel,” he told the outlet.
His insatiable passion for photography is what drove the expansion of his Park Place haven.
He began collecting fervently in the 1990s, amassing pieces by luminaries such as Man Ray, André Kertész and Berenice Abbott. What was once a residence soon transformed into a living, breathing gallery, adorned wall-to-wall with captivating photographs.
The collection has garnered such acclaim that museum representatives have sought private viewings, with tours often stretching for hours.
With his close ties to the Versace family, John also lavishly decorated the apartment with intricate Versace upholstery, creating a tapestry of opulence. The condo also played host to his beloved piano and a myriad of collections, including blown glass, books, antiques, and religious artifacts from his travels to South America and Mexico.
“I’m afraid I’m not a minimalist,” he confessed. “It was a bit of a nightmare to clean and a bit of a nightmare to know where everything was. But I’ve got one of those brains where if something’s been moved, I know exactly where it’s been moved to. And I put it back in the right place.”
With his touring days behind him, John, along with his husband, David Furnish, and their two sons, has primarily resettled in England, where they own a centuries-old estate in Windsor, just west of London. They’ve also made a home in Nice, France.
Chase Mizell of Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty holds the listing.
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