12 Celebrities Who Chose Mountain Towns Over Malibu

Some celebrities decide that ocean views and constant attention are not worth the noise. Instead of staying near Malibu, they slip away to quiet mountain towns where mornings feel slower. Pine trees, fresh air, and simple routines start to matter more than red carpets. These choices show a different side of fame, one that feels more grounded and calm. 

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Sandra Bullock in Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Sandra Bullock has long kept a place in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where the valley and the Tetons give her a quiet break from film sets. Reports describe her home there as a retreat where she can spend time with family away from crowds and camera crews. The town suits someone who wants ski runs, small shops, and space instead of packed coastal roads. For a star with a busy schedule, those slow mountain mornings change the pace in a big way.

She has spoken through sources about valuing privacy, and Jackson Hole offers that in a way Malibu rarely can. Locals are used to famous faces, so she can blend in more easily during errands or school runs. The area also gives her kids access to outdoor life, from snow in winter to hiking in summer. That mix of family time and low attention explains why a mountain town fits her life so well.

Harrison Ford on his Jackson Hole Ranch

Harrison Ford spends much of his time on an expansive ranch near Jackson Hole, where he has lived for decades. The property includes hundreds of acres and a lodge with views of the Tetons, which suits his love of flying and the outdoors. He first fell for the area in the 1980s and built parts of the ranch himself, treating it as a long-term retreat. While he still works in Hollywood, his real day to day life leans closer to ranch chores and quiet evenings than coastal traffic.

Living in Wyoming allows Ford to support local causes and even volunteer for search and rescue flights as a pilot. Residents describe him as part of the community rather than just a visitor passing through. The ranch gives him room for planes, trails, and time with family away from studio pressure. Compared with a Malibu hillside, this mountain setting keeps his off-camera life grounded and simple.

Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel in Big Sky, Montana

Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel chose Big Sky, Montana, as their main base when they left Los Angeles behind. They bought a home inside the Yellowstone Club, a private mountain community known for ski runs, golf, and strong security. In interviews, Biel has talked about how Montana lets them raise their children with more privacy and normal routines. Snowy winters, quiet roads, and a tight-knit town make their days feel very different from life near the Pacific Coast Highway.

Photos and reports show an interior full of wood, stone, and big windows that look out toward the peaks. The family spends time there skiing, walking, and enjoying a pace where school and home life come first. Work trips still pull them to big cities, yet their home base remains this mountain hideaway. In a way, they traded Malibu’s constant buzz for wide skies, long winters, and a quieter childhood for their kids.

Michael Keaton near Big Timber, Montana

Michael Keaton has lived for years on a ranch near Big Timber, Montana, where the plains meet the rising hills. He spends most of the year there, treating Los Angeles as a place to visit for work rather than a permanent base. The property gives him space for horses, wildlife, and long views that stretch far beyond any city block. For someone who has played intense roles on screen, the slower rhythm of ranch life holds strong appeal.

Local reports mention that he enjoys the privacy and the chance to blend in at small-town diners and shops. The ranch lets him focus on family, projects, and conservation interests without constant attention. Winters bring snow and quiet roads, while summers offer fishing and long days outdoors. When you compare that to Malibu’s packed beaches and heavy traffic, his choice of Montana makes clear sense.

John Mayer in Paradise Valley, Montana

John Mayer owns a home in Paradise Valley, Montana, south of Livingston, where the Yellowstone River cuts through ranch country. The valley sits between mountain ranges, giving him scenic drives and easy access to trails and fishing spots. Local radio and regional outlets have noted that he spends significant time there between tours. The area has become known as a spot where a few well-known names can stay under the radar.

For Mayer, the valley suits a musician who writes and records but needs quiet spaces between shows. He can walk into town for coffee without getting mobbed the way he might on a busy California boardwalk. The region’s mix of ranches, river bends, and small towns shapes a daily routine built around simple errands and outdoor time. That steady pattern lines up more comfortably with his current life than a crowded coastal scene.

Kevin Costner near Aspen, Colorado

Kevin Costner owns Dunbar Ranch, a 160-acre property just outside Aspen, Colorado, which he uses as a mountain retreat. The ranch comes with several buildings, including a main residence and a lake house, and even offers vacation rentals when he is not in residence. It sits close enough to Aspen for dining and shopping, yet far enough out to feel secluded. The setting matches his long run of Western projects and his interest in open country.

Guests who have stayed there point to amenities like private trails, skating areas, and easy access to winter sports. For Costner, it is a place where family gatherings and outdoor activities take center stage. The ranch lifestyle fits better with horses, snow, and stargazing than Malibu’s tight canyons and weekend crowds. That is why his name often comes up when people talk about stars who favor mountain luxury over beach house living.

Kate Hudson in Aspen and Snowmass, Colorado

Kate Hudson grew up spending long stretches in Colorado thanks to her mother and Kurt Russell’s Aspen home. As an adult, she still heads back to the family ranch near Aspen and to nearby Snowmass for ski seasons and holidays. Her brother Oliver has even spoken about moving his family to Aspen for a period when the kids were younger. For Kate, those mountains are tied to family memories as strongly as any Hollywood address.

Photos from social media show her playing guitar on the deck, hiking, and relaxing with relatives in Colorado. The setting allows her to step away from press events and studio demands while still staying active. In Aspen and Snowmass, she can shift into routines that revolve around kids, friends, and the ski season instead of premieres. That steady return to mountain towns shows where she feels most at home when she is off set.

Tom Cruise in Telluride, Colorado

For many years, Tom Cruise owned a 320 acre estate near Telluride, Colorado, which served as his mountain stronghold. The property featured a large main house, trails, and sweeping views, and he spent a lot of time there with his children. Telluride is a ski town with a charming main street and a steady flow of visitors, yet his estate sat behind gates with plenty of space. That balance of a lively town nearby and privacy on the property gave him the best of both worlds.

He eventually sold the estate, yet the years he spent there show how strongly mountain life appealed to him. Friends and reports have described family time on the property as quiet and centered on outdoor activities. The house was known far beyond Colorado real estate circles because it reflected his taste for seclusion. Even though he also owned homes in Los Angeles and other cities, the Telluride retreat stood in clear contrast to Malibu style living.

Oprah Winfrey in Telluride, Colorado

Oprah Winfrey owns a ski house in Telluride along with acreage in the nearby Mountain Village area. She bought land there in the 1990s and later added a log style home that appears in photos with tall trees and snow outside the windows. Reports note that she expanded her holdings around the ski resort, building a serious mountain base. Telluride gives her a winter escape that feels far removed from coastal California and big media centers.

The house includes features like a long wine tunnel, a heated drive, and views over the valley, all designed for extended stays. For Oprah, splitting time between Montecito and Telluride means she can shift between ocean and alpine settings as moods and work schedules change. When she heads to Colorado, life slows down to chairlifts, snowfalls, and quiet nights at home. That choice shows how a high profile figure leans toward mountain comfort instead of a crowded beach town.

Ben Affleck in Big Sky, Montana

Ben Affleck has been linked for years to a home in the Yellowstone Club near Big Sky, Montana. Reports mention a ski chalet in the private resort community, a place where residents can access slopes and trails without outside crowds. He has been spotted vacationing there with Jennifer Lopez, using the property as a quiet base. The setting offers privacy and outdoor activities far from Los Angeles sound stages.

Yellowstone Club life centers around skiing, golf, and small social circles rather than red carpet events. For Affleck, that means time with family in a controlled, quiet environment that still feels luxurious. The town of Big Sky nearby stays relaxed outside peak seasons, which keeps things calm even when he ventures out. That rhythm suits someone who has dealt with heavy media attention and prefers mountain air to beach crowds during downtime.

Julia Roberts near Taos, New Mexico

Julia Roberts owns a 32 acre ranch near Taos, New Mexico, which she has held since the 1990s. The property sits near the small community of Arroyo Seco, with mountain views and high desert air. She has said in interviews that this is where she feels most like herself, and it is where she married Danny Moder in 2002. The region has a long artistic history and a quieter pace than coastal California.

Roberts and her family spend a lot of downtime there, away from studio lots and large city crowds. The ranch gives them room for kids to run, stargazing, and simple routines built around local shops and trails. Taos winters can be cold and snowy, yet that is part of the charm for residents who enjoy the change in seasons. Compared with Malibu’s polished shoreline, her New Mexico base feels more personal and relaxed.

Mark Ruffalo in Callicoon, New York

Mark Ruffalo lives much of the time on a farm near Callicoon, a small town in upstate New York surrounded by hills and woods. He bought the land in the 1990s and has described it as a place that changed how he thinks about home. The property covers dozens of acres and includes a lake, garden, and working farm elements. Instead of staying close to Hollywood or Malibu, he chose a rural town two hours from Manhattan.

Ruffalo often speaks about how life there with his family keeps him balanced. Days revolve around kids, gardening, and simple town errands rather than industry events. The community is small, and that suits someone who values privacy and steady routines. While it is not a Western ski resort, it shares the same spirit of choosing trees, hills, and a slower pace over coastal glamour.

This article originally appeared on Avocadu.