Inside Patrick Swayze’s Former Rustic Ranch Where He Raised Arabian Horses with Wife of 34 Years

• Patrick Swayze's former ranch is now listed for $4.5 million.
• The actor and his wife, Lisa Niemi, spent many beautiful years together on the ranch, raising Arabian horses.
• The ranch boasts many unique features, including a clubhouse, exposed beam ceiling, and an equestrian facility.

Swayze Bought the Ranch in the 1980s

Rancho Bizzaro, a rustic three-bedroom ranch previously owned by the late actor and dancer Patrick Swayze, is now on the market for $4.5 million. This rustic ranch is located in the suburbs of Los Angeles, within Southern California's San Fernando Valley.

This multimillion property held a significant place for Swayze as it was where the actor and his wife of 34 years, Lisa Niemi, raised Arabian horses, which they shared a passion for. They built an equestrian facility on their ranch, where they bred horses and enjoyed a quiet retreat from busy Hollywood.

Swayze spoke about his love for horses and his decision to engage in horse breeding. The actor voiced his concerns about the ever-changing world, fearing that horses would become extinct because they were no longer necessary.

The "Dirty Dancing" star also explained he wanted to uphold a long-standing tradition of horse breeding, which had been there for decades.

Swayze first acquired the ranch in 1984 and named it Rancho Bizzaro. The multimillion property, which sits on four and a half acres, is perfect for horse lovers as it includes a fully equipped barn featuring a tack room, 11 horse stalls, two grooming stalls, and a laundry room.

This unique property is a beautiful 1940s' California ranch-style house with three bedrooms, and hardwood floors. This one-of-a-kind equestrian ranch also comes with several attractive amenities.

As per the listing, the main home features include an exposed beam ceiling and a wood-paneled sitting room with a beautiful fireplace to offer a relaxing ambiance. Its unique kitchen design opens to a dining area housed in a glass-roofed solarium that brings in enough daylight while providing stunning views of the property.

The main suite is uniquely designed as the bed has a projector, perfect for watching your favorite TV show while relaxing. The residence is ideal for livestock keeping and various sports activities, including hiking, jogging, biking, and more.

The master's ensuite also has a luxury bathroom, a walk-in closet, and a spacious dressing area. Other outstanding features include automatic gates, a wall of French doors, beautifully colored patios, and mature trees. The residence also has a clubhouse viewing room, a cute guest cottage, a bathroom, an oversized detached garage, and storage space.

According to property records, the ranch's current owner is philanthropist and oil heiress Aileen Getty, who purchased the property from Niemi in 2015 for $2.9 million.

Inside Swayze and Niemi's Love Story

Swayze and Niemi first crossed paths when they were both in their teens. At the time, Swayze was 19, and Niemi was 15. The pair met at a ballet school in Houston owned by Swayze's mother, a choreographer. In a 2007 interview, Swayze gushed about Niemi, revealing she was the most intelligent girl he had ever met.

The pair tied the knot on June 12, 1975, in a simple wedding ceremony held at Niemi's backyard home in Houston, with the reception hosted at Swayze's family dance studio. Though the two had no children after Niemi's miscarriage on Valentine's Day in 1990, they had a happy and blissful marriage.

Journalist Barbara Walters, who visited the couple at their ranch in December 2008 for the TV special "Patrick Swayze: The Truth," talked about their love for each other even after three decades of marriage. She said:

"The way he looked at her, the way he held on to her, the way she smiled, I can't really imagine one without the other. That marriage is extraordinary."

Swayze, born in August 1952 in Houston, Texas, died in 2009 at 57 after succumbing to pancreatic cancer. In 2023, 14 years after Swayze's passing, Niemi reflected on her love for her late husband and their 34-year marriage. Speaking to "Today" host Hoda Kotb, she said:

"Just because somebody's gone doesn't end your relationship with them. We spent 34 years together, and that's always going to be a part of my life and who I am."

During the interview, Niemi, who found love again and married jeweler Albert DePrisco in 2014, also talked about her work with Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN), an organization dedicated to fighting pancreatic cancer.

Niemi explained that she is actively involved in raising awareness through the organization, adding that her concern for pancreatic cancer patients remains strong, considering the challenges she and Swayze went through.

The actor and his wife shared a special connection. Their relationship survived despite the ups and downs of marriage, fame, and personal struggles.

In 2007, the "Ghost" actor shared the secret of their marriage, revealing that it lasted many years because he and Niemi kept their friendship alive. Furthermore, he stated that he and Niemi valued each other and had learned to fall in love repeatedly.

While he acknowledged that no relationship was perfect and that they occasionally had arguments, he said they always found a way to reach a mutual agreement.

Swayze often considered himself a cowboy, and he and Niemi enjoyed living in nature, taking care of their animals. Besides his California ranch, Rancho Bizzaaro, the celebrated actor and dancer, owned a 7,261-acre ranch in San Miguel County, New Mexico.

The property, Rancho de Dias Alegres, located in the mountains west of Las Vegas, was bought by Swayze and Niemi in 1997. The property offers spectacular views of the mountains and is perfect for enjoying a beautiful sunrise and sunset. It features both sides of the Gallinas River frontage, a lake, beautiful trees, and numerous wildlife species.

Niemi and Swayze spent many beautiful years together in Rancho de Dias Alegres. Niemi decided to put it up for sale in 2020, and the property was sold for $13 million.