Guide to Beach Keys in Point Dume

by Juliette Hohnen
December 8, 2022
Blog, Neighborhoods, Real Estate
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Point Dume is one of Malibu’s most coveted neighborhoods and is home to some of its most exclusive beaches. While none of Malibu’s beaches are private, the topography of Point Dume can make certain sections of the beach harder to reach for the members of the general public, but that’s not the case for some of the property owners on Point Dume. That’s because certain properties on the Point come with “beach keys” that provide access to locked gates that lead to these otherwise hard to reach beaches.

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Only certain streets have deeded access to these private easements that lead to the beaches, making the properties that do have beach keys more valuable. While it’s hard to put a number on what these beach keys are worth since they are not sold in isolation, a good estimate is that they add $1-2 Million to the value of a property that has one.
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To the west of Point, there is public parking and easy access to the beach, but locals know that part of the beach can be quite windy and often quite crowded. The east side of Point Dume is where these “almost private” beaches are located. In addition to the privacy that comes from fewer people, these beaches are more sheltered from the wind and have some excellent surfing.
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The private easements that owners can use to get to the beaches on the eastern side of Point Dume have been divided into 3 “Rivieras.”

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Riviera I – This is the easternmost gate, located to the west of Paradise Cove. Riviera I is the only one with a drive-through gate, making it easy to park closer to the beach and a shorter trek with surfboards and beach gear. Streets with Riviera I access are Zuma View Pl and Zumirez Dr.

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Riviera II – This is the middle gate and most secured gate of the three. From the gate, there is a beautiful trail that leads to the beach. Streets with Riviera II access include Wildlife Rd, Portshead Rd. Selfridge Dr, Boniface Dr, and Whitesands Pl.

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Riviera III – This is the westernmost gate and has stairs that lead down to the beach. Streets with Riviera III access include parts of Cliffside Dr, parts of Dume Dr, Grayfox St, Fernhill Dr, Bison Ct, and some of the condos on Heathercliff Rd.

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An additional private beach on Point Dume is The Hut, an exclusive part of Paradise Cove beach. One of my recent listings is one of four properties that has this access point (see more at the end of this article).
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As we mentioned, Point Dume beach key access is rare and definitely valuable. But that’s not to discount the homes on streets without beach key access. Streets without deeded beach rights include Wandermere, Birdview Ave, Sea Lion Pl, Greenwater Rd, Bluewater Rd, Grasswood Ave and parts of Dume Dr and of Cliffside Dr. Some of the homes on Cliffside and Birdview that do not have deeded beach access have their own private staircases down to the beach. In fact, some of the highest sales on Point Dume have been Cliffside and Birdview, suggesting that the explosive views from the bluffs may outweigh the rare and coveted deeded beach access for some people.

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Beach key access or not, the homes on Point Dume are some of the finest in all of Los Angeles, and it’s not hard to see why the neighborhood is considered one of the best places to live in Malibu.

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My stunning new listing, co-listed with Glen Steele, at 6530 Zuma View Pl, aptly known as The SURFBARN, not only has deeded rights to Riviera I, but also is one of only 4 homes on Point Dume that also has private access to the beach at Paradise Cove. With private access to 2 of the best and most exclusive beaches in Malibu, both a short drive away, The SURFBARN is truly a rare gem.