Clint Eastwood sold 280 acres of his California coastal property for $3.08 million in 1995 — The surprising conservation deal that helped keep Carmel land undeveloped

Clint Eastwood’s connection to California’s Carmel coast goes far beyond Hollywood. For decades, the actor and filmmaker owned substantial stretches of land around Malpaso Creek, a rugged and scenic area near Carmel Highlands. But one of the most significant chapters in that history came in 1995, when Eastwood sold roughly 280 acres to Monterey County for $3.08 million.

The deal was not a simple celebrity donation. Monterey County purchased the land, using public funds that included money connected to California’s Proposition 70. What made the transaction notable was what happened afterward: the property was protected as open space, with a conservation easement intended to prevent future development.