Luxury Homes

The ‘Bette Davis property’ on Cape Elizabeth just listed for $15 million

"I would say this is one of the top properties in New England," the listing agent said.

An exterior view of 55 Zeb Cove Road, Cape Elizabeth. Peter G. Morneau

July 23, 2025

2 minutes to read

She may have been one of Hollywood’s most iconic stars, but Bette Davis hung her hat at “Witch Way,” her picturesque Cape Elizabeth estate. Now, the property where the home was previously located is on the market for $15 million.

A sprawling oceanfront estate that was built in 2002, 55 Zeb Cove Road is home to a five-bed, six-bed main house measuring 7,600 square feet. Set on just under eight acres with 1,184 feet of ocean frontage, the house was built in 2002 after the existing property was razed.

“Bette Davis lived there during the 50s, and it’s still known by many of the locals as the Bette Davis property,” said Sam Michaud of Legacy Properties Sotheby’s International Realty, who has the listing with Bill Gaynor.

A private entrance welcomes guests, and a pond to the left-hand side is where Gary Merrill, the husband of Davis and her co-star in the classic film “All About Eve,” would play pond hockey with his team, Merrill’s Marauders, according to a now archived Portland Monthly Magazine article. There are three driveways, with one sending you to a roundabout that leads to a front walkway.

As you enter the home, you’re greeted by a grand curved staircase that cascades upward. Boasting impeccable craftsmanship, the space leads into the kitchen, where a curved wall of windows serves as the perfect view of the waterfront. A long island, an eat-in dining space, and a fireplace complete the room. A formal dining room features hardwood floors and French doors that open out to the yard with the shoreline crashing behind it. There are several comfortable living spaces throughout the home, each boasting dreamlike views of the shoreline.

A view of the back of the home. – Peter G. Morneau

Upstairs, the primary bedroom suite boasts a similar curved wall of windows with a grand view of the coast. You’ll also find several balconies throughout the home.

The home’s outdoor space has every detail considered, from the bluestone terrace, which is the ideal spot to enjoy the views of the granite shoreline, to the rolling lawns that lead out to a hammock hung from a tree right by the rocks.

The property also features a two-bed, two-bath carriage house that measures just under 2,000 square feet. A beautiful deck overlooks the rolling grounds of the property.

“I would say this is one of the top properties in New England. It is so hard to find a property on eight acres with close to 1,200 feet of frontage,” Michaud said. “It’s superior to anything that’s on the market right now.”

Davis and Merrill divorced in 1960 and sold the property, but their legacy as Mainers lives on.