Luxury Homes

Peek inside Blue Heron Farm, the Obamas’ former summertime retreat on Martha’s Vineyard

The expansive estate has a guest house, modern pool, horse barn, private beach, and more.

May 6, 2025

1 minute to read

Blue Heron Farm, the sprawling Martha’s Vineyard estate made famous by the Obama family’s summertime stays during President Obama’s first term, is reportedly coming on the market for $39 million, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Tucked in Chilmark, the classic white clapboard home, which measures 7,000 square feet, served as the summer home for the Obama family for three summers starting in 2009. Their annual visits to the property came to an end when it was purchased by British architect Norman Foster and his wife, Elena Foster, for $22.4 million in 2011.

The nearly 30-acre estate boasts a strong indoor/outdoor aesthetic that allows residents to embrace the beauty of the natural surroundings with ease. From the natural-light-filled dining room to the sitting room that has stunning views of the surrounding gardens, the home includes a balcony, porch, and deck that are ideal spots to catch some sun.

Equipped with a tennis court, basketball court, and equestrian facilities, the property even has a horse barn that was transplanted from Pennsylvania in the early 1990s.

The estate also features a five-bedroom guest house and a boathouse with a dock and private beach.

Foster completed significant upgrades on the property, including renovations in the main house, as well as extensive tree planting and building a new pool and modern-style poolhouse.

In a written statement, Foster told The Wall Street Journal that his family was drawn to the estate because it had “a beautiful approach through a long avenue lined by trees to arrive at a classic New England house that had grown from historic farming roots.”