The Cape Cod House Where Anthony Perkins Got Married: A Look Inside Wellfleet's Famous Estate
Wellfleet has always attracted people who prefer Cape Cod's more creative, secluded side.
Artists.
Writers.
Architects.
Actors.
And people who simply want to disappear into the landscape.
One particular Wellfleet property recently returned to the spotlight because of its Hollywood history.
In 1973, actor Anthony Perkins—best known for his role as Norman Bates in Psycho—married Berry Berenson at the property.
More than five decades later, the distinctive mid-century modern compound returned to the market.
Where Did Anthony Perkins Get Married?
The property is located in Wellfleet along Newcomb Hollow Road, near the Cape Cod National Seashore.
Boston.com reported in April 2026 that the property had come to market for approximately $3.35 million.
Realtor.com likewise reported the $3.35 million asking price and described the property as a roughly two-acre compound containing a mid-century modern main house and a separate studio.
The Anthony Perkins Connection
Anthony Perkins married actress and model Berry Berenson at the property in August 1973.
The wedding was intentionally informal.
According to reporting on the property's history, Berenson arrived barefoot with wildflowers, while Perkins wore white trousers and a white shirt.
The couple went on to have two sons and remained married until Perkins' death in 1992.
The wedding is now part of the property's history—but the house itself has a story that extends well beyond Hollywood.
A House Designed Like a Ship
The main residence has a fascinating architectural history.
The original house was built in the 1950s but was destroyed by fire in the 1960s.
The current structure was designed and rebuilt by the son of the original owner, who was studying architecture at MIT.
According to reporting from Boston.com and Realtor.com, the design was intended to resemble a ship and incorporated reclaimed materials, including driftwood.
That makes the property particularly appropriate for Wellfleet.
The Outer Cape has a long tradition of architecture that responds directly to its environment.
Instead of trying to overpower the landscape, the best houses often feel as though they belong to it.
Mid-Century Modernism Meets Cape Cod
Inside, the property retains many characteristics of mid-century design:
- Open living spaces
- Vaulted ceilings
- Exposed beams
- Large expanses of glass
- Wood detailing
- Built-in elements
- Indoor-outdoor connections
Realtor.com described the house as retaining many of its original mid-century details.
This is an important distinction.
A lot of modern Cape Cod architecture is inspired by the region.
This house actually represents a period when architects were experimenting with how modern design could work within the Cape's coastal environment.
The Cape Cod National Seashore Connection
The setting is equally important.
The property sits near the Cape Cod National Seashore, a landscape protected since 1961.
The National Park Service explains that Cape Cod National Seashore encompasses approximately 40 miles of coastline and was established to preserve the Outer Cape's natural, historic and cultural resources.
That protected landscape is one of the reasons properties in Wellfleet and Truro can feel so different from other parts of Cape Cod.
The horizon remains open.
The dunes remain visible.
And development is constrained by a landscape that has been deliberately protected for generations.
Why Wellfleet Attracts Creative People
Wellfleet's appeal has always been somewhat different from that of Chatham or Osterville.
It is less about formal luxury and more about privacy, nature, art and individuality.
The Cape Cod National Seashore dominates the landscape.
The town has a strong arts community.
And the architecture often feels more experimental.
Guthrie Schofield Group's own Cape Cod market research has identified Wellfleet and Truro as communities particularly attractive to buyers seeking privacy, ocean views and a more minimalist or modernist aesthetic.
That makes the Perkins property a particularly good case study.
Its value isn't simply that a famous actor once married there.
It is that the property embodies what Wellfleet does exceptionally well.
The Property's Real-Estate Appeal
The Perkins house demonstrates an important point about Cape Cod luxury real estate.
Luxury doesn't always mean the biggest house or the most formal architecture.
Sometimes it means:
Privacy.
Land.
Architecture.
A remarkable setting.
A story nobody can recreate.
The property reportedly sits on approximately two acres and includes a separate studio, giving it the feeling of a true creative retreat.
That combination is increasingly difficult to find.
Why Famous Houses Matter to Cape Cod Real Estate
Properties like the Perkins house create an interesting bridge between history and today's market.
A buyer isn't purchasing Anthony Perkins' life.
They're purchasing the physical setting in which a small piece of that history occurred.
The same principle applies to the Kennedy Compound, the Edward Gorey House and the homes associated with other notable Cape residents.
Cape Cod's best properties accumulate stories.
And those stories can become part of what makes a home unforgettable.
The Broader Wellfleet Story
The Perkins house is ultimately a story about Wellfleet itself.
It's a place where a Hollywood actor could get married at a private coastal home, where an MIT-trained designer could build a house resembling a ship, and where the surrounding landscape remains protected by one of America's most important national seashores.
That's not conventional luxury.
It's something more distinctly Cape Cod.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did Anthony Perkins get married?
Perkins married Berry Berenson at a private home in Wellfleet, Massachusetts, in 1973.
Is Anthony Perkins' Wellfleet wedding house still standing?
Yes. The mid-century modern residence remains standing and was listed for sale in 2026.
How much was Anthony Perkins' Wellfleet house listed for?
The property was listed for approximately $3.35 million in 2026.
Why is Wellfleet popular with artists and creative buyers?
Its combination of natural beauty, protected coastline, privacy and a longstanding arts culture has made Wellfleet one of the Outer Cape's most distinctive communities.
Related Links
- Guthrie Schofield Group — Fall in Wellfleet
- Guthrie Schofield Group — National Seashore Sanctuary, Wellfleet
- Guthrie Schofield Group — Cape Cod Luxury Market Outlook
- National Park Service — Cape Cod National Seashore
- Boston.com — Anthony Perkins' Wellfleet house
- Realtor.com — Anthony Perkins' wedding property
