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He Shared His Berkeley Hot Tub With Everyone. Now His Home Is for Sale

Written by Joel UmanzorPublished Sep. 19, 2023 • 5:30pm
A Google Street View shows the property at 2133 Essex St. in Berkeley. | Source: Google Street View

The home of a late Berkeley man who let locals use his free hot tub for decades is up for sale, according to Zillow.

The property at 2133 Essex St.—previously owned by Deward Hastings until his death in the hot tub in September 2022—is advertised as a single-family, 3,484-square-foot residence.

The home is listed at a price of $899,000.

According to Zillow, the home was constructed in 1906 and has two bedrooms, a basement and the famed hot tub space surrounded by towering redwoods.

The inside of the home features arrays of different wood paneling and floors with a fireplace, pictures show.

According to a Berkeleyside article published shortly after his death, Hastings opened the hot tub in 1975 and played host to an estimated 30,000-plus people from around the globe.

Hastings’ rules for the public hot tub forbade drugs, smoking and talking and required men who wished to use the space to be vetted by a female guest. Hastings also kept the hot tub at a scalding 113.5 degrees Fahrenheit.

An open house for the iconic Berkeley location—which lies just two blocks from the Ashby BART Station—is planned for 2 p.m. Sunday, according to Zillow.

Joel Umanzor can be reached at jumanzor@sfstandard.com


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