James Cameron’s Malibu land will remain open space

Oscar-winning director James Cameron has sold a big chunk of his holdings in the coastal Santa Monica Mountains to a conservation group – a move that will create a contiguous stretch of public wild areas from Pacific Coast Highway to Malibu Creek State Park.

The price of the 703-acre Puerco Canyon parcel – the largest privately-owned open space in the Santa Monica Mountains – was $12 million. Cameron – the man behind “Avatar,” “Titanic,” “Terminator” and other box office hits – had listed the property for $25 million in 2007.

The land was purchased by the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority, which includes the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. Half of the money came from the county and most of the rest from state bond funds.

The Conservation Authority says the purchase will allow it to develop a key segment of the Coastal Slope Trail, which stretches for 70 miles between L.A. and Ventura counties.

Read more: The Malibu Surf Side news writes: “Cameron began buying land in the canyon in 1999, amassing a total of 729 acres on 24 parcels.” And, from the archives, here’s the LA Times reporting in 2007 on how Cameron had put the land up for sale.