Kimberly Van Der Beek Shares More Details About ‘Compound-Like’ 36 Acre Home in Texas — ‘It’s Kind of Ridiculous’
The Van Der Beek family is the latest of many Hollywood residents to leave the area. In the aftermath of the pandemic and subsequent shutdowns, this family of seven was feeling like they needed more space to roam. And they found it on a dreamy property just outside Austin.
For now, Dawson’s Creek star James Van Der Beek and his wife Kimberly along with their five kids Olivia, 10, Josua, 8, Annabel, 6, Emilia, 4, and Gwendolyn, 2 are just leasing a home in Texas. But based on their reactions, it wouldn’t be too shocking if they stayed long term.
The Van Der Beek family went through drama in California
James and Kimberly experienced several personal tragedies in a row, which is part of what prompted them to move away from their house in California. James shared an emotional Instagram post documenting all the reasons they decided on a change of scenery.
“In the last ten months, we’ve had two late-term pregnancy losses, each of which put @vanderkimberly in the hospital, we spent Christmas break thinking she had a tumor (the doctor was wrong, thank god), I was prematurely booted off a reality dancing show I was favored to win in front of the whole world, and my mom died,” the actor wrote.
“And a shut-down. All of that led to some drastic changes in our lives, and dreams, and priorities… and landed us here. Overflowing with profound gratitude today.”
Kimberly Van Der Beek shared more details about their new home
Kimberly headed to Instagram Live to share even more information about their new digs, including her vision for their immediate future and beyond. And so far, she’s loving everything about their massive new property.
“I’m loving Texas,” she said. “The space available in Texas… where we’re at it’s expansive and there’s a lot of space and I feel that for a big family… it was just really, really necessary for us.”
They’re turning the Texas property into a compound
For now, the Van Der Beeks are just leasing the 36-acre property before making a more permanent decision. “We have incredible landlords, they’re magical, so they’re really letting us dip into it and really steward the land as if it’s our own and go wild with it. Which is really cool,” she said during the Instagram Live.
And they’re not planning to live there alone. Kimberly also mentioned that her sister, who is currently pregnant, is planning to occupy one of the cabins on the property. Some other friends are also contemplating joining the crew.
“It’s a very compound-like, village life that we’re building here,” Kimberly confirmed.
The Van Der Beeks are spending less and getting more in Texas
It’s not just that Texas is less crowded than their previous hometown of Beverly Hills. It’s also way cheaper, and the couple is loving how much more they get for the money.
“I’ll tell you a secret: This costs less than it cost to live in Beverly Hills,” Kimberly said. “It’s kind of ridiculous. I love you, California, but I was so done with you.”
This famous family isn’t the first to leave California, especially now that everyone is spending more time at home. And they won’t be the last.
