Arthur Jones made fitness history when he created Nautilus equipment in the 1970s. But the inventor and entrepreneur built more than just workout machines. He built a life full of wild adventures, exotic animals, and real estate that matched his larger-than-life personality. The Arthur Jones House stands as a monument to his success and his unusual approach to living. This property in Ocala, Florida, became the center of his world—a place where business, wildlife conservation, and personal passion merged into one spectacular estate.
Jones didn’t just own a house. He owned a compound that reflected everything he believed in. The property featured space for his beloved exotic animals, areas for his business operations, and living quarters that suited a man who never followed conventional rules. His home told the story of someone who turned ideas into reality and never apologized for living exactly how he wanted. The estate became famous not just because Jones lived there, but because it represented his entire philosophy about life, work, and what really matters.
Who Was Arthur Jones?
Arthur Jones lived from November 22, 1926, to August 28, 2007. He left behind a net worth estimated at around $300 million at the time of his death. His wealth came primarily from his creation of Nautilus exercise equipment, which changed how people trained their muscles. Jones didn’t collect the typical toys of the rich. He spent his money on African expeditions, exotic animal collections, and building aircraft. He owned several planes throughout his life and used them to travel the world for his wildlife filming projects.
Jones owned multiple properties during his lifetime, with his main estate in Ocala serving as his headquarters. He didn’t chase after yachts or private islands like other wealthy individuals. Instead, he poured resources into his animal collection and his various business ventures. His real estate portfolio stayed focused on properties that served his purposes—places where he could work, house animals, and live according to his own rules. The inventor preferred spending on experiences and his passions rather than collecting status symbols just to show off wealth.
His car collection stayed practical rather than flashy. Jones drove vehicles that worked for his needs on the estate and during his travels. He never bragged about luxury cars or tried to impress people with material goods. Money meant freedom to him—freedom to pursue his interests in fitness science, wildlife, and aviation without asking anyone’s permission. This attitude shaped every decision he made about where to live and how to spend his fortune.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Arthur Allen Jones |
| Date of Birth | November 22, 1926 |
| Date of Death | August 28, 2007 |
| Place of Birth | Arkansas, United States |
| Net Worth | $300 million (at time of death) |
| Primary Residence | Ocala, Florida |
| Famous For | Inventor of Nautilus exercise equipment |
| Other Ventures | MedX medical machines, wildlife filming |
| Marriages | Multiple marriages throughout life |
| Children | Several children including Gary Jones |
Where Did Arthur Jones Live?
Arthur Jones chose Ocala, Florida, as his main home for the final decades of his life. This location gave him everything he needed. Central Florida’s climate worked perfectly for keeping exotic animals. The area offered enough land for building the kind of estate he envisioned. Ocala sits in Marion County, known for horse farms and rural properties that provide privacy and space. Jones needed both.
The inventor’s decision to settle in Ocala came after years of traveling the world. He had filmed wildlife in Africa, worked on various projects across continents, and lived in different places. But Ocala offered stability and the right conditions for his business operations. He could manufacture Nautilus equipment, maintain his animal collection, and still live away from crowds and unnecessary attention. The property became his kingdom—a place where he controlled everything and answered to nobody.
Jones stayed in Ocala even as his business grew and his wealth increased. He didn’t move to flashier locations like Miami or relocate to California like many wealthy entrepreneurs. Central Florida suited his personality and his needs. The estate expanded over time as he added more land, more buildings, and more facilities for his various projects. This location choice showed his practical nature and his focus on substance over appearance.
Arthur Jones House
The Arthur Jones House served as the centerpiece of a much larger compound in Ocala. The property spanned hundreds of acres and included multiple structures. His main residence featured comfortable living space designed for functionality rather than showing off. Jones valued practical design that served his daily needs. The house provided areas for relaxation, work, and hosting the occasional visitor who came to discuss business or see his famous animal collection.
The estate’s layout reflected Jones’s priorities. Living quarters occupied just one part of the property. Other sections housed his manufacturing facilities for Nautilus equipment. Large areas were dedicated to enclosures and habitats for his exotic animals, which included elephants, crocodiles, and various other species. The property functioned as part home, part zoo, part factory, and part laboratory. Everything served a purpose in Jones’s world.
Buildings on the estate followed straightforward architectural principles. Jones didn’t hire famous architects to create showpieces. He wanted structures that worked, lasted, and didn’t waste space or money on unnecessary decoration. The main house featured generous rooms, good ventilation for Florida’s heat, and enough space to accommodate his family and staff. Windows provided natural light and views of the surrounding property. The design emphasized comfort and function over trying to impress visitors.
1. Where Is Arthur Jones House?
The Arthur Jones House sits in Ocala, Florida, specifically in the rural areas of Marion County. The exact address remained private during Jones’s lifetime and continues to be protected by the current property owners. The estate lies outside the main city center, providing the space and privacy Jones required for his operations. Marion County offers rolling hills, oak trees, and the kind of rural character that attracted Jones to the area.
Ocala itself sits in north-central Florida, roughly 80 miles northwest of Orlando and about 40 miles south of Gainesville. The region became famous for thoroughbred horse farms, limestone-rich soil, and natural springs. Jones’s property benefited from this natural setting. The land supported his exotic animals and provided room for expansion as his businesses grew. The location offered easy access to highways for shipping Nautilus equipment while maintaining rural seclusion.
The neighborhood around Jones’s estate consisted mainly of large agricultural properties and horse farms. Wealthy property owners in Marion County valued privacy and space. Jones fit right in with these priorities, though his exotic animal collection certainly made his property unique compared to the surrounding horse operations. The area continues to attract people who want acreage and distance from urban development.
2. Features of Arthur Jones House
The main residence on the estate covered several thousand square feet. The house featured multiple bedrooms and bathrooms to accommodate Jones’s family and occasional guests. Living areas included comfortable furniture chosen for use rather than style. Jones spent his days working, not lounging around admiring interior design. The house provided what he needed without excess.
The architectural style stayed traditional for Florida homes of that era. The structure likely featured stucco or concrete block construction, common in Florida for durability against weather and insects. Large windows and covered porches helped manage the heat and humidity. Air conditioning kept indoor spaces comfortable during brutal summer months. The roof design handled heavy rains and potential storm conditions that come with Florida living.
Indoor spaces organized around practical needs. Jones maintained an office area for managing his various business ventures. Family areas provided space for daily living, meals, and relaxation. The house connected to other buildings on the property through pathways and roads that allowed easy movement between residential, manufacturing, and animal care facilities. Everything linked together in a compound that operated like a self-contained operation.
The property’s total acreage reached into the hundreds. This land supported numerous outbuildings, animal enclosures, and facilities for his Nautilus manufacturing and later his MedX medical equipment production. Fencing secured different areas of the property. Roads crisscrossed the estate to allow vehicle access to various buildings and animal habitats. The compound functioned as a small community dedicated to Jones’s various interests and business operations.
Animal facilities took up significant space on the property. Jones kept elephants, crocodiles, snakes, and other exotic species. These enclosures required specialized construction, proper drainage, water systems, and security measures. Jones applied the same practical thinking to these structures as he did to everything else. The habitats needed to work and keep the animals healthy. That mattered more than making them look impressive.
Arthur Jones Real Estate Portfolio
Arthur Jones owned several properties throughout his life, though specific details about all of them remain scarce. Before settling permanently in Ocala, he lived in various locations during his years of traveling and filming wildlife. His early adult years included time in different parts of the United States and extended periods in Africa while working on wildlife documentaries. These stays involved temporary housing rather than property ownership.
The Ocala estate became his primary and most significant real estate holding. Jones poured resources into developing this property over several decades. He expanded the land holdings, added buildings, and created the infrastructure needed for his businesses and animal collection. This property represented his life’s work made physical—a place where all his interests converged.
Jones also maintained a home in Lake Helen, Florida, later in life. This property served different purposes than the main Ocala estate. Information about other residential properties Jones owned remains limited. He focused on places that served practical purposes rather than building a collection of homes in different cities or countries. His real estate strategy matched his overall approach to wealth—spend money on things that matter and skip everything else.
After Jones’s death in 2007, his properties passed through estate processes. The Ocala compound eventually sold to new owners. The property’s unique nature—with its exotic animal facilities and manufacturing buildings—made it an unusual listing. The estate’s value came partly from the land and structures, but also from its historical significance as the birthplace of Nautilus equipment and home to one of fitness industry’s most influential figures.
Current estimates place the value of the main Ocala property around $2.5 million, though exact figures depend on what portions of the original estate remain together. Real estate in Marion County has appreciated over the years, but properties with such specialized features can be harder to value and sell. The estate’s worth goes beyond simple market calculations—it represents a piece of fitness history and the legacy of a man who changed how people think about strength training.
Conclusion
The Arthur Jones House in Ocala, Florida, stands as more than just a residence. This property represented the headquarters of a fitness revolution and the home base for a man who refused to live by anyone else’s rules. Jones built his estate to serve his purposes—manufacturing exercise equipment that changed the industry, housing exotic animals he loved, and living exactly how he chose. The compound reflected his personality: practical, purposeful, and completely unique.
Jones’s approach to real estate matched his approach to everything else in life. He didn’t buy houses to impress people or follow trends. He created spaces that worked for his needs and supported his passions. The Ocala estate gave him room to think, build, experiment, and live surrounded by the things that mattered to him. That property still stands as a monument to what someone can accomplish when they ignore conventional wisdom and focus on creating something meaningful.