John Travolta and Courteney Cox's Billionaire's Beach in Malibu open after 30 year battle

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A public pathway called Carbon Beach West is open to the public after a 30-year battle with property owner Lisette Ackerberg
Ackerberg bought the beach property in the 80s and agreed to allow public access to the sand and sea but she blocked the public instead
The fight to open more pathways to the public in Malibu continues as there are 19 unopened access ways that were promised in the 1970s
Former Dodgers owner Jamie McCourt and former chief executive of Oracle Corp. have houses along Carbon Beach
Movie stars like John Travolta, Courteney Cox, and David Arquette have also had homes there

By Alexandra Klausner For Dailymail.com

Published: 00:16 EST, 7 July 2015 | Updated: 16:26 EST, 7 July 2015

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A stretch of paradise in Malibu, California known as the 'Billionaire's Beach' is now open to the public.

The sandy Carbon Beach West which opened this month was the subject of a fight between property owner Lisette Ackerberg and the California Coastal Commission that went on for about three decades.

Even though the beach was technically public, pathways to the destination were blocked by wealthy property owners who fought to keep the beach private.

The LA Times reports that celebrities such as former Dodgers owner Jamie McCourt and former chief executive of Oracle Corp. have houses along the beach.

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Welcome to paradise: 'Billionaires Beach' in Malibu has new public access. Carbon beach in Malibu CA, is a famed stretch of beach off the Pacific Coast Highway known for its high priced housing and celebrity dwellers

Open Access: Although the beach is technically public, rich residents have blocked public access citing 'privacy issues' until now after the California Coastal Commission won against resident Lisette Ackerberg

Home to the rich and famous: Carbon beach has been a home for many celebrities over the years including Courteney Cox (left), David Arquette (center), and John Travolta (right)

Movie stars like John Travolta, Courteney Cox, and David Arquette have also had homes there.

Ackerberg isn't the only one who fought the California Coastal Commission over the privacy of the beaches.

Music Magnate David Geffen built giant hedges and even allegedly built a fake garage to block people from parking in front of his property or visiting the beach.

In 2005 Geffen lost his three year battle with the Commission and turned over the keys to the pathway's gate which has been called the 'Hooray for Hollywood Moguls' path.

On Tuesday the commission officially opened another pathway just half a mile from Geffen's $100m property.

According to Variety, Geffen is quietly selling his glamorous home.

Fought for privacy: Residents like Lisette Ackerberg (left) and music mogul David Geffen (right) fought for private beaches and lost eventually allowing public pathways to be built adjacent to their homes

Vertical easement: There are technically '19 unopened access ways that were promised to Malibu in the 1970s,' says activist Jenny Price

Sand and surf: Now the technically public Malibu beach will actually be open to the public after years fighting

The LA Times reports that activists consider the beach's opening a victory in their fight against property owner Lisette Sckerman who ironically supported many conservation efforts.

Lisette's late husband Norman Ackerberg, who died in 2004, helped to start an environmental group called Santa Monica Baykeeper with money he made as a Minnesota developer.

After Norman Ackerberg's death, Lisette fought the Commission's efforts to make a public pathway to the beach.

The Ackerbergs obtained two permits from the commission in the 1980s and they built a house, pool, tennis court and sea wall.

The Ackerbergs were made to promise that they would provide a 10-foot-wode 'vertical easement' allowing the public access to the beach.

Instead of providing the pathway, the Ackerbergs blocked the area with big rocks, a 9-foot-high wall, light posts, landscaping, and a big concrete slab.

Take a look along the beautiful Carbon Beach, Malibu

Another pathway: The access pathway to the beach behind the home of Producer David Geffin is shown on July 23, 2002 in Malibu, California. Producer David Geffen who also fought to close the pathway to the public

Live like the stars: Now anyone can feel like Courteney Cox when they feel the sands beneath their feet

In 2005, the state of California told Ackerberg that she would need to remove the blocks to public access.

Ackerberg fought against the state and suggested they build a different pathway 600 feet west of her property near the Malibu Outrigger condo complex.

The state disagreed with Lisette Ackerberg and an appellate judge panel decided that the public had a right to a pathway near her home.

Behind the state's back, Lisette signed an agreement with Access for All and gave them $250,000. They agreed not to build a pathway and worked with her to sue the county to build a pathway near the condos.

Need guidance?: Activist Jenny Price designed an app called Our Malibu Beaches which directs beachgoers to the public pathways

Ackerberg‘s lawyer said that his client felt as though she was being 'discriminated against' and targeted though she eventually grew tired of fighting with the state.

In 2013 Ackerberg agreed to pay $1.1 million to remove the blocks to the public and to fund a paved and wheelchair accessible pathway called the Carbon Beach West Pathway.

This will be the third public pathway to Carbon Beach.

There is also the Zonker Harris path at the beach's western end and the Carbon Beach East walkway.

The Carbon Beach West pathway is open from an hour before sunrise to an hour after sunset.

The fight to open more pathways to the public in Malibu continues. Activist Jenny Price is celebrating the opening but told ABC there's still much work to do.

'We still have 19 unopened access ways that were promised in the 1970s in Malibu,' Price said.

Price designed an app called Our Malibu Beaches which directs beach goers to the public pathways.

Fresh sands: The public pathway will be open starting an hour before sunrise and one hour after sunset

Privacy issues: Residents of the Malibu beaches fear that since the beach is public, their privacy will be infringed upon. However, the beach is technically public and has been for years