In the 1940s and '50s, Bob Hope's Toluca Lake home was the place to be.
The comedian was an entertainer on and off stage, and he filled his home with his friends during "star-studded events," said listing agent Jade Mills of Coldwell Banker Previews International, who shares the listing with Drew Fenton of Hilton & Hyland. Hope's home was just listed for $27.5 million.
"[His] daughter, Linda Hope, would often peek down the grand staircase to see who was coming," Mills said. "She once spoke to Lucie Arnaz and Maria Cooper about doing a book about watching celebrities come and go called 'Seen From the Landing.'"
Bing Crosby, Hope's best friend, was a constant guest, as were presidents, including Richard Nixon, who reportedly once landed his helicopter on the sprawling grounds on his way to play golf.
Hope bought the land — once a walnut grove — in 1939 and began construction on his custom home. The house was renovated in the 1950s, and according to the LA Times, was constantly updated throughout the family's lifetime in the residence.
At one point Hope, who died in 2003 at the age of 100, was one of the largest individual property owners in Southern California, owning some 10,000 acres in the San Fernando Valley alone, including his iconic John Lautner-designed home in Palm Springs, but the Toluca Lake residence was always home base.
The Moorpark residence — officially at 10346 Moorpark St, Toluca Lake, CA 91602 — has a 14,876-square-foot main house, a 2-bedroom, 2-bath guesthouse, as well as a 2-bedroom, 1-bath staff residence.
"The estate was always impressively staffed," explained Mills. "A full-time cook, butler, estate manager and two housekeepers manned the property on a daily basis, while additional staff was hired for large receptions."
Designed in an English traditional-style, the main home has 8 bedrooms and 8 bathrooms on a floor plan designed for entertaining. A massive foyer leads to a vast formal living room with walls of glass overlooking the grounds. The main floor also holds an office, family room, bar and billiard room, formal dining room as well as a family dining room and chef's kitchen.
The grounds hold a pool, numerous patios, sprawling lawns — including a 1-hole golf course — and manicured gardens.
Toluca Lake was a quieter community when the Hopes moved in and was also home to Crosby, who lived just a few streets over, as well as Frank Sinatra and Roy Disney.
Hope's Toluca Lake home is just the latest property of his collection to hit the market. His Lautner-designed home in Palm Springs hit the market for $50 million in March 2013. Two other Palm Springs homes were listed in December 2012.
See more photos of the Hope residence on Zillow.
Related:
- Bob Hope Real Estate Extravaganza Begins With 2 Properties Listed
- House of the Week: Bob Hope's Iconic Lautner Home
- Bing Crosby's Croon-Worthy Estate for Sale
Erika Riggs, a real estate writer for Zillow Blog, covers celebrity real estate, unusual properties and home design trends. Read more of her work here.