Bucket List: Arden Villa

With the deadly Coronavirus currently sweeping the globe, travel has been cut down to the bare essentials.  It struck me that a fun thing to do would be to use this year's April A to Z Blog Challenge to compile a list of places or attractions that I'd like to visit if time and money were no object.

Let's start with Arden Villa.

The unmistakable yellow stucco Palladian manor is located in Pasadena, California.  It was built in 1913 by the architecture firm Marston, Van Pelt, & Maybury for railroad and mining tycoon William Kennon Jewett and his wife.  The construction cost $35,000 USD - a huge sum in those days, and rests on three acres of land.

The villa itself boasts approximately 13,000 square feet of living space with grand entertainment rooms and lavish details.  Outdoor facilities include a swimming pool, tennis court, and extensive manicured gardens.  Discerning television and movie buffs might easily recognize the place, as it was used in multiple shows, including: Flamingo Road, Rags to Riches, Knight Rider, and Dynasty.

In 2017 the property was put on the market for $28 million USD, and by January 2019 the price had dropped to $19.5 million USD when it became known that its current owner, a Chinese investor, was having difficulty making his payments.  However the grounds are still being meticulously maintained and continue to attract film and television cameras.

For a virtual tour you can visit www.ardenvilla.com