If you grew up in the 90s as I did, you likely watched Father Of the Bride, erm, let’s say more than a handful of times.
I’m also willing to bet that, while you sat there admiring Annie’s eternally bouncy curls with utter certainty that stonewashed mom jeans and layered turtleneck sweaters would never go out of style, you also dreamt about growing up in a home as warm and welcoming, (not to mention downright huge) as the Banks’ house.
To be fair, Annie’s outfits have come full circle and are once again considered the height of cool-girl fashion. As for our love of that fairytale family home, you’re not the only one still pining to step inside over 30 years later.
Still from the 1991 movie Father of the Bride, starring Steve Martin and Kimberly Williams-Paisley. Credit: Touchstone Pictures
To this day it remains one of the most searched-for movie houses on the internet and after a quick re-watch (or three) since the film joined Disney+, I was instantly reminded why.
It also got its fair share of recognition in the 1991 movie that starred Steve Martin as George Banks, Diane Keaton as Nina Banks, Kimberly Williams-Paisley as Annie, Kieran Culkin as Matty, and Steve Martin’s Only Murders in the Building co-star Martin Short as the eccentric wedding planner extraordinaire Franck Eggelhoffer.
Steve Martin’s character, George, proudly boasted that “I love this house. I love that I taught my kids to ride their bikes in the driveway. I love that I slept with them in tents in the backyard. I love that we carved our initials in the tree out front. This house is warm in the winter, cool in the summer, and looks spectacular with Christmas lights. It’s a great house, and I never want to move.” Safe to say that if we lived at the Banks’ house, we’d stay put too!
So, is the Father of the Bride house real? Can we go visit it? And, most importantly, can we too carve our initials on the tree out front?
Probably a firm no on that last one but in answer to the rest, I’ve done some digging and finally know everything I’ve ever wondered about this heart-warmingly nostalgic home. And spoiler alert, it’s not in San Marino, where Steve Martin’s character, George Banks, said it was.
“We live in a small town in Southern California called San Marino. I love this town and not just because it’s the kind of place where people still smile at each other. But because it hasn’t changed much in the past 25 years.”
Is the ‘Father of the Bride’ house real?
Yes, the Father of The Bride House is absolutely real! However, as it turns out, they actually used two homes to bring the movie together. The first, built in 1913, was used to film interior scenes and features as the front of the home that George pulls up to at the beginning of the movie.
“This is our house, 24 Maple Drive”
It has an incredible total of 8 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms and remains as charming today as it was back in the early 90s.
Though the true address isn’t quite as pretty sounding as 24 Maple Drive, it is, as George says, located in California. You’ll find the house looking just as dreamy as you’ve always remembered it at 843 El Molino Avenue in Pasadena, California.
It’s a private residence of course so any trips there should be respectful and discreet, making sure not to trespass on the property or disturb residents and neighbors. There’s been plenty of that in the past; according to betweennapsontheporch.com, the young couple who purchased the property shortly after the movie was made even had people ringing their doorbell and asking for a tour.
However, if you’re noticing that the first house doesn’t have those same iconic pink flower-lined white picket fences you remember from the movie, that’s because they were constructed especially (and temporarily) for the film.
The new owners had them taken out and replaced with new ones when they moved in.
The second house was used to shoot scenes for Annie and Bryan’s backyard wedding.
A Colonial home built in 1925, that property boasts 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, and almost half an acre of land. There’s also a partly furnished basement, a working fireplace, and a parking spot outside to keep the family car in. No mention of a basketball hoop (or swans in the bathtub) of course but I like to think the owners have one!
House #2, the wedding house, it’s also in California and stands at 500 N Almansor St, Alhambra.
“I’ll be honest with you. When I bought this house 17 years ago it cost less than this blessed event in which Annie Banks Became Annie Banks McKenzie.”
A lot has changed since 1992 when Father of the Bride first hit theatres. Not least the cost of huge five-bedroom houses with white picket fences and beautifully landscaped backyards.
So, three decades on and, sadly, more in the know about the cost of real estate, I couldn’t help but wonder just how much the Father of the Bride house would set you back today. Zillow had the answer. Though it’s currently off the market, they estimate that the iconic 4,339 square-foothouse is worth over 3.5 million dollars!
And, if you’re hoping the house used for the backyard wedding scenes might be more reasonable, you’re in luck… kind of. Also off the market, Zillow estimates this equally striking family home’s worth at around the 2.5 million dollar mark. It was last sold in 2016 for $1.998 million.
I’m suddenly considering giving up writing in pursuit of owning my own cook nook or perhaps an athletic shoe company!
Featured image: The real-life house featured on “Father of the Bride”, photo credit: Peter M. CC BY-SA 2.0 via Flickr
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When The Sound of Music hit the big screen in March 1965, audiences fell in love with the von Trapp family.
The hills and the movie theaters alike became alive with the sound of music, dance, and romance thanks to Maria and her crew.
As the third highest-grossing film of all time, The Sound of Music stole our hearts, as did the film’s stars Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer as Maria and Georg.
Christopher Plummer and Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music, 1965. Photo credit: 20th Century Fox, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
And these are just a few of our favorite things!
That’s why today, we’re taking a look at another big part of the musical family’s legacy: the Trapp Family Lodge in the United States. Continue reading about the family’s majestic alpine lodge that sits on 2,500 acres in the Green Mountain State.
How the von Trapps landed in the United States
The family’s homestead has more than just raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens.
As the story goes, the von Trapp family escaped their native Austria as the Nazis took over their beloved homeland.
The family’s daring escape led them to none other than Vermont in the United States.
Before officially moving to the New England region of the US, they toured the country in the early 1940s as the Trapp Family Singers.
Cor Unum, the Home of the Trapp Family Singers. Photo credit: See page for author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
They soon settled in Stowe, Vermont, on a farm with sweeping mountain vistas reminiscent of their beautiful native land. The house they lived in at the time was called “Cor Unum”, which means “one heart”.
How Trapp Family Lodge came to be
In the summer of 1950, the von Trapps opened their rapidly expanding, 27-room family home/lodge to guests.
After a devastating fire in 1980, the home was replaced by the Trapp Family Lodge, a 96-room alpine lodge situated on 2,500 acres.
Aerial view of the massive 96-room von Trapp Family Lodge. Photo credit: Sterling Kroll / Shutterstock
Offering guests a variety of indoor and outdoor resort amenities, the entire property is owned and operated by the von Trapp family.
How to get the von Trapp experience
Located at 700 Trapp Hill Road in Stowe, VT guests are greeted with wide, open arms at the stunning Vermont resort.
After the fire in 1980, the lodge was expanded, rebuilt and reopened to the public in 1983. And in 2000, the west wing was added.
Open all year long, the resort offers a year-round indoor heated pool and hot tub, along with an outdoor pool during the summer months.
Guests are treated to world-class dining with three different restaurants serving farm-to-table cuisine.
There are plenty of trails to explore, tours of the sugar house (via snowshoes during the winter), and brewery tours of the onsite brewery, to name a few of the fun activities.
And did we mention the ski hill?
Of course, there’s much to check out, including family photos, movie posters, playbills and more von Trapp family memorabilia on display at the Trapp Family Lodge.
Bring your family to the family lodge
Grab the kids and pack your bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens!
The Trapp Family Lodge is a great place to explore the great outdoors with your family, while getting a huge dose of movie memorabilia.
Maria and Captain von Trapp are survived by their children Johannes and Rosmarie, many grandchildren, as well as many great-grandchildren.
You might run into one (or many of them) while visiting the lodge as they are the owners and operators of the exclusive Vermont resort.
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I can’t believe I’m writing this (honestly had to triple-check), but it’s been almost 20 years since How I Met Your Mother aired its first episode. 18 years to be exact — but still, that’s almost two decades/six times as long as Barney and Robin were married!
Luckily for forever fans like myself who’ve sorely missed the show and watched every episode a hundred times (83% sure that’s a literal figure), the spin-off, How I Met Your Father, is now streaming with two almost as binge-able seasons to fill the void.
The best part? Whether you love the series, hate the series, or sit somewhere in between, there’s no denying it has a distinctly familiar vibe.
Ellen (Tien Tran), Charlie (Tom Ainsley), Jesse (Christopher Lowell), and Sid (Suraj Sharma) inside the How I Met Your Father apartment. Photo credit: Patrick Wymore/Hulu
Perhaps it’s the combination of its gritty New York setting mixed with a quippy group of 30-somethings who somehow find ample amounts of free time to hang out in a bar every single day. Could be the continued direction from Pamela Fryman who directed 196 of the original 208 episodes.
Or maybe, just maybe, it’s all thanks to the inclusion of one particularly special residence…
The ‘How I Met Your Father’ apartment is Marshall and Ted’s longtime abode from HIMYM
If you’ve found yourself wondering whether the How I Met Your Father apartment is the same one used in How I Met Your Mother, the answer is a resounding Yes! And that became clear from the very first episode of the new series.
Just a few minutes before the end of episode one, Sid and Jessie invite their new friends Sophie (Hilary Duff) and Valentina (Francia Raisa) back to their place for drinks where it’s revealed they live in Ted and Marshall’s (and Lily’s and Robin’s) old apartment.
Not that HIMYM fans really needed it, but we get further confirmation it’s the same old two-bed when Jessie brags how they scored the apartment from an ‘old married couple who posted it on the Wesleyan Alumni Group’ and that they ‘even got them to leave their swords’.
Related: Tracking Down Barney Stinson’s Apartment from HIMYM? Challenge Accepted!
Yep, the very same swords Ted and Marshall use in The Duel to decide who gets the apartment after Lily and Marshall get married.
Sid (Suraj Sharma) and Jesse (Chris Lowell) playing video games in their apartment on How I Met Your Mother, with the swords from Ted and Marshall’s apartment in the background. Photo credit: Patrick Wymore/Hulu
Surprisingly enough, these swords are not a replica. HIMYM co-creator Carter Bays happened to have kept the swords in his home and has willingly lent them out for the re-boot.
Even more surprising? The set isn’t a replica either! It was kept in storage after the original show wrapped back in 2014 and has now been given a new lease of life with contemporary, navy blue walls and all-new furniture.
Speaking to The Los Angeles Times, co-showrunner Elizabeth Berger explained exactly why they decided to include the familiar apartment in the spin-off.
Despite it being a totally new story with all new characters bar a few cameos, they knew that bringing this set back would be a fitting tribute to the original series and its beloved central characters. It also guarantees something special for loyal fans from the get-go.
If you ask me, it was the perfect way to wrap up the first episode.
Charlie (Tom Ainsley), Sid (Suraj Sharma), and Jesse (Christopher Lowell) inside the HIMYF apartment. Photo credit: Patrick Wymore/Hulu
The moment Sid turned the key and walked through the door (that’s a lie, I actually guessed it as they walked down the hall!), I found myself letting out an audible “aww” feeling like I’d just bumped into a dear old friend from years passed.
Maybe it’s because, after nearly ten years since HIMYM ended, I’d given up hope that this spin-off would ever get made. When funnily enough, it’s (kind of) been made twice!
In 2014, the same year we bid the gang a reluctant farewell, Greta Gerwig of Ladybird, Frances Ha, and the highly anticipated Barbie movie fame wrote and starred in a pilot episode for a series named, How I Met Your Dad.
Obviously, it didn’t get picked up so the pilot never aired. And, whilst I’ll always wonder what might have been since Gerwig is undoubtedly a master screenwriter, I’m currently loving watching this new sixsome make new memories in the gang’s old digs.
Will we see any of the old gang in HIMYF?
While a third series is yet to be confirmed, fans of the show have already been treated to not one but two main-cast cameos. First Robin (Cobie Smulders) in series one, then Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) in series two. We’ve also seen The Captain, Becky, and Carl!
HIMYM‘s Barney Stinson (Neil Patrick Harris) cameo on HIMYF, talking to Sophie (Hilary Duff). Photo credit: Patrick Wymore/Hulu
I won’t spoil any of their scenes for you but on the off chance you’re avoiding HIMYF due to a lack of familiar faces, tuning in means you will get to see your old faves again, even if only for a few minutes!
And who knows, if the show gets renewed beyond these two installments, maybe we’ll see Ted, Lily, or Marshall further down the road. Honestly? I’m really hoping the apartment connection means we will!
Frequently asked questions
Where do they live in How I Met Your Father?
Sophie, Jesse, Sid, Charlie, Val, and Ellen all live in Manhattan in New York City, NY, giving viewers a peek inside the lives of millennials living in the Big Apple.
Is the apartment in How I Met Your Father the same apartment in How I Met Your Mother?
Yes! During production, the How I Met Your Father crew reused the exact same set used to create Ted and Marshall’s apartment on HIMYM. It had been kept in storage after the original show wrapped back in 2014 and has now been given a new lease of life with contemporary navy blue walls and all-new furniture.
Where is the apartment building from How I Met Your Mother? / How I Met Your Father?
While the HIMYM apartment isn’t real and all scenes were filmed on set, the address is revealed in an older episode of the show (“Subway Wars”), placing Ted and Marshall’s apartment building at 150 W. 85th Street in New York City, on the Upper West Side.
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Despite its shockingly low ratings, The Idol has managed to claim a top spot as one of the most popular newly released TV shows.
The provocative HBO series, which airs on Sundays at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on HBO, has been stained with controversy even before it premiered. From production drama to script rewrites, the show had quite a few obstacles to overcome before making its way on our screens.
While many find The Idol scenes hard to watch, there’s one thing we can all agree on – that mansion featured on the show is undoubtedly stunning. The palatial estate, which serves as Jocelyn’s home base is actually The Weeknd’s real-life home, and he spent an insane amount of money on it.
Photo credit: Eddy Chen/HBO
The Idol’s controversial debut
Hitmaker Abel Tesfaye, best known as The Weekend, collaborated with Euphoria creator Sam Levinson to write, create, and produce the show.
Tesfaye stars as Tedros, a cult leader who develops a toxic romance with pop star Jocelyn, played by Lily-Rose Depp. The series marks Tesfaye’s first major acting role, after appearing briefly (as himself) in Josh Safdie’s Uncut Gems in 2019.
Photo credit: Eddy Chen/HBO
Before The Idol’s press tour began, Rolling Stonewrote an exposé detailing a toxic production set, which led to director Amy Seimetz’s departure. The editorial piece called the show “twisted, torture porn”. Seimetz was later replaced by Levinson, who rewrote the show almost completely.
“It was like any rape fantasy that any toxic man would have in the show — and then the woman comes back for more because it makes her music better,” one source told the publication.
Meanwhile, Depp has defended the show several times in interviews, saying she never felt objectified or exploited despite being half-naked in scenes.
Photo credit: Eddy Chen/HBO
Showrunners Levinson and Tesfaye maintain that the public backlash was expected all along.
”We’re playing with genres with this show, we’re doing exactly what we wanted to do,” Tesfaye told People. “And none of this is a surprise.”
How The Weeknd’s $70 million mansion ended up playing the part of Jocelyn’s house on The Idol
The Blinding Lights singer dropped a whopping $70 million for his 33,000-square-foot Bel Air mansion back in 2021.
It was the largest, most expensive real estate deal in Los Angeles that closed that year, earning Tesfaye a spot in our list of the most expensive celebrity homes in recent history.
We won’t overwhelm you with the never-ending list of amenities the star’s mansion packs between its walls, but you can read all about The Weeknd’s extravagant property here.
At the time of purchase, there were no plans of using the mansion as a filming set. But, as production was shaken up, they needed a quick resolution.
“If we were going to reshoot from the beginning, I knew it had to be for less money. Sitting in Abel’s house, looking around at the 40,000 square feet, I said, ‘It’s stunning here—you can’t buy production design like this. What if we shoot it here?’” Levinson told GQ.
The megamansion came complete with luxurious amenities, expansive grounds, and gorgeous views, making it the perfect shooting venue.
Everything We Know about The Weeknd’s House, a Sprawling $70M Mansion in Bel-Air https://t.co/ke6NRgiacH
— Fancy Pants Homes (@FancyPantsHomes) October 21, 2021
There was little done to change the interiors and the singer’s personal home decor can be seen throughout the episodes. According to Levinson, he and his wife “essentially moved into Tesfaye’s house” during filming, while The Weeknd moved out to protect himself from blurring the lines between fiction and reality.
With the mounting negative feedback, the show’s fate for a second season remains unclear. Recent reports indicate that the series will conclude earlier than its initially planned six-episode runtime, wrapping up at the end of the fifth episode.
Several outlets claimed, however, that Levinson’s iteration has always been billed as a five-episode series, so it remains to be seen if Lily-Rose Depp, The Weeknd, and Jocelyn’s house return to our screens for a second season.
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A unique hillside estate located in South Lake Tahoe has recently come to market at $19.8 million. Gunbarrel Lodge sits adjacent to Heavenly Ski Resort and was named after Gunbarrel Run, the ski spot’s iconic slopes.
But the chalet-style mansion is more than your ordinary luxury lodge.
It has gained quite a bit of TV fame, after having appeared on The Kardashians, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, and The Bachelor.
Photo credit: Arial Canvas courtesy of Compass
This lodge is a favorite filming spot of reality TV stars
Spanning 17,000 square feet of living space with 17 bedrooms and 18 bathrooms, the stunning home, which was built in 2017, has hosted some of the most popular reality shows.
The Kardashian clan filmed the finale of Keeping Up with the Kardashians here, before moving to a new network.
It also served as a one-on-one date destination in an episode of The Bachelor.
BRAVO star Lisa Rinna also rented the property for a glamorous getaway with her castmates.
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In the second episode of season 11, the Housewives of Beverly Hills retreated to the lodge amid the pandemic (and we know the RHOB have impeccable taste when it comes to their luxury retreats, their gorgeous Aspen rental from Season 12 stands as proof of that).
Photo credit: Arial Canvas courtesy of Compass
Combining rustic elegance and contemporary details
It comes as no surprise that the Gunbarrel Lodge draws in high-profile names.
With vast living areas and gorgeous views from every angle, it is built for entertainment.
Photo credit: Arial Canvas courtesy of CompassPhoto credit: Arial Canvas courtesy of Compass
Tahoe builder Bob McIntyre conceptualized the home, combining rustic elegance and contemporary details. Reclaimed materials were incorporated all throughout for a rugged, cabin-style finish.
Photo credit: Arial Canvas courtesy of Compass
“The idea was to maintain the traditional rustic feel of a classic Tahoe lodge,” explains Compass agent Mark Salmon, who currently holds the listing.
What’s inside Gunbarrel Lodge?
A private gated entrance and scenic driveway lead to a grand Porte-cochere entry and a six-car garage. The property has two sections — a main house and a guest house — linked together by a bridge-like staircase and grassy lawn.
Photo credit: Arial Canvas courtesy of Compass
Inside the lodge, there are two fully-equipped kitchens, over a dozen fireplaces, spacious rooms, and two dining tables. The semi-detached guest house has four bedrooms, four bathrooms, a covered outdoor deck, and a rooftop viewing area.
The expansive abode can comfortably house 30 to 40 people.
Photo credit: Arial Canvas courtesy of CompassPhoto credit: Arial Canvas courtesy of CompassPhoto credit: Arial Canvas courtesy of CompassPhoto credit: Arial Canvas courtesy of CompassPhoto credit: Arial Canvas courtesy of CompassPhoto credit: Arial Canvas courtesy of Compass
Most bedrooms have an ensuite bathroom and a private terrace that offers stunning views of the lush surroundings. Large glass windows bring plenty of natural light in, creating an inviting indoor-outdoor ambiance.
Photo credit: Arial Canvas courtesy of CompassPhoto credit: Arial Canvas courtesy of Compass
One of the most notable areas is the great room — a grand entertainment space with a wrap-around terrace that provides a sweeping panoramic view of the lake below.
Amenities include a heated indoor pool, game rooms, a rooftop hot tub, a sauna, a steam room, and a 24-seat private movie theater. As the lodge is situated just above the base of the resort, it also has convenient ski-in/ski-out access.
Photo credit: Arial Canvas courtesy of CompassPhoto credit: Arial Canvas courtesy of CompassPhoto credit: Arial Canvas courtesy of Compass
Discerning buyers can enjoy luxurious cabin living and also get bragging rights for owning a property that has been heavily featured on the small screen. Compass agent Mark Salmon holds the listing.
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Cue up your favorite girlboss anthem, because the high-powered female brokers at the Oppenheim Group are back!
And along with them come more million-dollar deals, some fresh new faces, and all the drama you’d expect from the Netflix series best described as ‘Real Housewives meets Million Dollar Listing.‘
Spicing things up this season are two new additions to the Selling Sunset cast, joining familiar faces like Chrishell Stause, Mary Fitzgerald, Emma Hernan, Heather Rae El Moussa, Amanza Smith, and Chelsea Lazkani.
O Group veteran Nicole Young steps into the limelight (after she’d only made brief appearances in past seasons, including a memorable one in Season 2 when she officiated Mary and Romain’s wedding), alongside model-turned-real estate agent Bre Tiesi.
For those of you keeping up with celebrity news, Bre might already be a familiar face, as the ambitious real estate agent was holding headlines last year after having a baby with Nick Cannon.
We also get to meet Jason Oppenheim’s new girlfriend, Marie-Lou Nurk, and Chrishell Stause’s partner (later turned wife), G Flip. But despite the show’s new additions, what we’re most excited to see more jaw-dropping mansions and multi-million-dollar homes — and there’s no shortage of those in the new season.
So we took it upon ourselves to track down all the spectacular houses in Selling Sunset Season 6, and give you a breakdown of their impressive features, endless lists of amenities, and upscale features.
The spectacular houses in ‘Selling Sunset’, Season 6
Selling Sunset doesn’t disappoint when it comes to real estate eye candy. From sprawling penthouses to massive mansions, Season 6 brought us plenty of million-dollar homes to daydream about — and even had us revisit some past favorites, like Chrishell Stause’s beautiful home in Hollywood Hills.
And since luxury real estate is our obsession, we couldn’t help ourselves and tracked down all the Selling Sunset houses that graced our screens in Season 6 of the hit Netflix show.
With the exception of Chelsea’s Santa Monica listing, which we couldn’t find as there weren’t many details available (or maybe Chelsea didn’t land the listing?), and Nicole’s West Hollywood listing, here’s a quick update on all of the houses featured this season, along with property photos and videos that allow you to take a closer look at these phenomenal estates.
Bonus: before we go into the houses that made their way on-screen, we’d like to take a second to applaud the Netflix production crew’s choice when picking the shooting location for promotional images.
The posters for Selling Sunset‘s sixth season were shot at the iconic Sheats-Goldstein Residence, an architectural marvel and Hollywood landmark designed by lauded architect John Lautner.
Saint Ives Place, West Hollywood – Harry Styles’ former house
An impressive property with celebrity pedigree, this West Hollywood manse was the perfect location to kick off Season 6 of Selling Sunset.
Previously owned by As It Was hitmaker Harry Styles (who bought and sold quite a few Los Angeles-area mansions over the years, including one that later became Lizzo’s house), Emma’s listing has a phenomenal location and all the luxury amenities you’d expect from a former celebrity pad.
With 4 bedrooms, 6 baths, and 4,401 square feet of living space, the Netflix-features Saint Ives Pl. is ideally located behind private gates right above the Sunset Strip — which means it offers beautiful panoramic views that extend from Downtown L.A. to the ocean.
At the time Selling Sunset filmed its Season 6 episodes, the property was listed for $7,995,000. Not to spoil anything for Netflix fans (as Harry Styles’ former house may make a comeback in the next season), but the property is still on the market, with a slightly reduced price.
We’ve also learned that the property is available as a rental asking a whopping $1,500 PER DAY.
Lloydcrest Drive in Beverly Hills, Emma’s $18,995,000 listing
We’re suckers for striking modern mansions, and the Lloycrest Dr house on Selling Sunset is right up our alley.
The 5-bed, 9-bath house, which comes with a coveted address (it’s set in the prestigious Crest Streets in Beverly Hills), was listed for just under $19 million.
Hardworking Emma had already secured a buyer for the modern Beverly Hills spread, but the sale fell through as the buyers were not happy with how much they’d have to pay for fire insurance, which ran high even for a property this size (the show mentions that the cheapest fire insurance for the house would be 200,000/year – yowza!)
(Spoilers ahead) Fast-forward to now, Lloydcrest Drive is still on the market, though at a significantly lower price point. The property — which offers 10,359 of living space, a massive 2,000 sq. ft. primary suite with a private glam room and hair salon, a gourmet kitchen, and a 20-person home theater with a bar, among others — is currently listed for $12,995,000.
Jason Oppenheim’s two $7.5M penthouses on Hollywood Boulevard
After his Season 5 breakup with Chrishell, O Group co-founder Jason Oppenheim threw himself into work — specifically, converting four condo units on Hollywood Blvd. into two spectacular penthouses with massive rooftop decks and the finest luxury finishes.
As mentioned on the show, Jason sunk nearly $10 million of his own personal money into the project, and he’s looking to cash out by listing each of them for a whopping $7.5 million.
(Spoiler) The two penthouses are still on the market following Selling Sunset‘s Season 6 premiere, though the smaller of the two — both units have 3 beds and 4 baths, but one is slightly larger at 3,820 square feet versus 3,580 sq. ft. — has seen its price drop by $500,000. It’s now listed for $6,995,000 (and as a rental for $49,900/mo), while the larger unit retains the original $7,495,000 asking price and a $49,900/mo rent price.
Micah’s Hillside Ave house
Micah, the developer behind the impressive Lloydcrest Drive property we mentioned earlier, was also selling his original home — and had enlisted Emma to be his agent for this one too.
Set on the same prime Hollywood Hills street as the unforgettable $40 million Hillside house from Season 1 and 2, the 5-bedroom, 5-bath home comes with 4,840 square feet of luxurious living space, an open floor plan with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors, and a King Kong statue(?) guarding the pool area.
Remember when Emma said how flattered she was that Micah was entrusting her with the sale of this home? Well, turns out he was right to do so (Warning, spoilers ahead): The Hillside Ave house from season 6 of Selling Sunset sold for more than the asking price.
Listed for $5,495,000 in August 2022, the 5-bedroom spread sold for $5,726,000 a few months later, in November 2022 per public records. Way to go, Emma!
N Stanley Ave, the black house on Billionaire’s Row
For this one, we didn’t have to do much research, as we extensively covered this beauty when it came to market last year.
Photo credit: Sean Gordon courtesy of The Agency
Definitely one of the most impressive houses featured on Season 6 of Selling Sunset, the newly-built N Stanley property that Heather and Bre visit together is nestled in the hills above Sunset Strip, in the coveted ‘Billionaire’s Row’.
Priced at a cool $24.995 million, the plush property offers all the bells and whistles you’d expect from an ultra-luxurious L.A. listing. And a few extras that probably wouldn’t have crossed your mind.
Offering panoramic views of DTLA, the Pacific Ocean, and the canyon, the spec house offers 6 beds, 9 baths, and nearly 10,365 square feet of living space. It also has a custom home theater, fitness center, wine cellar, second living room, and all the finest custom finishes.
Photo credit: Sean Gordon courtesy of The AgencyPhoto credit: Sean Gordon courtesy of The Agency
The sophisticated smart home also features museum-quality crystals sourced from around the world and placed with extraordinary care throughout the home to energetically enhance the luxury residence. Take a closer look at this stunning Hollywood Hills mansion.
Now, while on the show we see Bre and Heather touring the property (and later, Bre showing the house to her client, Adam), the black N Stanley house from Selling Sunset‘s season 6 was never listed with the Oppenheim Group.
The listing agents for the property are Camellia Yeroomian of The Agency (the other luxury brokerage that has its own Netflix series, Buying Beverly Hills) and Monty Abramov of The Beverly Hills Estates. Which means it isn’t a spoiler if we reveal that the fabulous mansion is still on the market, boasting a slightly altered listing price of $22 million.
300 The Strand, Chelsea’s $22M listing in Manhattan Beach
Set on a corner lot facing one of California’s best beaches, 300 The Strand is a rare oceanfront listing with all the bells and whistles its high price point commands.
With 4 bedrooms, 9 baths, and 4,440 square feet of modern coastal living space — plus a Strand-front patio, and a sports court with basketball hoop and a private, heated entertainment terrace with in-ground spa, fire pit and BBQ — Chelsea’s 300 The Strand listing is definitely one of the most impressive properties featured in Season 6 of Selling Sunset.
Related: Manhattan Beach’s priciest listing is a $36M modern mansion with luxury resort vibes
A few months after the season filmed, the oceanfront home in Manhattan Beach is still on the market, looking for either a buyer (it’s still listed on the O Group’s website for $21,999,000, though it’s worth noting that other industry websites no longer have it listed for sale) or a renter (it also appears as a $55,000/mo rental on popular real estate websites like Zillow or Realtor.com).
The Woodvale Road property in Encino
Heading over to Encino, new O Group agent Bre Tiesi is hoping to land a phenomenal listing set on Woodvale Road.
The newly built, 8-bedroom, 14-bath property is the pinnacle of luxury, offering over 21,000 square feet of meticulously crafted and designer done living space.
With stand-out features like a chef’s prep kitchen, home theater, professional gym, full spa, hair salon, elevator, temperature-controlled wine storage, 14-car garage that doubles as an event space, outdoor basketball court, and fabulous detached two-story guesthouse, the Woodvale Road property was priced at $25 million, and Bre was eyeing the ultra-generous $750,000 commission she would make from the sale.
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(Spoiler ahead) However, a little bit of research shows that Bre did not in fact land the Encino listing. Public records for the property show that it did find a buyer though — even if the O Group was likely not involved in the transaction.
The Encino mansion ended up selling in February 2023 for a cool $17,500,000, a price point that made it one of the biggest transactions in the family-friendly Encino neighborhood.
The Benedict Canyon house Mary was eyeing for one of her clients
For one of her clients — a couple from the UK who works in events and needs plenty of space and a large backyard — Mary was touring a stunning Beverly Hills property aptly dubbed Jardin de los Suenos (the House of Magical Gardens).
The newly designed Benedict Canyon house on Selling Sunset comes with 6 bedrooms, 7 full baths and one half-bath, and a generous 7,000 square feet of living space.
With extra tall ceilings (14-foot ones for the common spaces, and a 23-foot ceiling in the formal entry foyer) paired with equally tall windows and sliding glass doors, the property perfectly embodies the indoor-outdoor Cali living.
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2231 Benedict Canyon Dr Beverly Hills from Barcelo Photography Inc. on Vimeo.
Also featuring a total of 5 fireplaces, a 200-bottle temperature-controlled all-glass wine storage room, and a media/screening room, plus a one-bedroom guest house, it’s no surprise that the property didn’t linger on the market for too long.
(Spoiler alert) Listed for $8,999,995 in late July of last year, the property was sold a couple of months later for almost full ask: $8,956,000. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like Mary’s clients were the lucky buyers. Public records show that a different brokerage was attached to the sale.
The Oak View Drive house in Encino that Chrishell visits
On Episode 5, S06 of Selling Sunset, we join Chrishell for a property visit that brings us back to Encino to tour a 7-bedroom, 9-bathroom house on Oak View Drive.
Boasting the “best views in Encino”, the 7,003-square-foot home had been completely re-imagined by the developers, who invested about $1 million in property upgrades before listing it themselves.
Featuring beautiful cedar and oak detailing, a perfectly-appointed kitchen, a 1,000-square-foot primary bedroom with a large bathroom, and an infinity pool (plus a quirky neon sign that says “I Licked It So It’s Mine”) the Oak View Drive house also got Amanza and Heather’s seal of approval.
What happened to it since that episode was filmed? (Potential spoilers ahead) While Chrishell mentions that she does have a client that’s looking for something in this price range (especially if the developers/listing agents are willing to adjust the price, if needed), it seems that the property may have not been a good fit after all.
Listed for $7,895,000 million at the time of filming, the Encino house is still on the market — but has recently been re-listed at a revised price of $6.5 million. Take a closer look (swipe for more pics):
The sleek $33M Londonderry Place mansion Bre tours with her client
Bre means business! Her drive to sell eight-figure properties leads to her showing a striking $33 million mansion to one of her clients, Telli Swift, the fiancée of championship boxer Deontay Wilder.
One of the most bonkers mansions we’ve seen this season, the Londonderry house blends black and gold finishes throughout its 14,000 square feet of living space.
With 6 bedrooms, 8 baths, and soaring 30-foot ceilings, this sleek Selling Sunset mansion has an endless list of amenities, including a spa wellness retreat with a cryo chamber, hot yoga and salon, and a two-level glass-bottomed pool.
The striking property was also featured on Architectural Digest a few years back, with its unique amenities and aesthetic appeal attracting over 4.5 million views on YouTube.
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(Spoilers) At the time of writing, shortly after Season 6 of Selling Sunset aired, the Londonderry house is no longer on the market, per public records. However, since no sale was recorded in the meantime, it could very well be that the property is still up for grabs but held as a pocket listing by one of L.A.’s top luxury brokerages.
Poo Bear’s house at Zorada Court
Once again courting her many famous friends, we see Bre touring music producer Poo Bear’s house in Los Angeles, a 5-bedroom, 5.5-bath modern retreat overlooking Nichols Canyon.
Poo Bear and his wife, Ashley, are looking to list the property as they’re moving to Miami and Bre is hoping to get the listing, which could potentially earn her a $297,000 commission.
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Beyond the property’s many attributes, Poo Bear’s house is also where music history has been made. The music producer/songwriter has collaborated with some of the biggest names in the music industry, including Justin Bieber, Chris Brown, Usher, Skrillex, and J Balvin, with many of their famous songs being written in this house.
In fact, the white piano (that comes with the house) is where Justin Bieber’s Yummy was created, Poo Bear shares.
Related: Where does Justin Bieber live? His many houses — both past and present
As for what happened to the property after its Selling Sunset appearance (warning, spoilers ahead): after first being listed in November 2022 for $8,900,000, Zorada Ct’s price was dropped to $7,995,000 in early February 2023, only to sell less than two months later for $6,850,000. No O Group agent was involved in the transaction, neither on behalf of the seller nor of the buyer.
Chelsea’s listing at 15th Street in Manhattan Beach
Taking us back to dreamy Manhattan Beach, Chelsea walks us through her 3-bed, 4-bath listing with easy beach access.
While the first offer Chelsea got for the property was fairly low ($3.6 million), she knew she priced the house right and wasn’t going to budge until she got the offer up for her client.
And she stayed true to her words, selling the 3-story for $3,900,000 — just $50k shy of the initial asking price of $3,950,000. Way to go, Chelsea!
The Beverly Boulevard condo Heather tours for Heather and Terry Dubrow
Leading the home search for Real Housewives of Orange County star Heather Dubrow and her husband, plastic surgeon and Botched co-host, Terry Dubrow, Heather tours a $17,500,000 condo at 8899 Beverly Boulevard, hoping she will land her biggest sale to date.
Accompanied by Brett, Heather walks us through the 4-bed, 4.5-bath condo with jaw-dropping views and resort-level amenities.
However, we learn later on that Terry and Heather Dubrow didn’t purchase the place, but they did ‘settle’ on an equally expensive penthouse set in the coveted Century building known as the Cavalli Penthouse (due to its many upscale furnishings that bear the signature of Roberto Cavalli).
Heather wasn’t the only one to land a killer commission though. (Potential spoiler) The $17.5 million penthouse from Selling Sunset was sold a few months later (at full ask), with none other than Brett Oppenheim repping the buyer.
Elvis’ honeymoon house
Okay, so this isn’t an O Group listing, we know. But how can we write an article about all the phenomenal luxury listings featured in this season of Selling Sunset without at least mentioning Elvis and Priscilla’s honeymoon house?
An iconic Palms Springs property, the futuristic residence was actually built in 1960 by pioneering Modernist architect William Krisel.
At the time, its spaceship-like design earned it the moniker “The House of Tomorrow”, but that didn’t last long, as Priscilla and Elvis Presley famously celebrated their honeymoon here in 1967 — after which it became widely known as “Elvis’ Honeymoon Hideaway”.
Related: Graceland, Elvis Presley’s house in Memphis – everything you’ve ever wanted to know
Last year, the property had a brief stint on the market, listing in early October 2022 for $5,650,000. Unsurprisingly, a month later, the King’s honeymoon house was already sold at full ask.
The Brentwood house Bre shows Saweetie
Heading over to celebrity-friendly, suburban Brentwood, Bre takes us — and her friend, rapper Saweetie — on a tour of a 7,401-square-foot beauty priced at a cool $8,800,000.
The 5-bedroom, 7-bath home at 19th Helena Drive sits on a quiet cul-de-sac and boasts beautiful architectural details. With an expansive open floorplan on the main floor, inviting (and ultra-private) bedrooms shielded by the lush landscaping, and a lower level designed for entertainment — featuring a plush theater and deluxe wet bar, opening directly to the impressive pool with spa, green lawns, barbecue area, and built-in firepit — the house does seem to be a perfect fit for Saweetie.
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(Potential spoilers) However, despite Bre’s excellent match-making, it wasn’t a done deal. Public records show that the property did indeed sell, but the sale closed in late March 2023 and doesn’t show Bre or any other Oppenheim Group agents associated with the transaction.
The selling price was $7,000,000, considerably lower than the $8.8 million ask mentioned on the show. Fun fact: the property was actually first listed for a whopping $12,949,000.
The house Heather and Bre visit on Sunset Plaza Dr
The last property of this season takes us to Sunset Plaza Dr, where a new-to-market 3-bed, 4-bath listing needs to be assessed by Bre and Heather, to see if it’s a good fit for their clients.
Listed for $4,995,000, the 3,364-square-foot bachelor pad has a massive primary bedroom suite that gets several “Oh my gosh” out of Heather, which isn’t an easy feat given the type of properties she’s used to.
This sleek contemporary home located above the Sunset Strip showcases jetliner panoramic views from Downtown to the ocean. It then comes as little surprise that the home also has multiple outdoor decks and a rooftop deck to capitalize on those extraordinary views, as well as an infinity edge pool with a private Baja deck and swim-up bar.
As for what happened to it (Potential spoilers), the Sunset Plaza Dr property sold in April 2023 for $3,150,000. While it may not have been a good fit for any of Heather or Bre’s clients, the O Group did get a significant commission out of the sale, as Jason Oppenheim was the listing agent for the property.
Admittedly, while watching the show, I felt like there were fewer properties and considerably more drama than in previous seasons. However, after writing about each Selling Sunset house that graced our screens in Season 6 of the hit Netflix docu-soap, I realize there were quite a few show-stopping mansions for us to daydream about. Hope we’re going to get to see some of them return in Season 7.
Editor’s note: While we did our best to identify all the properties featured on Selling Sunset, there’s always a possibility that we’ve missed something. If you spot anything that’s off, or you have an inside tip on one of the properties, drop us a line anytime at hello (at) fancypantshomes.com
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Skyfall, the childhood home of James Bond, did more than just give a catchy title — and provide a nice explosion site — for the 23rd movie in the James Bond series.
It put James Bond’s story into context and gave us a glimpse into how 007 was born (both literally and figuratively), serving as a backdrop for the closest thing we’ll ever see as an origins story for the iconic character.
And since the house itself is a memorable presence and many have been wondering whether James Bond’s Skyfall home is a real house — and if they can go visit it or not — let’s separate facts and fiction for a sec, and see if we have any real-life brick-and-mortar locations we can scout or if everything was born in front of a green wall.
Skyfall house in the 2012 James Bond movie
Said to be located in the barren rural lands of Glen Coe, Scotland, Skyfall is the Bond family estate in the Scottish Highlands.
Left in a state of disrepair, with only the faithful gamekeeper Kincade left to look over the estate, Skyfall is by no means dear to James Bond’s heart, something that the spy doesn’t try too hard to hide.
James Bond’s house serves more as a battleground, meant to attract the story’s villain, Javier Bardem’s calculated (and down-right scary) Raoul Silva.
And Skyfall serves its purpose right, attracting both Silva and his small army in its booby-trapped grounds, for a memorable confrontation that ends is Silva’s death — and the utter destruction of the property, as the Skyfall home explodes and is left to burn to the ground at the end of the movie, with James Bond’s words echoing his utter lack of interest in preserving the old Bond family home, saying: “I always hated this place.”
The real Skyfall house
Surprisingly enough, especially given its tragic fate, the Skyfall house was real, but not in the traditional sense.
The property was purpose-built from scratch at Hankley Common, in Surrey, England (and not in Scotland, as the movie would make you believe.)
Skyfall Lodge, the brainchild of art director Dean Clegg, was built to resemble the weather-beaten stone builds of the Highlands, complete with creeping moss and small mullioned windows.
The property was designed, built and used as a filming location all within the span of six months, culminating with a fire that engulfed it into flames.
Still from Skyfall movie. Source: James Bond Fandom
Inside James Bond’s Skyfall home
While the exterior of the Skyfall house may have been real, the interiors were not.
All shots from inside the Bond Skyfall house were created and shot on a soundstage at Pinewood Studios, but the filmmakers went to great lengths to make sure viewers will not be picking up on that while watching the movie.
Still from Skyfall movie. Source: James Bond Fandom
The made-for-screen interiors featured all the classic amenities of an ancestral British country lodge, such as wood panelling, oil paintings, grandfather clocks, stone fireplaces, stag-themed paraphernalia and antique furniture.
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It may not be a match for Tony Stark’s futuristic mansion on a cliff (that went crumbling down at the hands of the Mandarin in Iron Man 3), but Tony Stark’s cabin from Avengers: Endgame is now an iconic movie setting that will stick with Marvel fans forever.
The lakeside cabin where Tony Stark retreats after the devastating events of Infinity War, looking to give daughter Morgan a normal upbringing instead of exposing her to the chaos of superhero life, serves as a backdrop to crucial scenes in the movie — culminating with what is now arguably one the most dramatic moments in the entire Marvel universe: Tony Stark’s funeral.
So I found Tony Starks Cabin on Airbnb if anyone needs a vacation to cope after Endgame. from r/marvelstudios
Listed on Airbnb by a secretive host who simply goes by “Ed,” the famous cabin was spotted by some eagle-eyed Reddit users, who quickly took to the website to compare screenshots from the movie to the photos in the listing.
Not only that, but movie goers have quickly spotted that the cabin used in the Avengers movie had an even more recent big-screen appearance.
Image: Tony Stark’s cabin in Avengers: Endgame. Credit: Airbnb
Once the property was up on reddit, it didn’t take long for people to figure out that Avengers: Endgame was not the only summer blockbuster filmed at this location.
The same cabin was used in Godzilla: Kind of the Monsters, as Kyle Chandler’s home, where he retreats after the life-altering events that take place in 2014’s Godzilla (starting to see a pattern here).
Tony Stark’s lakeside cabin (IRL)
Set on private property in the middle of the beautiful Bouckaert Farms, Tony Stark’s cabin is located in Chattahoochee Hills — a small, private community of less than 2,500 people in Fulton County, Georgia.
And that fits the narrative pretty well, as Tony’s new home in Avengers: Endgame is a secluded cabin where he retreats with Pepper Potts following the emotional aftermath of Infinity War, a quiet and peaceful place where the two can raise their daughter, Morgan.
Yet not remote enough so that people can’t reach him with ease (you know, in case the world needs saving again).
The property comes with three bedrooms, four beds, three baths, and it can accommodate up to six people.
It’s about a 20-min drive away from Atlanta International airport — which probably made it a lot easier to get the entire cast of Endgame together for Stark’s funeral. Or, if you’re Mark Ruffalo or Tom Holland, ‘the wedding scene’.
How to book a stay at the Avengers cabin
Well, this is a short “how to”: you can simply book the cabin on Airbnb here. Thought it’s worth mentioning that now, since the cat is out of the bag, availabilities may be a little scarce, so make sure to move fast.
As demand increases, so do the rates. At this time, the rate for a one-night stay is $1,066, but may go up considerably.
The cabin definitely plays up its Endgame connection and doesn’t just settle for being a pretty damn nice cabin.
“You have full use of the cabin and the back porch for hanging out,” the listing says, “taking photos and sending text/emails to friends regarding your stay in the Marvel Avengers Endgame cabin. Stand where hero’s/stars stood for the wreath floating in the lake just a few feet away from you.”
Before booking a stay here, you might feel the need to double-check whether this truly is the same cabin used in Avengers: Endgame. And if the listing description is not credible enough, reddit comes to the rescue once again.
Minutes after the link to the property was posted, redditors flocked to the listing and scoured the photos to identify similarities between the Airbnb cabin and scenes of Stark’s house in the movie. It didn’t take them long to find them:
Now, if you do end up booking the Avengers: Endgame cabin for a stay and you do some recon of your own, matching movie scenes with your surroundings, make sure to drop us a line at [email protected]. We’d love to see them!
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One time during the early 1970s, Stephen King opened an atlas at random on his kitchen table and decided that he and his wife would travel to whatever location it opens to.
The atlas happened to open to a page about Boulder, Colorado, and that’s how the story of The Shining began. Or so the legend goes.
King and his wife Tabitha checked into The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado, on October 30th, 1974.
Having recently written Carrie and Salem’s Lot, two novels set in the writer’s home state of Maine, King needed a change of scenery to get his inspiration going.
And boy, did he get it going at The Stanley Hotel. The hotel’s on-site pet cemetery served as inspiration for another successful King novel. I don’t think we need to tell you the name of that one; you get the gist.
via The Stanley Hotel
The couple arrived at the Stanley right at the close of the tourist season, as all the other guests were checking out.
The writer and his wife were the only guests at the hotel that night, as they checked into room 217, which was allegedly haunted.
That obviously didn’t deter King, but the eeriness of the massive hotel on the edge of the Rocky Mountains ultimately did.
The pair had dinner in the hotel’s grand hall, all by themselves, after which King took an evening tour of the grounds and ended up at the hotel bar, where he was served by a bartender named Grady.
via The Stanley Hotel
That night, King had a nightmare that his young son was being chased by a firehose around the hotel corridors, and woke up in a sweat.
The experience at The Stanley Hotel reportedly sparked the inspiration for The Shining, which King first envisioned while staying there as a guest.
The Shining couldn’t have come at a better time for the Stanley, which had lost its appeal to tourists and was beginning to fall into neglect. It didn’t exactly help that it always closed during the winter, as the heavy snow would make getting there nearly impossible.
The success of The Shining sparked new interest in the hotel, and guests soon started flocking to Estes Park, all trying to check into room 217. Even now, that room is booked solid, and it’s basically impossible to find it available on Halloween.
Before we go further into the history of the Stanley, let’s clear up something that many of you might be wondering. You’ve surely noticed that the Overlook hotel in Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining, starring Jack Nicholson, looks nothing like the Colorado hotel.
That’s because the production crew chose a more accessible and convenient location to film the exterior shots for the movie. Kubrick’s Overlook is actually the Timberline Lodge at Mt. Hood in Oregon.
The Overlook Hotel in Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining (1980)
Stephen King wasn’t exactly thrilled by Kubrick’s portrayal of Jack Torrance and his eponymous novel, to put it nicely.
Consequently, in 1997, a King-approved take on the story was released, in the form of a three-part miniseries dubbed Stephen King’s The Shining.
The miniseries used the Stanley Hotel for all exterior shots, and even some interior scenes, honoring the place where The Shining first took shape.
Still from Stephen King’s The Shining – via IMDB
The history of the Stanley Hotel, otherwise known as the Overlook
The picturesque, Colonial Revival hotel in Estes Park, just 5 miles from the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park, is widely known around the world today, thanks to the horror novel that it inspired.
But not that many people knew about it before The Shining. That might have had something to do with its secluded location and the fact that it stays closed during the winter months.
However, back in the early 1900s, the Stanley was buzzing with activity. Let’s go back to the beginning.
via The Stanley Hotel
In 1903, Freelan Oscar Stanley, owner of the Stanley Motor Carriage Company, which made the fastest-then vehicle on earth — the Stanley Steamer — was struck down with tuberculosis.
Doctors didn’t have much hope that he would survive the disease, but advised him that the cool air of the Rocky Mountains might help alleviate his symptoms.
They, however, didn’t really think it would help much, and were convinced the next time they would see Stanley was at his funeral.
Imagine their surprise when they learned that Stanley was recovering nicely after spending time in the mountains. The businessman became enamored with the mountain views and the clean air, so much so that he would return to Estes Park every summer from then on.
He ended up building himself a home in the Rockies, and began construction on The Stanley Hotel in 1907.
F.O. Stanley in Estes Park
The Stanley was built according to F.O. Stanley’s specifications, with the help of Denver-based architect Theilman Robert Weiger.
The 142-key hotel opened on July 4th, 1909, and quickly became a hotspot for upper-class guests and a health retreat for those suffering from tuberculosis.
via The Stanley Hotel
The hotel, located at 333 Wonderview Avenue, with its breathtaking views of Lake Estes and the Rockies (particularly Long’s Peak) is now a national landmark.
The Stanley Hotel Historic District incorporates 11 structures, including: the main hotel, a concert hall, a carriage house, a manager’s cottage, a gate house, as well as The Lodge — a smaller bed-and-breakfast originally named Stanley Manor.
Today, the Stanley offers both historic rooms at the main hotel, apartment-style residences for extended stays called Aspire, and one- to three-bedroom condominiums dubbed Residences.
It also incorporates more than 14,000 square feet of sophisticated meeting and event space, and a number of indoor and outdoor wedding venues.
via The Stanley Hotel
A unique feature of the Stanley is that it doesn’t have — or need — air conditioning; the hotel is naturally cooled by the mountain breeze, and it has been built to make the best of that breeze in order to ventilate the property.
via The Stanley Hotel
The hotel also offers something for those seeking a ‘paranormal thrill.’
It features a variety of rooms with allegedly high paranormal activity, including room 217 (now called the Stephen King Suite), and rooms 401, 407 and 428, which are said to be haunted by ghosts.
There are a lot of horror fans out there, so obviously these rooms are highly requested and almost never available.
Another fun fact is that The Stanley Hotel served as a filming location for a movie on the complete opposite end of the spectrum, the 1994 comedy Dumb and Dumber, starring Jim Carrey, which was filmed on location.
The Stanley re-imagined by Stephen King
‘Some of the most beautiful resort hotels in the world are located in Colorado, but the hotel in these pages is based on none of them. The Overlook and the people associated with it exist wholly in the author’s imagination.’ –The Shining by Stephen King
via IMDB
While it might be true that the Overlook hotel is a feat of imagination, the similarities between the fictional hotel and the Stanley are pretty obvious.
Here’s what hotel manager Stuart Ullman tells Jack Torrance about the history of the Overlook in the first pages of the novel:
‘The Overlook was built in the years 1907 to 1909. The closest town is Sidewinder, forty miles easy of here over roads that are closed from sometime in late October or November until sometime in April. A man named Robert Townley Watson built it, the grandfather of our present maintenance man. Vanderbilts have stayed here, and Rockefellers, and Astors, and Du Ponts. Four Presidents have stayed in the Presidential Suite. Wilson, Harding, Roosevelt, and Nixon.’ To this description, Jack replies: ‘I wouldn’t be too proud of Harding and Nixon.’
Still from Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining – via IMDB
In King’s novel, the Overlook hotel is inhabited by dark forces lying in wait every winter for human minds to invade and control.
Both Jack Torrance and his predecessor, Grady, become victims of these dark forces, which Ullman describes as ‘cabin fever.’
The isolation and silent enormity of the hotel take a toll on Jack’s already fragile mind, and the dark forces of the Overlook turn him against his own family.
via IMDB
In the novel, Jack’s clouded, drunken trance-like state makes him forget all about the hotel’s boiler, which ends up exploding and burning it to the ground.
Jack’s wife Wendy, his son Danny and Dick Halloran are the only survivors, and the hotel is soon being reconstructed.
In Kubrick’s interpretation, the plot is a bit different. Jack chases his son with an axe through the hotel’s on-site maze, but eventually becomes lost and trapped as Danny escapes with his mother. Jack Torrence ends up freezing to death inside the hedge maze.
The immense popularity and success of Kubrick’s adaptation led managers at the Stanley Hotel to build their very own hedge maze on the grounds, thus creating yet another attraction for fans of the novel and the movie.
via The Stanley Hotel
Whether you’re a die-hard Stephen King fan, a Stanley Kubrick fan, a horror aficionado, or just enamoured with the Rocky Mountains, you’ll feel right at home at the Stanley Hotel.
The unrivalled view alone is enough to make you want to return every year, just as Oscar Stanley did.
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You know how some directors have a habit of casting the same actors over and over again? Many of the best filmmakers have found that one star they love to work with and, as a result, keep going back to.
Steven Spielberg had his Tom Hanks, Scorsese had his DeNiro (and now, his DiCaprio), Tarantino has his always-growing group of rotating players (with his most recent work, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood being no exception).
Well, it would seem that there isn’t much difference when it comes to movie homes. Not every home can easily accommodate a filming set, ensure proper lighting, and complement the movie it’ll be featured in.
Then you have to factor in the actual location of the home, that needs not only to fit the general feel of the movie (and hopefully provide some killer surroundings for extra shots), but also how easy it is to reach for the entire filming crew and suite of actors that will be working on set.
But the contemporary home at 5941 Philip Ave. in Malibu seems to be a top choice among Hollywood filmmakers — so much so that it’s worthy of its own IMDB page.
5941 Philip Ave. Malibu, CA. Image credit: Compass
The Malibu property — which overlooks the world-famous Zuma Beach — has been featured in countless major motion picture and television shows including The Assassination of Gianni Versace (though not as the actual Versace house), Blow, Like Mike, and Ray Donovan.
And it’s easy to see why: touted as one of the best white water and coastline ocean view estate in all of Malibu Park, the contemporary home at 5941 Philip Ave. is an incredibly luxurious build with 20-foot tall ceiling-to-floor glass windows that showcase some of the most incredible sunset views in all of California.
5941 Philip Ave. Malibu, CA. Image credit: Compass 5941 Philip Ave. Malibu, CA. Image credit: Compass 5941 Philip Ave. Malibu, CA. Image credit: Compass
The home — currently on the market for $15,996,000 — features an entire level completely dedicated to a wide open floor plan of 2,000 square feet, making it an entertainer’s dream that can comfortably accommodate up to 200 people (or, to go back to where we started, a full filming crew and their bulky equipment).
Standing on a generous 151,617-square-foot lot, the Zuma Beach-facing property comes with 6 bedrooms and 5.5 baths and isn’t the only abode on the grounds. There’s also a 2,000-square-foot guest house, itself set up with 2 beds and 2 baths that can accommodate all those party guests.
5941 Philip Ave. Malibu, CA. Image credit: Compass 5941 Philip Ave. Malibu, CA. Image credit: Compass 5941 Philip Ave. Malibu, CA. Image credit: Compass 5941 Philip Ave. Malibu, CA. Image credit: Compass 5941 Philip Ave. Malibu, CA. Image credit: Compass 5941 Philip Ave. Malibu, CA. Image credit: Compass
A private 70-foot long pool and spa let you take in the relaxing feel of the property, complete with an envy-inducing ‘soundtrack’: hearing the waves crash upon the Zuma Beach sand.
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Is It Real? Edward Cullen’s Sleek Glass House in the Twilight Saga Skyfall, James Bond’s Childhood Home in the Scottish Highlands Bong Joon Ho’s House in the Oscar-Winning ‘Parasite’ is One You Won’t Forget Anytime Soon The Futuristic, Secluded House in the Movie ‘Ex Machina’ is More Remote than You Think
