@snowqueenla: One of the most expensive estates ever built in Beverly Hills has a surprisingly dark history. Built in the 1920s by oil tycoon Edward L. Doheny for his son, Edward “Ned” Doheny Jr., the estate cost more than $3 million at the time — roughly $60 million in today’s money — and included a fifty-five-room mansion, swimming pool, tennis courts, stables, waterfalls and even its own fire station. Inside, the details were even more extravagant: hand-carved woodwork, five chimneys designed by different artists, a private movie theater, billiard room, two-lane bowling alley, a hidden Prohibition-era bar and a wall safe used for the family’s silver and gold services. Fifteen live-in servants helped run the estate. But Ned enjoyed his new home for only five months. In February 1929, Ned and his longtime friend and secretary Hugh Plunkett were found shot to death inside a guest bedroom. The official explanation was murder-suicide, but questions surrounding the scene remained, and the deaths became even more mysterious because of the Doheny family’s connection to the Teapot Dome scandal, one of the biggest political corruption scandals in American history. Nearly a century later, exactly what happened that night is still debated. Greystone later became one of Hollywood’s favorite filming locations. There Will Be Blood even used its original bowling alley, while The Big Lebowski, The Social Network, The Holiday, Ghostbusters, The Prestige and many other productions filmed on the estate. And there’s another unexpected detail: the property became home to a nineteen-million-gallon reservoir, and the site still serves as Beverly Hills’ largest reservoir. 📍 Greystone Mansion & Gardens 905 Loma Vista Dr, Beverly Hills 🌳 Gardens & grounds: currently open daily, 10 AM–6 PM, with free admission and parking. 🏛️ Want to see inside? The first floor of the mansion and restored theatre normally open for self-guided visits on the first Saturday or Sunday of each month, January through November. Check the City of Beverly Hills schedule and reserve a timed entry before visiting. #GreystoneMansion #BeverlyHills #LosAngeles #HollywoodHistory #HiddenLA

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Tuesday 18 August 2026 07:51:25 GMT