Pasadena is full of beautiful gardens some well-known, and others hidden. Ambassador Gardens is one of those hidden gems that connects to the Ambassador Auditorium, Harvest Rock Church, and Maranatha School.
Watch my video walking tour
The mansions
In 1904, architect Myron Hunt designed a mansion for businessman John S. Cravens in the Italian Renaissance style featuring lush gardens and unique architectural details. Henry Huntington purchased the property in 1914 and expanded and enhanced the estate, adding additional buildings and landscaping.
During the 1920s, the mansion became the residence of the Ambassador College, which was part of the Worldwide Church of God. The buildings were used as college buildings from 1946 – 1990 for the Worldwide Church of God’s Ambassador College campus until it closed.
The large and exquisite mansions above the garden were built near the turn of the 20th century. In 1902, prominent businessman Otho S.A. Sprague, who owned grocery stores, constructed a 12,000-square-foot Tudor Revival home called Mayfair Mansion.
Another huge and impressive mansion was built by multi-millionaire Hulett C. Merritt in 1905 for $1.100,000.
His son, Lewis J. Merritt built an English Arts and Crafts-style mansion nearby in 1908.
The Italian-styled Terrace Villa Mansion was built in 1924 by retired judge Stillman B. Jamison.
For many years Ambassador College owned and used the mansions. The property changed hands many times and underwent several renovations and restorations.
Built even earlier, in 1885, are the remains of the Moorish Style Claypool Flower Mansion & Fowler Gardens. All that is left is the garden’s pavilion and fountains. The original building was used as a library for Ambassador College but was razed in 2012.
Today, the Ambassador Mansion and Gardens are used for weddings, parties, and other gatherings.
Ambassador Auditorium
The Ambassador Auditorium was opened in 1974 by the Worldwide Church of God to hold church services and functions. It also hosted 20 seasons of concerts with some of the world’s most accomplished musicians and performers including Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, Frank Sinatra, and many more until 1995 when the church closed.
The auditorium is now owned by Che Ahn’s HRock Church of Pasadena. Outlying buildings were sold to developers, and some were torn down to make room for luxury apartments and townhomes.
The magnificent gardens are open to the public and can be entered from Green Street or off St. John Ave.
This koi pond is a lovely place to walk, meditate, and observe the greenery.
Trees on the property include cypress, heritage oak, deodar cedar, and this magnificent Moreton Bay fig tree.
The area is a short walk to Old Town Pasadena.
Developers always destroy something beautiful and build ugly square building with ugly sculptures in its place.
That happens a lot, it’s true. The buildings at Ambassador Gardens have been there a long time and I think they did a nice job making it a nice place to walk around.