When you think of Beverly Hills, you probably imagine Rodeo Drive, celebrity homes, luxury shopping, and glamorous hotels. But tucked away in the hills above the city is one of Los Angeles’ most fascinating historic landmarks: Greystone Mansion & Gardens.
The last time I stepped into the mansion was for an event when it was associated with the American Film Institute from 1969 to 1982. AFI moved to its Hollywood location in 1982. While I was there, I met Gregory Peck, so you can imagine how many moons ago it was.
The estate looks like something out of an English period drama, with its grand stone architecture, sweeping staircases, beautifully landscaped gardens, and spectacular views of Los Angeles. What makes it even more intriguing is its colorful history, which includes an oil fortune, a mysterious double death, Hollywood movies, and nearly a century of changing fortunes.
The City of Beverly Hills manages Greystone’s magnificent outdoor grounds and gardens, which are open to the public, and admission is free. The interior is reserved for very occasional special events led by city docents. It’s a wonderful hidden gem for anyone who enjoys architecture, history, photography, or simply discovering unusual places around Los Angeles.
What you will see at the mansion
The estate encompasses approximately 18.3 acres of landscaped grounds, formal gardens, terraces, fountains, and historic buildings.
As you approach it, it’s easy to forget you’re in the middle of a major metropolitan area. Mature trees, stone pathways, and peaceful garden settings make the estate feel surprisingly secluded.
The grounds are especially lovely for a stroll, and several terraces offer wonderful views overlooking Beverly Hills and the Los Angeles Basin.
The history of Greystone Mansion and the Doheny Family
Edward L. Doheny was one of the wealthiest and most influential oil pioneers in Southern California.
In 1892, he and his business partner Charles A. Canfield struck oil in Los Angeles, helping launch the city’s petroleum industry. Doheny eventually expanded his business into Mexico and accumulated an enormous fortune.
He gifted his son, Edward “Ned” Doheny Jr., a 12.58-acre parcel of land overlooking Beverly Hills as a wedding gift in 1926.
Ned and his wife, Lucy Smith Doheny, were raising five children, and the property was intended to become their spectacular family home.
Construction began in 1927, and the family moved into the mansion in September 1928. The estate reportedly cost more than $3 million to build, an extraordinary amount of money at the time.
Unfortunately, the family’s happiness in their new home would be short-lived.
The mysterious death of Ned Doheny
One of the most intriguing and tragic chapters in Greystone Mansion’s history occurred just a few months after the Doheny family moved in.
On February 16, 1929, 35-year-old Ned Doheny and his longtime friend and personal assistant, Hugh Plunkett, were found shot to death inside the mansion.
The deaths were officially described as an apparent murder-suicide, with Plunkett believed to have killed Doheny before taking his own life.
However, questions surrounding the circumstances have persisted for decades.
The tragedy attracted considerable publicity because the Doheny family was extraordinarily wealthy and politically connected. Edward Doheny Sr. had also been implicated in the infamous Teapot Dome oil scandal, one of the biggest political controversies of the 1920s.
Some investigators questioned the original account of the shootings, and conflicting details helped turn the deaths into one of Beverly Hills’ enduring mysteries.
The sensational story has inspired articles, books, and speculation about what really happened inside Greystone that night.
Lucy Doheny continued living at the estate for many years after her husband’s death, eventually remarrying.
An architectural masterpiece from the 1920s
Greystone Mansion was designed by Gordon B. Kaufmann, a prominent architect whose work also included the Hoover Dam and the Los Angeles Times building.
The mansion is an outstanding example of English Revival architecture, with Tudor influences that give it the appearance of a grand British country estate.
Its exterior features Indiana limestone, thick stone walls, leaded-glass windows, decorative chimneys, and a distinctive Welsh slate roof. The gray appearance of the stone inspired the name Greystone.
Inside, the mansion contains approximately 46,000 square feet of living space and 55 rooms.
The interiors were designed to impress, with exquisite woodwork, marble floors, carved oak staircases, and elaborate architectural details.
Some of its more unusual amenities included:
- A private movie theater
- A bowling alley
- A billiard room and hidden bar
- An elaborate entertainment wing
- Luxurious bedroom suites
- Servants’ quarters for a large household staff
The original estate also featured tennis courts, stables, kennels, a greenhouse, a swimming pool, waterfalls, and even its own fire station.
Landscape architect Paul G. Thiene designed the surrounding grounds, incorporating formal gardens and elegant outdoor spaces that complemented the mansion’s European appearance.
How Greystone Mansion became a public park
After Lucy Doheny left Greystone in the 1950s, the property’s future became uncertain.
The Doheny family sold much of its original landholdings to developer Paul Trousdale, who transformed the surrounding hills into the luxurious residential neighborhood now known as Trousdale Estates.
Businessman Henry Crown eventually bought the mansion and its remaining grounds, but never lived there. Instead, the property became available for film production.
By the 1960s, the enormous mansion was facing an uncertain future, and demolition was a possibility.
Fortunately, the City of Beverly Hills purchased Greystone in 1965 for approximately $1.3 million.
The city was also interested in the property’s hilltop location because it was ideal for a large underground water reservoir. The reservoir remains an important part of Beverly Hills’ water infrastructure.
In 1971, the estate officially became a public park.
Greystone was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976 and received local historic landmark designation in 2013.
Today, the estate is an important part of Beverly Hills’ architectural and cultural heritage.
Greystone Mansion’s Hollywood Connections
If Greystone Mansion looks familiar, you may have seen it on television or at the movies.
The estate has been used as a filming location for numerous Hollywood productions, thanks to its dramatic architecture, spacious grounds, and luxurious interiors.
Among the movies filmed at Greystone are:
- The Big Lebowski (1998)
- Spider-Man (2002)
- X-Men (2000)
- The Social Network (2010)
- Rush Hour (1998)
The mansion has also appeared in television productions and music videos.
Greystone occasionally hosts special film-related programs that highlight its long history as a Hollywood filming location.
For movie buffs, visiting the estate can be especially entertaining because certain staircases, hallways, and outdoor settings may look surprisingly familiar.
Exploring Greystone Mansion’s beautiful gardens
Although the mansion’s history is fascinating, the gardens are reason enough to visit.
The grounds offer a combination of formal landscaping, elegant stonework, fountains, pathways, and scenic terraces.
One of the most recognizable features is the grand staircase leading down from the mansion toward the lower gardens. It provides a beautiful perspective of the estate’s architecture and is particularly photogenic.
Other highlights include the central courtyard, reflecting pool, mature trees, landscaped lawns, and views stretching across the city.
The peaceful atmosphere makes Greystone a lovely place to escape the bustle of Los Angeles for an hour or two.
Unlike many historic private estates in Beverly Hills, you don’t need a special invitation to enjoy the outdoor grounds.
It’s also an interesting destination for visitors who want to see a different side of Beverly Hills beyond its famous shopping streets and celebrity attractions.
Special events at Greystone Mansion
Greystone is much more than a historic building. It also serves as a cultural venue for Beverly Hills, hosting concerts, theatrical presentations, garden activities, historic tours, and seasonal celebrations.
I attended Fleurs de Villes THE GILDED AGE, a spectacular floral exhibition inspired by the HBO series, The Gilded Age.
Talented floral designers created elaborate mannequins and artistic installations using fresh flowers, drawing inspiration from the show’s glamorous costumes and characters.
The event was especially appropriate for Greystone because the mansion’s grand architecture and luxurious surroundings provided the perfect setting for a celebration of Gilded Age fashion and extravagance.
Although the exhibition has ended, it was a wonderful example of how this historic property continues to be enjoyed in creative new ways.
Watch my video of the event below.
Can you tour the inside of Greystone Mansion?
While the outdoor gardens are generally open to the public, access to the mansion’s interior is more limited.
The City of Beverly Hills offers occasional guided tours and scheduled self-guided visits that allow guests to explore selected rooms.
These may include the magnificent entrance hall, grand staircase, historic living areas, and restored theater.
Special preservation programs sometimes provide access to additional areas, including the mansion’s unusual recreational spaces.
Tour availability varies, and reservations are recommended.
If you’re interested in architecture or Los Angeles history, an interior tour is worth considering. The craftsmanship and elaborate details provide a fascinating glimpse into the extravagant lifestyles of Southern California’s wealthiest families during the 1920s.
Currently, self-guided tours of the 1st floor and the recently restored theatre are offered on the first Saturday or Sunday of each month, January through November.
Why Greystone Mansion Is one of Beverly Hills’ truly hidden gems
What I love about discovering places like Greystone Mansion is that they reveal an entirely different side of Los Angeles.
Behind the glamour of Beverly Hills is a fascinating history of oil fortunes, ambitious architecture, family tragedies, and Hollywood connections.
Greystone brings all those stories together in one extraordinary setting.
It’s also unusual to find such a magnificent historic estate where visitors can wander through the gardens without paying an admission fee.
Whether you’re interested in the Doheny family’s mysterious past, beautiful architecture, Hollywood filming locations, or simply a peaceful afternoon surrounded by lovely scenery, Greystone Mansion & Gardens is well worth exploring.
It’s a reminder that some of Los Angeles’ most interesting attractions aren’t always the most heavily advertised.
Sometimes, the best discoveries are hiding in plain sight.
Greystone Mansion & Gardens is located at 905 Loma Vista Drive, Beverly Hills, California, in the prestigious Trousdale Estates area.
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