See lavish California home with museum, tiki bar, secret tunnel for sale for $38.5M
Originally built in 1916, a Southern California home connected by a secret tunnel to a 20,000 square-foot museum/art gallery with a tiki lounge, 46-seat movie theater and a pub is for sale for $38.5 million.
The new asking price represents a drop from when the 2.4-acre estate — dubbed the Knoll House — was listed for sale at $48 million in April 2021.
The home, 2 Oak Knoll Terrace, is located in the prestigious Pasadena, California residential enclave near the historic Langham Huntington Hotel.
The property’s two main structures total 32,644 square feet of living space. One is a traditional, two-story main house, and the other building is a three-level, mid-century gallery/museum/entertainment complex. They have been renovated with attention to their 100-year-old craftsmanship and materials. A secret tunnel connects the two buildings.
The tiki room bar is displayed in colored lights, with a thatch-roofed cocktail bar and authentic totems carved by “one of the foremost living Pacific artists,” according to the listing agency, Douglas Elliman.
The mansion features seven bedroom suites and 21 bathrooms.
“Now spread over landscaped and gated acres, both structures have been repurposed to provide the highest level of lifestyle, entertaining and at-home work conveniences for today’s ever-changing environment,” according to the official property listing. “Together, the living spaces afford a lifestyle unmatched by any property in Southern California.”
Philanthropist Virginia Steele Scott commissioned prominent architect Myron Hunt to design the residence. Later, she hired Gordon Kaufmann for a significant expansion. Kaufmann is famous for his work on the Hoover Dam in the 1930s, among many other prominent projects.
The adjoining gallery/museum was designed and built by mid-century architects Ladd & Kelsey in 1973. Scott’s significant art collection remained there until her foundation donated it to the Huntington Museum in San Marino.
Some of the estate’s other features include historic period sconces, a library study hiding a secret bar and a chilled wine cave. There is a pool next to a full grilling station, secondary kitchen, cabana and a large covered pavilion.
Inside the gallery/museum building is a reception room with a 36-foot-high central atrium.
The listing agents are Ernie Carswell of Douglas Elliman Realty, Brent Chang of Compass and George Penner of Deasy Penner.
