Former Disney Carolwood Estate Up for Sale for $90 Million
Nearly six decades after Walt and Lillian Disney built their dream house on Carolwood Drive in Los Angeles' Holmby Hills neighborhood, the 3.7 acre estate is on the market. Asking price: $90 million.
The original home owned by Disney was torn down by the estate's current owner in order to build the current Carolwood Estate mansion in 2001. The home features eight bedrooms, 17 bathrooms and is approximately 35,000 square feet. It also features a custom movie room, three bars, a wine cellar, two safe rooms, and a putting green.
When Disney owned the property he built a one-eighth scale steam railroad which became known as the Carolwood Pacific Railroad and was an inspiration for Disneyland. The railroad featured a half mile of track that included overpasses and a portion that went under Lillian's flowerbeds.
The 90-foot underground tunnel still exists on the property as does the ivy-covered miniature stone archway at the entrance. The Carolwood Pacific train is on display at the Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco, and the train barn and track are located in Griffith Park in Los Angeles.
The current owner of the estate, Gabriel Brener, purchased the property from the Disney estate in 1998 (one year after Lillian's death) for $8.45 million. Brener is the chief executive of the private investment firm Brener International Group and is also the co-owner of the Houston Dymano soccer team. In addition to building the current mega-mansion, he also bought the lot next door which added even more acres.
Even though the estate has been for sale since 2011, it officially went on the market in October 2012 according to an article in Forbes. So if you have $90 million to spare, you can own a piece of Disney history.
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Kristina wrote on Tue, 06/25/2013 - 16:34:
Urg. I hope it never sells.....it really is a shame that the original home and track has been destroyed.
If anyone is interested in seeing the model in action the youtube link below is a home movie of Walt's backyard that was filmed by Ward Kimball.
tommy wrote on Fri, 08/09/2013 - 12:09:
I have visited the house a few times... well actually visited the gate(s).
Two of the times there was an "out of service" police styled car parked outside and I wondered why. Indeed a shame it was all torn down long ago. I read the new owners claimed the structure was unsound... hmmmmm.
(how can I post pics on here?)
I would love to own that place.
Debbers88 wrote on Thu, 01/30/2014 - 02:31:
Is it actually legal to market it as the "former Disney estate" if the actual former estate was torn down?
Leigh wrote on Thu, 01/30/2014 - 22:14:
I agree. It should read site of the former Disney estate.
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