The Original Outpost: Historic Estate on the Site of Hollywood’s First Adobe Home | 1851 Outpost Drive

Welcome home to “The Original Outpost,” Historic-Cultural Monument No. 673, City of Los Angeles. This storied property played an extraordinarily important role in the early days of Los Angeles and later became the longtime home of famed The Price is Right host Bob Barker. This expansive property and gorgeous Spanish Colonial home is now on the market for the first time in decades.

Outpost Estates is a neighborhood in the Hollywood Hills consisting of about 450 homes. It is bordered by Mulholland Drive to the north, Franklin Avenue to the south, Runyon Canyon Park to the west, and Hollywood Heights and the Hollywood Bowl to the east.

In 1924, developer Charles E. Toberman acquired the property. He kept the Outpost name and developed the land into luxury residential neighborhoods, as was all the rage in the hills at the time. The area became known as an affluent area as many Golden Era “film people” began to move in. Homes were required to be designed in Spanish, Mediterranean or California modern style, have red tile roofs, plenty of patios for “outdoor living,” and be approved by an architectural committee. Most of the original homes, like this one, in Outpost Estates have been preserved and Lower Outpost looks much like it did in the 1920s.

Way back then, in the hills above the development, a large sign spelled out “Outpost” in red neon letters 30 feet high. The sign was intended to compete with the then-Hollywoodland sign and draw potential residents over to this side of the hill. At the time, it was the largest neon sign in the United States. The Outpost sign was dismantled during World War II, and the wreckage of the sign was left in place, buried in the weeds, and was only rediscovered by hikers in 2002.

Beloved Bob Barker purchased the property as his main residence in 1969 and lived there until his death just last year.

1851 Outpost Drive now presents an amazing opportunity of a lifetime for a lucky buyer to acquire one of Outpost Estate’s most famous homes and usher it into its next chapter.

At just $506 per square foot, it’s an incredible and enticing offer to bring this magnificent home back to its original splendor while personally updating and modernizing it to suit its next owners singular style. The home is measured at 4,855 square feet and has an additional 601 square foot basement that could be transformed into a suite and open onto its own private backyard.

Currently, the home consists of four bedrooms and three baths on the second floor but originally did contain two bedrooms and one bathroom in the basement.

The Original Outpost has an original hand-painted fresco on the hallway ceiling, both rounded doors and doorways, gorgeous wood beamed cathedral ceilings, stained glass windows, and a spectacular fireplace in the massive living room.

Before indoor/outdoor living became a thing, this property knew there was nothing better than opening all the doors and windows and entertaining al fresco at the property’s large and inviting swimmers pool. Plus a completely private, gated and hedged flat backyard, some of it shaded by a gigantic and majestic old growth oak tree.

A one-of-a-kind original bar in the library/den is sure to dazzle and impress guests during elegant soirées and casual get-togethers.

All of the second floor bathrooms contain both a walk-in shower and soaking tubs. Yes, they’ve been gloriously untouched for the most part and maintain that timeless 1920s vintage appeal. There are an additional two half baths on the ground floor.

The property’s next lucky owner will join an exclusive community with a long list of prideful owners of architecturally significant homes. For example, The Outpost Estates development was one of the first neighborhoods in the country to offer all-underground utilities. Then In 1967, a homeowners association was formed to combat what residents considered to be inappropriate development of the lush hillside next door. In the 1980s, the group helped to prevent the development of Runyon Canyon, which is now, of course, Runyon Canyon park and is within easy walking distance from The Original Outpost, not to mention the Hollywood Walk of Fame and all the best restaurants, shops, and nightlife on the Sunset Strip. The property has not been majorly altered since it was acquired by Mr. Barker in 1969 and presents a one-of-a-kind blank canvas to restore, reinvigorate, and reintroduce to the world as a modern and luxurious Spanish Colonial revival. It’s one for the ages.

I would love to give you a private tour of 1851 Outpost Drive in Outpost Estates. Call me today at (323) 697-3040 or email me at jacqueline.tager@sothebyshomes.com.

Listing provided courtesy of Robert Valandra, The Flying V Realty Inv. Co.

Jacqueline Tager | DRE# 1476997
jacqueline.tager@sothebyshomes.com | (323) 697-3040
Sotheby’s International Realty – Los Feliz Brokerage
1801 N Hillhurst Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90027

Comments RSS You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.