A piece of cinematic history has surfaced in the Hollywood Hills.
For the first time in 53 years, Villa Dorada, a 1929 Spanish Revival masterpiece with ties to Frank Sinatra, Oscar-winning songwriter Jimmy Van Heusen, and even Dracula himself, is on the market for $7.5 million.
Listed with Tom Davila, John Zaffarano, and Kennon Earl of Rare Properties at Compass, the 7,400-square-foot home sits high in Outpost Estates, overlooking Brad Pitt’s recently purchased property and surrounded by A-list neighbors like Charlize Theron, Orlando Bloom, and Winona Ryder. And it comes with original Spanish Revival details and sophisticated interiors that hint at its glamorous past.
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A Spanish Revival treasure from 1929
Built during the height of Hollywood’s rise, Villa Dorada captures everything romantic about the Spanish Revival era — arched windows, red-tiled roofs, hand-carved wooden doors, and ornate tilework that feels more museum than mere décor.
Private location in Outpost Estates, with generous views of L.A.
The home sits on a 13,195-square-foot lot, tucked on a rare flat cul-de-sac lined with just 14 houses. From nearly every terrace, it delivers sweeping views — from the Hollywood Sign to Downtown Los Angeles and all the way to the Pacific Ocean.
Listing details: 6 bedrooms, 7 baths
- Address: 2200 Maravilla Drive, Los Angeles, CA
- Price: $7,500,000
- Specs: 6 bedrooms, 7 baths, 7,400 sq. ft.
- Architect: Adolf Christopher Semrow
- Listed by: Tom Davila, John Zaffarano, and Kennon Earl | Rare Properties at Compass
Many elements hint at the home’s storied past and Old Hollywood ties
Few addresses tell as many stories as this one. Actor Bela Lugosi, the original Dracula, lived here in the 1930s when the mystique of Hollywood was just beginning. Later, the home belonged to Jimmy Van Heusen, an Academy Award–winning songwriter and frequent collaborator of Sinatra and Bing Crosby.
Rumor has it that Sinatra not only visited often — he may have even stayed here during the four years Van Heusen owned it. Together, they wrote some of the songs that defined mid-century cool, like Come Fly With Me and High Hopes.
Interiors designed for grandeur
Architect Adolf Christopher Semrow was behind the design, a craftsman also linked to the Will Rogers Ranch House and polo field in Pacific Palisades. At the time, Villa Dorada received one of the highest “Builder Assessor” ratings possible — “Special” for its plumbing and electrical work and “Extra Special” for overall construction.
That attention to detail still shows: the home’s magnesite floors are in pristine condition, and its wood-paneled elevator, vintage telephones, and intercom system all remain intact.
With a grand ballroom on the lower level
The lower level opens to what feels like a set piece from a Golden Age film — a grand ballroom anchored by a fireplace and flanked by French doors that lead directly to the backyard.
It’s easy to imagine Hollywood’s elite gathered here for late-night piano sessions or after-parties following the Academy Awards. The space practically hums with the ghosts of clinking glasses and jazz music drifting up the canyon.
Preserved details that time forgot, like a former “telephone room”
One of the home’s most charming features is its “telephone room,” a tiny alcove designed for private calls in the era before cordless phones.
A fine example of the Spanish Revival period with original details
Even the Art Deco brass doorknobs, original sconces, and hand-painted tiles have been lovingly preserved.
Listing agent Kennon Earl notes, “This home is one of the finest examples of the Spanish Revival period still preserving its original integrity and thoughtful flow.”
Formal dining room with statement ceilings
A crystal chandelier and a wood beamed ceiling are just two of the eye-grabbing features of the elegant dining room, which could easily host both formal and family gatherings.
Six vintage-inspired bedrooms across three levels
The home includes six bedrooms and seven baths spread across three levels. Each bedroom has its own distinct personality, some with step-up platforms, others with original tiled bathrooms that showcase vintage craftsmanship.
Staff quarters and remnants of an era
Downstairs, a two-bedroom staff quarters offers its own kitchen and living room — a reminder of a time when homes like this were built to host, entertain, and operate like small estates.
In fact, in 2008, a historian was commissioned to produce a detailed narrative of Villa Dorada, uncovering building permits and original materials.
Overlooking Brad Pitt — literally
The estate sits directly above Brad Pitt’s new home, a newly renovated, Spanish-style home (also in Outpost Estates) with six bedrooms and eight bathrooms that cost him $12 million. Several terraces offer space to take in the views of the coveted area surrounded by A-listers, with Hollywood unfolding below.
A once-in-a-lifetime restoration opportunity
For all its history and charm, the property also offers an opportunity — a chance for a new owner to preserve and modernize one of L.A.’s true architectural treasures.
As listing agent John Zaffarano puts it, “It’s a rare jewel of the Spanish Revival period, waiting for someone to write its next chapter.”
Photo Credit: Marc Angeles & Tiffany Angeles | Unlimited Style Photography (marc@unlimitedstyle.com)
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