Just over a year after its debut on the market with a hefty $250 million price tag, shortly following the death of its longtime owner, billionaire telecom mogul Gary Winnick, the Bel Air estate known as Casa Encantada (meaning Enchanted House) has returned to the market. Initially reduced to $195 million last winter, the price has now been further lowered to $165 million.
“Casa Encantada is one of the most exceptional residences in the country,” said Josh Flagg from Compass, who shares the listing with Kurt Rappaport of Westside Estate Agency and Drew Fenton of Carolwood Estates. “In a different market, say back in 2017, this house would have sold by now. But with the current state of the market, high-end buyers aren’t rushing to purchase homes over $100 million. However, there are still buyers out there who can afford such a property—it just takes the right person.”
The mansion, originally designed in the 1930s by Russian-born architect James E. Dolena, was built at an estimated cost of $2 million for Hilda Boldt Weber, a former nurse turned heiress. She was married to Cincinnati glass manufacturer Charles Boldt, who left her a substantial fortune upon his death in the late 1920s. The property was later sold in 1950 to hotel magnate Conrad Hilton for just $225,000.
Following Hilton’s death in 1979, the estate was purchased in 1980 by David Murdock, the retired chairman of Dole Food Products, for $12.4 million. He then sold the property to Winnick and his wife, Karen, in 2000 for $94 million, which at the time set a record for residential sales in California. The deal was unconventional, involving both cash and two large parcels of land. Winnick and his wife spent nearly two years and tens of millions of dollars restoring the estate, working closely with renowned architect Peter Marino.
The estate is nestled on a private 8.4-acre peninsula that extends into the Bel Air Country Club’s golf course, shielded by walls and gates. The H-shaped mansion is approached via a motor court and features a striking neoclassical portico entrance. Inside, the residence spans 40,000 square feet and includes seven bedrooms and 20 bathrooms. Luxury amenities abound, including a pool pavilion that doubles as a movie theater.
Upon entering the mansion, a grand double-height foyer with a sweeping staircase leads to a reception hall with a 14-foot ceiling. The home offers both formal and casual dining and living areas, as well as a den with an art-deco lucite wet bar and a walnut-paneled study with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. The master suite encompasses a vast 3,500-square-foot space, complete with two sitting rooms, dual closets, and two bathrooms.
The property’s grounds, designed by Benjamin Purdy, are impeccably landscaped with rose, herb, and tropical gardens. The expansive outdoor areas include a 60-foot tiled pool, a north/south tennis court with a viewing pavilion, an additional sports court, and numerous spaces for outdoor dining and entertaining. Adding to its appeal, the estate boasts breathtaking views of the city, mountains, and ocean, with no neighbors on either side.
Notably, the mansion is built atop a subterranean tunnel that connects two holes of the exclusive Bel Air Country Club golf course, enhancing its privacy and access. The estate’s serene, expansive grounds provide a luxurious setting for those seeking seclusion and grandeur.
In addition to Casa Encantada, Winnick’s widow also owns a Charles Gwathmey-designed apartment on the 20th floor of New York City’s prestigious Sherry Netherland Hotel, which is currently listed for just under $3.5 million.
