"Just Don't Call it Wolf's Lair," Estate of the Day

by Ann Brenoff (RSS feed)
Nov 13th 2009 at 1:02PM

What's not to love about a castle that sits under the Hollywood sign? Especially if the price has been chopped from $7.5 million (the price the house was listed for in June 2008) to $4.7 million?

TV personality Debbie Matenopoulos and her soon-to-be-ex-husband Lionsgate Entertainment music executive Jay Faires have re-listed their Norman-style castle, once known as Wolf's Lair. The couple reportedly bought in 2002 for $2.9 million. Because of the association with Hitler's bunker of the same name, plans are to change the name to something, well, more castle-y.

The turreted 5,485-square-foot castle that sits on 3.3 acres was built in the 1920s and includes a two-bedroom guest house designed by architect John Lautner. The main house was built by and named after L. Milton Wolf, the developer of Hollywoodland. In fact, the Hollywood sign that sits behind the home was put there by Wolf to advertise Hollywoodland. ( The original sign bore that name and was covered with 4,000 flashing electric light bulbs.) There is a heart-shaped black-bottom pool and eight bedrooms total on the property, which sits high above Los Angeles' Beachwood Canyon.

Lure about this property is legendary. Wolf, something of a ladies' man, reportedly installed a secret apartment under the gatehouse where he entertained, ahem, privately.

Bugsy Siegal's former castle -- the one Madonna owned subsequently -- is right up the road a piece. Castillo del Lago is listed at $9.95 million, making the former Wolf's Lair a relative bargain.

Ernie Carswell of Teles Properties, Beverly Hills, has the listing.

Gallery: Just Don't Call It 'Wolf's Lair'

Tags: bugsy siegel, BugsySiegel, castillo del lago, CastilloDelLago, celebrity real estate, CelebrityRealEstate, debbie matenopoulos, DebbieMatenopoulos, estate of the day, EstateOfTheDay, hollywood, john lautner, JohnLautner, madonna

Filed under: Estates

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

djsdad0513 Nov 13th 2009 3:29PM

Just for the view it is worth the price.

JEAN DEAN Nov 14th 2009 3:05PM

And... just for the dangerous air quality,it's not.

MIKE ZVIRBLIS Nov 14th 2009 9:49PM

I MISS SEEING THE TALENTED ONE ON THE VIEW.

Sioux Nov 14th 2009 6:01PM

Good point. If only Debbie could come and take that annoying Elizabeth the heck out of there.

myrna Nov 14th 2009 9:19PM

I've watched The View since the beginning but for some reason I cannot get a picture of Debbie in my head. How about running her picture?

Elisabeth, I too find her annoying but that keeps things stirred up on the View to have sensible opinions versus Right Wing opinions.

Linda Nov 14th 2009 10:31PM

I used to TiVO the View...but I too could no longer listen to Elisabeths' voice any longer... had to cancel! But I do miss the other gals!!!

Someone tell Elisabeth to STFU PLEASE!!!!!