Hollywood is often seen as a shining beacon of fame, fortune, and glamour. Yet, just beyond the glimmering facade of celebrity life lie eerie ruins of a bygone era—abandoned mansions that once hosted legendary stars, lavish parties, and iconic moments, now left to crumble in silence. These forgotten homes are more than just empty shells; they tell haunting tales of broken dreams, scandal, isolation, and even death.
Here’s a chilling look into some of Hollywood’s most haunting abandoned mansions, where time stands still and echoes of the past still linger.
1. The Ennis House
Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1924, the Ennis House in Los Feliz is renowned for its Mayan Revival architecture and its starring roles in films such as Blade Runner and House on Haunted Hill. For decades, this architectural marvel had fallen into disrepair, with crumbling tiles and water damage rendering it more like a haunted temple than a luxurious home. It sat largely vacant for years, shrouded in mystery and Hollywood lore, before eventually being restored; however, its unsettling atmosphere persists.
2. The Greystone Mansion
Built in 1928 by oil tycoon Edward Doheny for his son, Ned Doheny, the Greystone Mansion is now a popular filming location. But few know that it was the scene of a murder-suicide just months after the family moved in. Ned and his friend Hugh Plunkett were found dead in the guestroom—officially ruled as suicide, though rumors of cover-ups still swirl. After changing hands and enduring years of neglect, the city of Beverly Hills eventually took over. Though it is maintained today, its dark past gives it an unmistakable haunting quality.
3. The Zsa Zsa Gabor Estate
Zsa Zsa Gabor’s sprawling Bel-Air estate once welcomed celebrities like Elvis Presley and Queen Elizabeth II. But in her later years, the home was mostly abandoned, with Gabor confined to a single wing due to health issues. Rumors spread of decay behind the gilded walls—broken chandeliers, faded carpets, and empty halls echoing with the memory of a glittering past. The mansion was finally sold after she died in 2016, but its air of lonely grandeur still lingers.
4. The Mansion (Laurel Canyon)
Once owned by producer Rick Rubin, The Mansion in Laurel Canyon is a storied property renowned for its musical guests, including the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Slipknot, and many more. However, even rock legends recount ghostly occurrences, including footsteps, strange noises, and cold spots. Long before its rock-star fame, it’s said that the house may have ties to Houdini, though this is debated. At one point, it sat vacant for years, decaying and absorbing the energy of its twisted history.
5. The Pickfair Estate
Once dubbed “The White House of Hollywood,” Pickfair was the residence of silent film stars Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks. Their legendary parties attracted the who’s who of 1920s Hollywood. After Pickford’s death, the estate fell into neglect. In 1990, actress Pia Zadora controversially demolished it, claiming Pickford’s ghost haunted it. While it no longer stands, Pickfair’s myth continues to haunt old Hollywood romantics.
6. Linda Vista Community Hospital
Not technically a private mansion, Linda Vista in Boyle Heights served as a hospital for railway workers and later became a popular filming location for horror movies. When abandoned in the ’90s, its decaying operating rooms and blood-stained walls made it one of LA’s most terrifying spots. Some filmmakers even described experiencing unexplained chills, voices, and sightings. Although it has since been converted into senior housing, its ghostly reputation hasn’t died.
7. The Runyon Canyon Mansion Ruins
Hike through Runyon Canyon and you may stumble upon the ruins of a mysterious estate—stone walls, staircases, and the skeletal remains of what was once a Hollywood hideaway. Believed to have burned down in the 1930s, stories persist about it being a silent film star’s home, or worse, the site of occult rituals. Whatever the truth, the ivy-covered ruins exude a haunting stillness.
8. Houdini’s Laurel Canyon Estate
Though Houdini never officially owned the estate, the crumbling mansion and guest house near Laurel Canyon have long been associated with him. After a devastating fire in the 1950s, the mansion was left in ruins. The eerie landscape and Houdini’s mythic presence have inspired decades of ghost stories, particularly about séances and secret tunnels. Urban explorers still visit the overgrown site, reporting cold gusts and eerie feelings.
9. The Bela Lugosi House
Bela Lugosi, the man who portrayed Dracula, lived in a Los Feliz home that his spirit is said to haunt, according to many claims. After his death, the mansion fell into periods of vacancy and disrepair. Neighbors spoke of flickering lights and mysterious shadows, as if the Count himself never left. Although the property has since changed hands, its dark aura remains tied to a history of horror.
10. The Mansion of Errol Flynn
Errol Flynn’s notorious Mulholland Drive mansion was the scene of raucous parties and endless scandals. After his death, the home was left to deteriorate. Vandals and thrill-seekers explored the ruins in the ‘70s and ‘80s, describing rooms filled with broken mirrors and forgotten decadence. It’s since been restored, but for a time, it was a crumbling shrine to Old Hollywood’s wildest icon.
Why These Mansions Still Haunt Us
These abandoned estates are more than architectural relics; they’re ghost stories made of brick and stone. In each cracked floorboard and broken window lies a story of fame gained and lost, of lives burned too brightly and extinguished too fast. They remind us that even the most glamorous lives can end in silence, and that Hollywood, for all its lights, casts long shadows.
Whether you’re an urban explorer, a history buff, or a fan of eerie tales, these forgotten mansions stand as haunting reminders that behind every spotlight lies a hidden darkness.
