Famous Celebrity Homes Tours
Most of us are obsessed with celebrities these days. We want to know what they wear, where they go, whom they are with and where they live. Celebrity homes are a good insight into the lavish lifestyle that celebrities live. If there is some controversy attached to the star, then we are even more fascinated.
There are a lot of companies that run bus tours around Hollywood and districts of Los Angeles such as Beverley Hills, Bel-Air and the Sunset Strip. It’s a chance to see some of the jaw-dropping mansions of the rich and famous. Sometimes, the passengers only get to see a gated entrance, a high wall and security cameras but it’s still a thrill. Some of the celebrity homes go back to the golden age of Hollywood in the 1930s and 1940s. Movie stars back then were American royalty and they held court in their palaces. We are a bit more irreverent now in our fan worship.
Homes on a tour may include the residences of mega stars such as Diana Ross, Barbara Streisand or Michael Douglas. The late television producer, Aaron Spelling’s huge estate is also on route. Another landmark is the amazing Playboy Mansion, owned by Hugh Hefner. This 22 room Gothic pile has a waterfall and the famous swimming pool with its grotto and sauna, so beloved of Playboy pin ups. The house contains a wine cellar, tennis courts, zoo and aviary and games room. A games room is a typical element of celebrity homes and this one has a pinball machine, juke box, arcade games and player piano.
Someone would be very lucky to actually catch a glimpse of a star, pottering about his or her patio or diving into the pool. Elvis Presley however, did come down to the gates of Graceland to chat to the fans sometimes. Today, the Memphis mansion receives thousands of visitors each year. It’s like a pilgrimage to see the memorabilia, clothes and gold and platinum discs. The chapel in the estate holds marriage ceremonies.
One of the most ostentatious show business residences is the Neverland Ranch, once home to Michael Jackson. It is the most eccentric of celebrity homes and has now been closed down but it used to be a Mecca for Jackson’s friends and hanger-on’s. Elizabeth Taylor even got married there in 1991. The estate, located in Santa Barbara County, contains a zoo and a theme park, with a ferris wheel, various rides and merry go round.
Celebrity homes are well guarded and they have elaborate alarms systems, at least they do if they are smart. Most fans are ordinary people and wouldn’t dream of stalking a celebrity to their home or even try to get in, but there are some loose nuts out there that would to do just that. This is why so many celebrity homes are surrounded by gates so large and so wide that you can’t even see the house they are protecting. Again, this is smart thinking!
On occasion, celebrity homes go up on the market. You can buy one if you have the cash, but most of us do not. Even some celebrities can’t afford celebrity homes, and that is because some become famous for reasons that don’t involved money. Think about the humble homes where people like Oprah, Elvis, or even a president came from. These might be the most valuable celebrity homes you can find. There is something inspiring about coming from nothing to have everything that keeps the American dream alive.
Famous Celebrity Homes Tours
View Of Celebrity Homes Houses
The No Spin Zone: Confrontations with the Powerful and Famous in America (Random House Large Print)
