Historic Bing Crosby Estate in Toluca Lake Is Sold

The historic Bing Crosby estate at 10500 Camarillo St. in Toluca Lake has been sold after a year on the market, according to redfin.com. The home, which has six bedrooms and 7,132 square feet, was occupied by the famous movie star and entertainer from 1936 to 1943. It sold for a reported $4,020,000. A year ago, it was listed at $5,595,000.

Patch back in November of 2010. Here is that story, and don't forget to click through the photos ...

Even after 60 years and a succession of owners, a lavish Toluca Lake home for sale will always be remembered as the Bing Crosby estate.

The famed crooner and actor lived with his family on the property from 1936, when it was built, until January 1943, when the 20-room house was severely damaged by a Christmas-tree fire, according to the present owner, Larry Stickney, who has owned the home for 13 years. 

"It seems his oldest son, Gary, was playing around the dry tree and one of the bulbs sparked that started the fire," Stickney said.

The damage to the house and possessions was about $200,000. The Crosbys lost their cocker spaniel, a complete collection of Crosby's recordings, his golf trophies and his pipe collection.

Crosby, his wife, Dixie Lee, and their four sons escaped injury. Shortly after the fire, Crosby sold the estate and the charred remains of the house for $15,000, and his family moved to a mansion on Mapleton Drive in Los Angeles' Holmby Hills area.

Other celebrity owners have included Micky Dolenz of Monkees fame, Andy Griffith and Jerry Van Dyke, the latter of whom lived there for nine years and then sold the home to the current owner in 1997.

"At one point, Andy fell off the roof when he was trying to repair it," Stickney said. "Over the years, Andy has come to visit and sometimes he has brought his daughters and granddaughters to see the house."

The home includes a memorabilia room dedicated to its famous owners and guests, including Roy Rogers, Dale Evans and Bob Hope, who lived there when his Toluca Lake home was being built.

The estate originally consisted of four acres. Crosby kept his horses on one side of the house and a carriage house for the maid and chauffer on the other side, according to Stickney. Extra acres have been sold off over the years.

Nestled on the remaining two acres, the rebuilt house has six bedrooms, five fireplaces and 7,132 square feet. There is a living room with a marble fireplace, a billiards room and a den with a wet bar.

The gated grounds include rose gardens, fruit trees, a tennis court with grandstands and an Olympic-size swimming pool. There is a 2 1/2-bathroom cabana with changing rooms, a sitting area and a kitchen, and a two-bedroom, two-bathroom guesthouse with a kitchen.

In early October, Stickney, a fan of the singer, hosted a special Bing Crosby Night at the estate sponsored by the Toluca Lake Chamber of Commerce. The chamber president, Shirley Duenckel, one of the realtors from Ramsey-Shilling Associates Real Estate in Toluca Lake, helped put the event together.

"It was a gala evening with over 200 guests. We had Fritz Coleman and his comics, who entertained for the evening. And everyone got a tour of the estate," Duenckel said. "And each table was given the name of one of Bing's famous movies, and we played Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby songs all evening."

The home is currently listed on several real estate Web sites as having an asking price of $5,595,000.