The Annenberg Estate

Feb 15

Today we toured “Sunnylands”--the grounds of the Walter Annenberg and his wife, Leonore. Walter's father was a publisher who went to jail for tax evasion in the 1940s. Walter took over the company and became a very successful publisher. His first publication was the magazine Seventeen which was a really big deal when I was a teenager. When only one of ten homes in the US had TVs, he published TV Guide. So, he was a big risk taker, and I guess that's how he made a huge amount of cash on this and other endeavors.

He and his wife bought 200 acres of desert with nothing on it and in the mid-1960s, they proceeded to build a pink house on it designed by a famous architect, Quiney Jones from Los Angeles—a big deal architect from a big deal town. They traveled all around the world and appreciated art, so they accumulated a huge art collection. The gardens were meant to compliment the house and many of them were just like some of the famous paintings they owned. Instead of having palm trees on the grounds, they planted other trees—like olive trees—in the landscape. A challenging golf course was also built and many famous people have played there.

The Annenbergs were big supporters of Republican party presidents, and many parties of political people were held there. When presidents visited, the helicopters landed on the golf course!

Now the house is operated by a foundation that tries to work on global issues, and more important people than Republican party and celebrities are invited to the house and grounds. One of the major issues they are dedicated to is to figure out what to do about the rising sea level that causes floods. When focusing on an issue, a group of people are invited to the estate for a working session or conference. The estate has also become very conscientious about the environment. Instead of buying bark for the landscaping, they now make their own. Solar panels are on part of the roof and generate electricity. Also, only one of the five ponds on the estate takes water from underground. The other four ponds get their water from pond one.

If you're a really important person, you could be invited to play golf there. Yesterday, President Obama was there, but I don't know who played with him!