A New Future Opens for Historic Villa Rockledge
Photo courtesy of Weir Properties Villa Rockledge, one of Laguna's historic properties, is for sale for the first time in 36 years. The oceanfront Laguna Beach landmark Villa Rockledge as well as a foothold in local lore is up for grabs, listed for sale at $34.9 million with agent Susan Weir of Prudential California Realty in Newport Beach.
Roger W. Jones, the sixth owner of the property, which includes a main house, a six-villa compound and private beach, is credited with restoring the compound to its original grandeur. As a 33-year-old bachelor in 1973 he bought the property north of Victoria Beach for $420,000, after living there in a rented apartment as a tenant for the previous five years, according to Jones' book, "The History of Villa Rockledge," published in 1987.
"It is sad to hear that Villa Rockledge is up for sale, and it is scary what the new owner might have in store for this historic home," said Gene Felder, treasurer and past president of the society, who praised Jones, now 69, as a gracious steward of a historic property.
A view of Villa Rockledge from an earlier era. "It's time," Weir said of Jones' decision to sell. "It's difficult to get down there, it's a big house and a big responsibility," she said.
At least three of the properties are currently rented and the main house served briefly recently as a site for wedding venues, a practice that has been discontinued. "People weren't respectful of the property," said Weir, citing spiked heels that gouged the wood floors.
One of only two buildings in Laguna on the National Registry of Historic Places, added in 1984, Villa Rockledge was the vision of Frank A. Miller and Arthur Benton, developer and architect of Riverside's Mission Inn. A one-unit addition on the northerly wing was designed by Laguna Beach architect Thomas Harper in 1929. It was built on a site that Miller purchased in 1887, and the estate was created as a gift to his wife, Marion, and deeded to her in 1918 for $1,800, according to records Jones presented to the Historical Society in a 2004 presentation. Its original name, Mariona, is carved above the entrance.
Construction of the villa took four years, from late 1918 through 1922, and it was all handcrafted by the same crews and artisans who built the Mission Inn, from the thick cement foundations and retaining walls to the rustic stone towers, ornamental chimneys, leaded glass casement windows and wrought iron railings, according to the property listing. Miller spent the years from 1918 until his death in 1935 developing and evolving Villa Rockledge in much the same way that he had done with the Mission Inn, says an ex- cerpt from the inventory nomination form submitted to the U.S. Department of Interior, National Register of Historic Places.
In its day, Villa Rockledge was as much a society draw as an architectural one. During the golden age of Hollywood it was frequented by the likes of Clifton Webb, Robert Mitchum, Bette Davis and Errol Flynn, among other luminaries of the time, according to "The History of Villa Rockledge," one of three historical books written by Jones.
After Miller died in 1935, Alexander Henry purchased the property in 1941 for $17,500. He sold it six years later to Dr. Harvey Maxwell for $52,500, the property records show. The property changed hands twice in 1962 before Jones signed the deed in 1973.
The property suffered a disastrous accident in June 1973 when a runaway loaded cement truck severely damaged it. Jones restored the damaged property and made improvements to the grounds. The restoration was celebrated with a private party in September 1975, according to his book.
For more info: visit www.VillaRockledge. net.
Photo courtesy of Historical Society/ Tom Pulley Postcard Collection
