BING CROSBY HILLSBOROUGH ESTATE FOR SALE

Anyone with funds to spare - you can own a part of Crosby history...

The Bing Crosby Estate
Hillsborough
Inquire for Price
11 Beds |
10 Full Baths and 5 Half Baths |
18,535 Sq Ft

A rare opportunity to own a piece of history, the Bing Crosby Estate is a grand French chateau-style residence originally built in 1929 (*per tax records). Nestled in the prestigious Lower North Hillsborough area, this remarkable estate spans approximately 13,635 square feet of finished space (per floorplan artist) and 18,535 square feet in total, including finished and unfinished areas. Situated on 5.38 acres, the property comprises four parcels:APN: 027-341-030 – 21,780 sq. ft. (0.5 acres)
APN: 027-330-490 – 36,590 sq. ft. (0.84 acres)
APN: 027-330-500 – 12,632 sq. ft. (0.29 acres)
APN: 027-341-070 – 163,437 sq. ft. (3.75 acres, house parcel)

The estate boasts 11 bedrooms, 10 full bathrooms, and 5 half bathrooms, blending timeless elegance with historic significance.

Commissioned by Lindsay Howard, son of a prominent Buick distributor, as a wedding gift for his bride Anita Zabala, the home was designed by celebrated San Francisco architects John Bakewell Jr. and Ernest Weihe. Bakewell was renowned for his work on San Francisco City Hall, while Weihe contributed to projects such as the San Francisco Hall of Justice and the Morrison Planetarium.

In 1938, after Howard’s marriage ended, his father, Charles Howard Sr., a Buick magnate and legendary owner of Seabiscuit, acquired the property. The estate once included a barn, horse stalls, an oval riding track, and a pasture where racehorses were rested between competitions at Tanforan and Bay Meadows.

The estate later captured the heart of Bing Crosby, one of America’s most beloved entertainers. A longtime friend of Lindsay Howard, Crosby had admired the home for years, particularly its racehorse portrait gallery and garage of classic Buick racing cars. In the early 1960s, after multiple ownership changes and subdivision of the estate, Crosby acquired the property as a surprise for his wife, Kathryn, fulfilling her childhood dream. In December 1965, the Crosbys moved in with their children Harry Lillis Jr., Nathaniel, and Mary Frances.

With Kathryn and John Scott Trotter (Bing’s musical director), the couple made extensive renovations, incorporating antiques from William Randolph Hearst’s collection. These additions included a wooden staircase banister, linen fold paneling, and custom furnishings. The estate was staffed by 10 employees, including English butler Alan Fisher, who previously served Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II) and later worked for Prince Charles and Princess Diana.

The estate embodies the grandeur of 1920s French chateau architecture, with exquisite craftsmanship and period details preserved throughout. Notable spaces include:

Main Level:Grand Entry Hall – Featuring a stunning staircase and a powder room tucked beneath.
Smoke Room – Includes a built-in bar and a half bath.
Library – A stately space with rich wood paneling, a fireplace, and built-in bookcases.
Formal Living Room – Adorned with French doors, a grand fireplace, and chandeliers.
Formal Dining Room – Kathryn Crosby’s dining sanctuary, highlighted by a Venetian chandelier and hand-painted rose garden walls by artist Al Proom.
Kitchen & Service Areas – Featuring a pantry, prep room, vintage walk-in fridge, mudroom, and staff office.
Breakfast Nook – A charming space adjacent to the dining and kitchen.
Basement – Houses laundry facilities, storage, and a mechanical room.

Upper Levels:Primary Suite (Bedroom 2) – Features a vestibule, dual closets, his-and-hers baths, and a fireplace.
Additional Bedrooms (3-5) – Each with en-suite bathrooms and spacious closets.
Circular Room with Deck – A unique space, possibly once used as a private salon.

Staff Wing & Attic:Separate Staff Quarters – Includes multiple bedrooms and bathrooms.
Attic Suite – Features Bedroom 11 with a half bath, a large entertainment room with a pool table, and ample storage.

A Legacy of Elegance & Prestige

The Bing Crosby Estate stands as a timeless icon, steeped in history and prestige. From the legacy of Seabiscuit and Lindsay Howard to the grandeur of Bing Crosby’s legendary residency, this estate is a rare offering in Hillsborough’s most distinguished enclave. A true sanctuary of elegance, this is more than a home—it is a living piece of history...

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BING'S HOUSE FOR SALE

Bing Crosby's former California home has hit the market, and the stunning shots of the English manor-style mansion have us crooning — er, swooning.

Located on one of the most sought-after streets in Hillsborough, Calif. — a town midway between San Francisco and Silicon Valley — the famed property is being sold for $13,750,000, listed with Charles and Jane Griffith of Golden Gate Sotheby's International Realty, PEOPLE can confirm.

The legendary singer turned movie star, who died in 1977, purchased the 9,845-square-foot home in 1963, according to the Wall Street Journal, moving his family away from the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles. At the time, he was married to actress Kathryn Grant, and they shared three young children: Harry, Mary and Nathaniel.

The stately home, built in 1930, certainly had enough room to accommodate the family of five. According to the current listing, it's set on three acres and has 10 bedrooms, 10 full bathrooms and one half bath.

The home features a ballroom, chauffer's apartment, library, and guest quarters, all boasting high ceilings and elegant design. The kitchen, bathrooms, mudroom and laundry room were all completely remodeled in 2014.

Outside, there's a sprawling lawn, a pool, surrounded by plenty of seating for soaking up the sun. A terrace provides the perfect place for entertaining, and the entire property is enveloped by lush greenery and mature trees.

The home's current owners, Paul and Suzanne Roche, bought the property in 2014 for $8 million, the outlet reports.

Suzanne told the publication that the home first caught her eye because it had belonged to the Crosby family. "I loved the idea of it being Bing Crosby's house, because I'm so into old Hollywood and the American Songbook," she said.

Before Grant, Crosby was married to Dixie Lee, an actress who died of ovarian cancer in 1952 at the age of 41. She and Crosby had four sons...

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A BING CROSBY HOME

This is the 11,000 sqft, 40-room French chateau, where Bing Crosby lived with his wife (at the time), Kathryn and their three children. Kathryn still owns the home through an estate trust, although she does not live there.

100TH ANNIVERSARY OF BING'S BOYHOOD HOME

Celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Bing Crosby's Boyhood Home, 508 E. Sharp Ave., Saturday, October 26, 2013; 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. To celebrate this home's 100th anniversary, the Advocates of the Bing Crosby Theater will be hosting an open house and cake during Gonzaga's Fall Family Weekend.

This event is free and open to the public. In July 1913, Harry and Catherine Crosby moved with their six children (No. 7 on the way) into the nine-room, two-story home, Bing Crosby's father, had the house built to accommodate his large family. Catherine had purchased the property for $1 from the Pioneer Educational Society, a Jesuit organization that owned much land around Gonzaga. Numerous Catholic families built their homes in this neighborhood, which became known as "the Holy Land" or "the Little Vatican."

The house served as the Crosby family's home for 23 years, including when Bing attended Gonzaga High School and Gonzaga University (1914-24). The C. P. Higgins family purchased the home from the Crosby family in 1936 for $3,600, and owned it until 1978. The Gonzaga Alumni Association purchased the house in 1980. The Crosby Alumni House was used for alumni events with staff offices upstairs unitl 2010, when the Alumni Association moved to the Heutter Mansion across the street. Afterwards, the Crosby House was used for office space for a couple of departments.

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BING'S HOUSE IS SOLD

Anyone looking to put a bid on Bing Crosby's old estate is out of luck. It is officially off the market...

A Toluca Lake home still referred to as the Bing Crosby Estate despite a succession of other entertainment industry owners has been bought for $4.02 million. The property came on the market two years ago at $10 million. The singer and actor lived on the property from 1936 until early January 1943, when the 20-room house there was gutted in a Christmas tree fire, according to Los Angeles Times archives. Crosby was out at the time of the fire. His wife, Dixie Lee, and their four sons escaped injury.

The damage to the structure and its contents was estimated at $200,000, and the family's cocker spaniel, a complete collection of Crosby's recordings, his golf trophies and his pipe collection were lost. Among items recovered from the ruins was $2,000 in cash in the pocket of one of Crosby's coats.

The rebuilt Southern Colonial that stands on the site has six bedrooms, 5 1/2 bathrooms and five fireplaces in 7,132 square feet. There is a living room with marble fireplace, a billiards room and a den with a wet bar.
The two acres of gated grounds include rose gardens, fruit trees, a tennis court with grandstands, a swimming pool, a 2 1/2-bathroom cabana with changing rooms, sitting area and a kitchen, and a two-bedroom, two-bathroom guesthouse with a kitchen.

The estate was a childhood home of Micky Dolenz, the Monkees' drummer and singer.

Subsequent owners included actor Andy Griffith in the 1980s and actor Jerry Van Dyke and his wife, Shirley, who sold the home in 1997 for $1.93 million, public records show.

Crosby won a best actor Oscar for "Going My Way" (1944) and was paired with Bob Hope in the "Road" movies from 1940 to 1962.

His recording of Irving Berlin's "White Christmas," featured in the movie "Holiday Inn," became a No. 1 hit in late 1942 and stayed there for 11 weeks.

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BING'S BOYHOOD HOME ON TOUR

Bing Crosby’s boyhood home open as part of tour
By Mike Prager
The Spokesman-Review PrintEmail

If you go on the historic home tour in the Gonzaga University area is from noon to 5 p.m. Tickets are $15 and available at 329 E. Sinto Ave. during the tour. Children 12 and under are free.

A highlight will be a stop at the Bing Crosby House where the crooner spent a large part of his boyhood.

The house was completed in 1913 by Crosby’s father and two uncles, and the family lived there until it was sold in 1936.

The tour is a fundraiser for Spokane Preservation Advocates, which uses proceeds to support historic projects.

Crosby’s fame as a singer and Hollywood film star continues to interest people nearly 34 years after his death.

While the Craftsman-style Crosby House, 508 E. Sharp Ave., is used for a pair of GU administrative programs, it is also something of a tourist attraction in Spokane.

GU psychology major Sara Galgalo, of Spokane, greets visitors from as far away as New Zealand and Denmark, she said.

Just last week, three people stopped in while on a trip from Washington, D.C.

“I get a few young people” as visitors, Galgalo said. “But normally it’s the older generation.”

The interior of the main floor is largely the same as it was when the Crosbys built the house. It has extensive woodwork done in the “curly fir” style that was popular in the period. The floors are a fine white oak. A mantel and bookshelves along the west wall have cutouts that are characteristic of the Craftsman era. The original quarry tile in front of the fireplace remains intact, although the brick on the fireplace itself has been painted white.

The GU alumni association acquired the Crosby House in 1978. The university took possession when the alumni association last year moved to the Huetter House, 503 E. Sharp Ave.

Mac McCandless, of GU’s plant services department, said the university wants to maintain the historical integrity of the house.

Harry Lillis Crosby was born in Tacoma on May 3, 1903, one of seven children.

Crosby acquired the nickname Bing as a boy from a comic newspaper feature called the Bingville Bugle with a leading character named Bingo.

In 1921, Crosby joined a six-piece combo called The Musicaladers, playing at dances, parties and a restaurant on Riverside Avenue.

According to GU, the manager of the Clemmer Theater, now the Bing Crosby Theater, hired Crosby and Al Rinker for live shows before movies for several months in 1925.

That fall, Crosby and Rinker left Spokane for Los Angeles, where they joined the vaudeville circuit, a move that led to Crosby’s stardom. By 1926, they were recording with the Paul Whiteman Orchestra.

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BING'S ESTATE: RANCHO MIRAGE

Here is a listing for Bing Crosby's estate at Rancho Mirage for anyone with extra money in their pocket...

Absolutely stunning! Indulge in this spacious ultra-luxe celebrity estate located in one of the most prestigious communities in the USA. The spectacular Bing Crosby Estate is a legendary home located in Thunderbird Heights, a private community in Rancho Mirage, Ca. This sprawling estate is well appointed for luxurious upscale living.

Bing Crosby himself enjoyed the Palm Springs lifestyle, including his love for golf, in this spectacular residence across from the Thunderbird Country Club that the actor-singer helped establish. Bing Crosby sold his golf course lot in 1952 and purchased the first house in what became Thunderbird Heights with his first wife Dixie Lee.

This luxury estate rests on the hillside in the center of Rancho Mirage in a luxury neighborhood filled with history, charm, and plenty of Hollywood celebrity intrigue.

Thunderbird Heights is and was the place to be for the rich and famous. Many infamous stories can be told about the playground of the Presidents and celebrities alike. (In fact, Rancho Mirage, where this home is located, is often referred to as the Playground of the Presidents).

This remarkable Rancho Mirage celebrity estate with approximately 7,000 square feet of luxurious living space is one of a kind. The home's elegant blend of custom-made furnishings and contemporary comforts and style along with every possible modern amenity ensure a relaxing visit.

The residence features accents from Asian influences starting with the foyer's 10 foot majestic front door to midcentury Hollywood film posters in the state-of-the-art movie theater with comfortable seating for six to eight people, and much more.

Pocket glass walls open the great room out to the lanai creating additional living space while enjoying the desert panoramic landscape in the distance. Sandstone flooring is laid throughout the entertainment and living areas to the pool including the billiards area and indoor wet bar. The pool table doubles as a ping-pong table as well.

The master suite includes approximately 1,400 square feet for pampered privacy and relaxation including a sitting area with fireplace and an ensuite spa-quality bathroom with a second outdoor shower surrounded by glass blocks for privacy.

Each bedroom has been thoughtfully and luxuriously appointed, each with an en suite bath. Two bedrooms share a second full size kitchen and a private entrance.

The kitchen and dining area feature modern Thermador appliances and all of the accoutrements for high style entertaining. Outdoor dining is also available with the BBQ kitchen island and patio dining area.

A spectacular pebble tech pool and spa with adjacent fire pits serve as a splendid centerpiece from nearly every room in this celebrity estate.

A putting green as the Crooner himself might have practiced on is also available. The home is updated with the latest technology and is the perfect celebrity estate to celebrate or to simply relax and indulge in this incredible home...

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THREE CROSBY PROPERTIES FOR SALE

Three properties once owned by Bing Crosby are up for sale. Der Bingle sang of a "White Christmas," but the crooner's heart was in sunny Southern California, where he invested in real estate and built houses.

One that recently came on the market in Rancho Mirage is priced at $3,495,000. The sprawling 6,700-square-foot home sits on more than an acre with a hillside backdrop in the Thunderbird Heights neighborhood. The décor incorporates midcentury film posters — the Moroccan studio screening room is an ode to Crosby's "Road to" movies — and other Hollywood memorabilia and photographs.

The current owner is entrepreneur Jeff Teller. About seven years ago, a real estate agent asked Teller and his father if they had any interest in touring the former Crosby spread. "My dad, who is 72, remembered living near them in L.A. and thought it would be fun to see," said Teller, who was considering building a family home in La Quinta but was concerned about how long it might take to get a contractor. He and his father were awestruck from the minute they walked through the 10-foot front doors. The back of the house consisted of sliding glass doors that opened to views of the Coachella Valley, he said. "He looked at me, and I looked at him," Teller recalled, and they arrived at the same decision: "Let's buy this."

The single-story house, built in 1957, has an outdoor swimming pool and spa with adjacent fireplaces and a putting green. Crosby often entertained celebrities around the pool. Five bedrooms and 51/2 bathrooms include a wing named the Kennedy Suite in honor of President Kennedy's 1962 visit to Palm Springs. The suite has a kitchen, living area and separate entrance. On the other side of the house is the master bedroom wing, which Teller favors. "It has an outdoor shower with these quartz walls that Bing had brought in," he said. The estate has been used from time to time as a resort rental at rates of $2,000 to $3,000 a night, depending on the season. "We loved spending the holidays out there," said Teller, who has listed the property with Valery Neuman of Windermere Real Estate. "We could sit in the pool and see the snow on the mountains." A Toluca Lake home owned by Crosby that was listed at $10 million last year has been reduced to $5,995,000. Although the Southern Colonial has had a succession of Hollywood owners, including actors Andy Griffith and Jerry Van Dyke, it is still identified as Crosby's house.

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BING CROSBY ESTATE PICTURES

Here is some very interesting pics of Bing Crosby's old estate. Bing Crosby's original 1957 mid-century desert estate is now for sale. Fabulouse renovated vintage celebrity home located in Thunderbird Heights, Rancho Mirage, California. Offered by Valery Neuman, 760-861-1176...

BING CROSBY'S HOUSE FOR SALE

Bing Crosby’s two-acre gated tennis court estate in Toluca Lake is being offered for $6,595,000. The singer and actor lived on the property from 1936 until early January 1943 when the 20-room house was gutted in a Christmas-tree fire. Damage to the structure and its contest was estimated at $200,000, and the family's cocker spaniel, a complete collection of Crosby's recordings and his golf trophies and pipe collection were lost.

The rebuilt Southern Colonial on the site, behind a circular motorcourt, has large stately rooms, high ceilings and an open floorplan with all main rooms lined with french doors leading out to the grounds. There are six bedrooms, 5.5 baths and five fireplaces in 7,132 square feet with a living room with marble fireplace, a billiards room and a den with a wet bar. The two-acre gated grounds include rose gardens, fruit trees, vegetable gardens, a bocce court, a lighted tennis court with Crosby’s original grandstand, a gazebo, and an Olympic-sized swimming pool with separate spa. The 2.5-bathroom cabana has changing rooms, an outdoor living room with a built-in barbecue and a kitchen. There is also a a two-bedroom, two bathroom guest house with a kitchen.

After Crosby, subsequent owners included actor Andy Griffith in the 1980s and actor Jerry Van Dyke and his wife, Shirley, who sold the home to the current owner in 1997 for $1.93 million. Crosby achieved international fame with his recording of Irving Berlin’s White Christmas from the film Holiday Inn. The song was the No.1 hit in late 1942 and stayed at the top of the chart for 11 weeks. Crosby won the best actor Oscar for Going My Way (1944) and teamed with Bob Hope for the “Road to” pictures. The estate, at 10500 Camarillo St., was previously offered at $7.395 million. Ginger Glass of Coldwell Banker Previews and Shirley Duenckel and Jon Molin of Ramsey Shilling & Associates have the listing...