Greystone Mansion
Greystone has been a popular filming location since the mid-20th century, a legacy it still maintains today.
Greystone Mansion, the Doheny Estate, was built in 1928 in Beverly Hills as a gift from oil tycoon Edward L. Doheny to his son Ned. The 18.5-acre city-owned grounds feature Formal Gardens, historic interiors, and hillside terraces, and the gothic property has hosted The Big Lebowski, Ghostbusters, General Hospital, and Gilmore Girls.
Greystone Mansion Construction and History
Greystone Mansion occupies an 18.3-acre site that the City of Beverly Hills formally dedicated as a public park on September 16, 1971, with the estate entering the National Register of Historic Places on April 23, 1976. The Gordon B. Kaufmann-designed structure, built by the P.J. Walker Company, is constructed of steel-reinforced concrete, faced with Indiana limestone, and roofed with Welsh slate. The entire estate cost $3,166,578.12 to build, with the mansion itself accounting for $1,238,378.76 of that total.
Best Photo Spots
Greystone Mansion features six photo spots across gardens and architecture, including the grand staircase, formal gardens, and terraces.
The Grand Staircase
Photographs of This Location
Greystone Mansion History and Filming Use
Construction of the Greystone manor home in Beverly Hills began on February 15, 1927, and the project required almost three years before the Doheny family moved into the 55-room, 46,054-square-foot residence in September 1928. The American Film Institute has leased the property since 1965, and the estate has since served as a setting for film and television productions. The mansion's varied interior rooms and surrounding grounds offer a range of compositions for architectural and landscape work.
Common Questions
Non-commercial photography permits at Greystone cost $330/hour for Beverly Hills residents and $413/hour for non-residents.
Late afternoon into the hour before sunset produces Greystone's most recognizable look, when warm light catches the limestone facade and terraces.
Jackson Catering, SRC Event Group, or Wolfgang Puck Catering must provide food for events at Greystone Mansion.
Greystone Mansion is located at 905 Loma Vista Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210.
Greystone Mansion: A Public Park
Greystone Mansion, also called the Doheny Estate, occupies 16 acres in Beverly Hills and has operated as a public park since the city acquired it in 1965. The 55-room residence, completed in 1928 by architect Gordon Kaufman for the Doheny family, offers photographers stone staircases, grand fountains, and symmetrical cypress trees set within manicured gardens. Panoramic views of Los Angeles extend from the grounds, and the estate periodically hosts site-specific performances such as Mixed eMotion Theatrix's Gatsby Redux, which can add period costuming and staging to compositions. The property is maintained by the city's Department of Community Services, Recreation and Parks Division.
Practical Information
501 Doheny Road, Beverly Hills, California 90210; 905 Loma Vista Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Free; Free on-site parking; large parking lot
first Saturday or Sunday of each month, January through November; 10:30 am – 5:30 pm; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily
$330/hour; $10 per person (mansion tour); Free
Greystone permits cover exterior areas only and do not grant exclusive use of any space.; 6 people; Props such as rose petals, balloons, easels, and chairs are not allowed at Greystone.
Session Tips
- Photographers can capture settings recognizable from numerous well-known films shot at the stately home and its garden-like grounds.
- The estate has been used as a filming location for numerous films and TV shows, including There Will Be Blood, Spider-Man 2, The Muppets, and The West Wing.
- Photographers recommend booking the photographer 2–6 months in advance, then securing the Greystone permit the morning it opens.
- Choosing a weekday for a Greystone Mansion engagement session tends to mean fewer visitors and a more private experience.
- Advance reservations are recommended for all programs at Greystone.
What to Wear
- Greystone Mansion engagement sessions photograph best in polished but comfortable outfits, often elegant or classic looks that complement the historic architecture.
When to Shoot
Best Time to Photograph
1:24 PM - 1:49 PM
1:49 PM - 2:49 PM
12:34 AM - 1:34 AM
1:34 AM - 1:59 AM
Best Season
Spring and early summer
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 06:58 | 17:07 | 10h 8m |
| Feb | 06:38 | 17:37 | 10h 59m |
| Mar | 07:03 | 19:01 | 11h 57m |
| Apr | 06:22 | 19:25 | 13h 2m |
| May | 05:51 | 19:48 | 13h 56m |
| Jun | 05:41 | 20:06 | 14h 25m |
| Jul | 05:53 | 20:05 | 14h 12m |
| Aug | 06:15 | 19:40 | 13h 25m |
| Sep | 06:36 | 18:59 | 12h 22m |
| Oct | 06:58 | 18:19 | 11h 20m |
| Nov | 06:26 | 16:49 | 10h 23m |
| Dec | 06:51 | 16:45 | 9h 53m |
What to Expect During Your Session
Greystone Mansion's limestone facade catches its best light in the late afternoon, and photographers typically begin sessions around 4 pm to capture the warm tones through the hour before sunset. Spring and early summer bring the garden-like grounds to their freshest, while a weekday booking helps limit crowds and the permit should be secured the morning reservations open. The estate has served as a backdrop for films like There Will Be Blood and Spider-Man, and self-guided mansion tours run the first Saturday or Sunday of each month from January through November with advance online registration.
The annual 'The Great Outdoors at Greystone' celebration of nature in the heart of Beverly Hills takes place on Saturday, September 19.
A typical Greystone engagement session begins in the late afternoon, around 4 pm, when the light starts to soften across the estate.
From mid-June to early August, the estate hosts Catskills West, a theater arts and drama camp run by Beverly Hills Parks and Recreation.
Self-guided mansion tours are offered the first Saturday or Sunday of the month from January to November and require advance online reservations.
“The session ends near the overlook with calm, cinematic late-afternoon light across Beverly Hills and Los Angeles.”
Getting There
Access & Transit
- Wheelchair access
- Due to the historic character of Greystone, there are many areas with limited disability access.
- Parking
- Parking is available on-site at Greystone Mansion but is limited, so coordination with vendors and guests is recommended.
- Walking distance
- Greystone's key photo settings (cypress walkway, grand staircase, gardens, fountains, and city overlook) lie within walking distance of one another on the estate.