Kimberly Crest House and Gardens

The house was built in 1897 for Mrs Cornelia A. Hill, one of the pioneers of Redlands. In 1905, John Alfred Kimberly, a co-founder of the Kimberly-Clark paper company, purchased the home to escape the Wisconsin winters, giving the family name to the property. When the Kimberly family purchased the property in 1905, Mrs Kimberly had the Italian gardens installed on the property. The family celebrated the holidays at the property with a 90-foot (27 m) magnolia tree adorned with 6000 watts of light. The Kimberly family continued to live in the home until the death in 1979 of Mary Kimberly Shirk, the widowed daughter of John Alfred Kimberly. Before her death, Mrs Shirk challenged the city of Redlands to raise the funds to purchase 39 acres (0.06 sq mi; 0.16 km2) of the property around the home and turn it into a botanical park. If the funds were raised, she promised to bequeath the mansion and the estate of 6.25 acres (0.01 sq mi; 0.03 km2) immediately around it to the city. The city raised the funds, and the surrounding grounds became known as Prospect Park. At her death, Mrs Shirk left the home to “the people of Redlands” and, using the proceeds from the sale to the city of the Prospect Park property, established the Kimberly-Shirk Association, which continues to care for the home today. Prior to the conversion to a museum, the mansion served as one of the filming locations for the 1981 movie Hell Night, starring Linda Blair. In the film, tunnels were depicted, but the house and the estate have no such feature. Later, the grounds served as the setting of Fleetwood Mac’s Big Love video. Shots depicting the inside of the home were filmed on a sound stage. Kimberly Crest House and Gardens is a French château-style Victorian mansion located in Redlands, California. The property is a registered California Historical Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The three-story Victorian mansion was designed in the Châteauesque style by Oliver Perry Dennis and Lyman Farwell, a Los Angeles-based partnership. The building contains over 7,000 square feet (650 m2) of floor space. A near replica, now known as The Magic Castle, was designed by the same architects and erected in Hollywood in 1909. The gardens that surround Kimberly Crest are exquisite examples of the Italian style favored by Victorian homeowners at the turn of the 20th century. Mr Kimberly had the current gardens created in 1909, complete with statuary and koi ponds. Today the gardens are honorary members of the Inland Koi Society, which now maintains the lily ponds. The Kimberly-Shirk Association has maintained the property since 1981 and continues the legacy of Mrs Shirk’s involvement in civic events. Kimberly Crest is open to the public for tours and can also be booked for weddings and private events. Tours are Thursday, Friday, and Sunday. Tours are available every half hour with the last tour taking off at 3:30 pm. Don’t forget to check out this place in Redlands too.

Kimberly Crest House & Gardens is a 6-¼ acre estate in Redlands, CA featuring a Victorian Chateau and Italian Renaissance styled gardens. The house was built by Mrs. Cornelia Hill in 1897. In 1905 the home was purchased by John Alfred and Helen Cheney Kimberly who added the gardens. After the Kimberly’s death the house was inherited by their daughter, Mrs. Mary Kimberly-Shirk, who donated the house to the “people of Redlands” and founded Kimberly-Shirk Association. The estate is now owned and operated by Kimberly-Shirk Association, a 501-C3 Non-Profit organization on behalf of the people of Redlands and is a historical landmark. The interior of the house serves as a museum offering both public and private tours. The gardens are utilized for public events and rented for weddings and private events. A vast mansion set in the château-style, this Victorian beauty is a must-visit place. It is spread over a sprawling 7,000 square feet. This three-story villa was originally built in 1897 for the very wealthy Mrs. Cornelia A. Hill. The design is also set in a typical Victorian theme and was designed by eminent architects Oliver Perry Dennis and Lyman Farwell. Opulent and rich Italian-style gardens surround the exquisite villa, perfect for those looking for a destination wedding venue. The house is often rented out for private weddings and other events. For those who are visiting, there are public guided tours available. If you are ever in need of home renovation, click here.