A Hollywood relic with Tarzan ties hits the market at $4.99 million

07 October 2025

An aerial of the grand estate. Susan Pickering

A storied hideaway in Los Angeles’s Laurel Canyon that once belonged to screen legend and Olympic swimmer Johnny Weissmuller has now been listed for sale at $4.99 million, and the property’s lineage reads like a who’s who of Hollywood lore. The 1.27-acre compound, tucked into the serene enclave of Fryman Canyon, melds cinematic history with rare architectural charm and modern luxury.

Constructed in 1925, the estate was purchased in 2016 by Hollywood producer Raul Gasteazoro for just $950,000. Now, as he relocates to Ojai, Gasteazoro is putting the property on the market, offering prospective buyers a chance to call this slice of cinematic heritage home.

The compound comprises multiple structures, all woven around sweeping canyon and valley views. In total the home includes six bedrooms and eight bathrooms, with private parking for more than a dozen vehicles and direct access to parkland trails. Among the buildings is a 1,200-square-foot carriage house with two bedrooms and a brass-accented kitchen. There is also a two-bedroom pool house outfitted with a chef’s kitchen that peers over the pool and a vintage-style teepee on the grounds.

Up the hill sits an artist’s studio, quiet, lofty, panoramic designed for writing and contemplation. Elsewhere on the property is a hidden “Speakeasy” suite that includes a loft lounge and its own outdoor space. cabana with antique tilework and double baths rounds out the compound’s distinct features.

Beyond its architectural wonders, the property is steeped in Hollywood legend. It is said that both Elizabeth Taylor and Shirley Temple learned to swim here during their youth. The sense of magic is palpable this is not just real estate but a living memoir of Hollywood’s golden era.

The listing is being handled by Brent Watson and Marco Salari of Beverly Hills Estates, who emphasize the property’s dramatic possibilities and rare charm in the market. In a city where new builds and sleek modern homes often dominate, this estate stands as a nostalgic counterpoint.

Weissmuller most famous for playing Tarzan on screen and for his five Olympic swimming and water polo golds embodied both athletic and cinematic myth. His name lends a powerful provenance to the property. For those who see real estate as storytelling this estate offers not just walls and windows but a narrative rich with star power, personal ambition, and artful whimsy.

In a way Gasteazoro’s decision to sell now feels like a passing of a torch. He has stewarded the property through nearly a decade, preserving its charm and history, and now invites someone else to carry it forward. As buyers sift through the offering its canyon vistas, multiple dwellings, secret hideaways they are being handed a rare chance to inhabit a home that bridges past prestige and future possibility.