One of the most well-known homes in Santa Monica’s Rustic Canyon, originally built for the 1923 silent movie "The Courtship of Miles Standish," has been listed for nearly $8 million.
The log cabin, which hit the market on Friday, was one of three built for the silent film based on a 19th century poem by American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. The building was originally constructed 70 miles from Los Angeles in Lake Arrowhead before it was disassembled and moved to Rustic Canyon.
More:'Modern Family' Star Ty Burrell Find Buyer for L.A. Penthouse, Click to Read More
For a while, the home sat at the center of the Uplifters Ranch—a quirky collection of cabins and lodges surrounding an all-men’s club made up of wealthy, mostly conservative businessmen—according to the listing with Hugh Evans III, of Partners Trust.
The set-turned-private residence also served as the summer home of California Gov. Earl Warren in the 1940s, and much later the home of actress Daryl Hannah, famous for films like the 1984 hit "Splash" and 1999’s "Steel Magnolias." At various time the home was also a bohemian retreat for Hollywood icons such as Walt Disney, Clark Gable, and Will Rogers, according to Partners Trust.
In 1999, Ms. Hannah sold it for $1.55 million to current owner Larry Butler, chairman and chief executive of a Los Angeles manufacturing company Alpha Technologies, and his wife, Marla, according to property records.
Shortly after it sold to the Bulters, the log cabin’s Hollywood history made it the center of a landmarks dispute. Neighbors and the Santa Monica Cultural Heritage Commission attempted to block Mr. Butler from demolishing the cabin—which was plagued by 75-year-old electrical wiring and sinking into two illegal cesspools in the backyard, according to an article in the Los Angeles Times.
All that’s nothing to worry about now, however.
The owners chose restoration over complete demolition, and in 2013 the home was disassembled log by log for the second time in its history and rebuilt into a fully modern home twice the original size, according to the listing agency. Likewise, an architectural stone fireplace that decorates the interior and exterior was disassembled, each stone numbered and then rebuilt.
"The Butlers instructed the talented group to ardently preserve the rich legacy—and in some instances, the original materials—of the cabin," the brokerage said in a profile of the home. The team included architect Chris Peck, interior designer Lisa Strong, builder Eric Dobkin and landscape architect Samantha Gore.
More:What's the One Luxe Amenity You Never Want to Use? Click to Read
Despite the landmark dispute, Santa Monica’s Cultural Heritage Commission website shows that ultimately the home was never designated.
The interior now offers contemporary design elements like an open kitchen and a dining room filled with natural light from bi-fold glass doors and double case windows. The home also has a plunge pool and large terrace.
Mr. Evans, the listing agent, did not immediately return requests for comment.