Bob Barker’s Outpost Estates Home: A Piece of Hollywood History
A picture of Bob Barker in his Outpost Estates home in front of the 19 Emmy awards he won over the course of his career. Image source: Architectural Digest. Photo: Tony Esparza/CBS via Getty Images
Bob Barker, long-time host of The Price Is Right, was more than a TV legend — he was a longtime member of the Outpost Estates community. Many Outpost Estates neighbors remember seeing him smile and wave as he walked around the neighborhood. His Spanish Colonial Revival home embodies the history, architecture, and glamour that define our neighborhood.
🏡 Barker’s Home & Its Signature Legacy
Historic Roots: The house at 1851 Outpost Drive was built in 1929, in the Spanish Colonial Revival style, and once served as the estate of Gen. Harrison Gray Otis and the Outpost Estates developer Charles E. Toberman. The City of Los Angeles declared it a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument in 1999 because it is identified with "historic personages” since both Bob Barker and Harrison Gray Otis, publisher of the Los Angeles Times, owned the home.
Longtime Ownership: Barker owned the property from 1969 until his death in 2023 — more than half a century. During that time, many original architectural details were preserved: frescoed ceilings, arched doorways, stained-glass windows, original woodwork and fireplaces.
Restoration & Sale: After Barker passed, interior designer Julia Dempster purchased the home in April 2024. She undertook a careful renovation to modernize parts of the house while respecting its heritage. The property is now back on the market for about $8.19 million, following extensive restoration.
“The Outpost II Marker” plaque that hangs on the outside of 1851 Outpost Drive. Image source: The Historical Marker Database. Photographed by Craig Baker.
A picture of 1851 Outpost Drive from the exterior with the outdoor pool. Image source: Realtor.com.
A picture of 1851 Outpost Drive from the exterior showing the balcony. Image source: Realtor.com.
🎯 Why It Matters for Outpost Estates
Cultural Significance: As one of our most recognizable properties, Barker’s house stands not just as a residence but as part of Outpost Estates’ identity. Its preservation connects us to the early years of our neighborhood, including ties to the original Outpost adobe home and the development patterns of the 1920s.
Architectural Preservation: Barker’s home highlights the importance of maintaining historical character—original elements like ironwork, windows, ceilings, and other craftsmanship that make Outpost Estates distinctive. It shows how modern updating and historical preservation can coexist.
Inspiration for Neighbors: The recent restoration serves as a case study in how an older home in our neighborhood can be cared for, modernized, and yet still retain its soul.
A picture of 1851 Outpost Drive interior with original wrought-iron railings. Image source: Realtor.com.
A picture of 1851 Outpost Drive interior with stained-glass windows and original doors. Image source: Realtor.com.
🌿 Key Features of the Property
Size: ~5,900 sq ft, 6 bedrooms, multiple bathrooms; large lot with pool, expansive grounds.
Preserved Elements: Stained-glass windows, frescoed ceilings, coffered ceiling, arched doorways, and original fireplace mantel among others. Some updates were necessary (e.g. replacing damaged floors) but done with sensitivity.
Modern Touches: Updated bathrooms, repaired elements like the tile roof and patio stones, carefully replaced flooring damaged by water while leaving at least the main living room floor intact.
A picture of 1851 Outpost Drive interior with the original ceiling fresco. Image source: Realtor.com.
🔍 Looking Forward
With the house being re-listed, there’s opportunity for a new owner who will — ideally — preserve its character and history while enjoying the best of what modern living provides. For the Outpost Estates community, that means maintaining what makes the neighborhood special: its architecture, its story, and its ties to Hollywood’s past.
