Virginia Robinson Gardens

What is Virginia Robinson Gardens?

The estate carries the name of Virginia Robinson and covers about six acres. Rather than a single garden, it is a set of pieces that belong together. There is the house itself, a Beaux-Arts design by the architect Nathaniel Dryden. Around it lies a landscape kept in the character of its period, and beyond that are botanical gardens planted across the grounds.

That mix is what makes the place worth a stop. A visit here is less about one showpiece and more about seeing how a house and its gardens were planned to work as one setting.

History of Virginia Robinson Gardens

The estate is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, a formal recognition of its historic value. The architect of record for the house is Nathaniel Dryden, and the Beaux-Arts style he chose sets it apart from the ranch houses and motels seen along much of Route 66.

Visiting Virginia Robinson Gardens: tips

Plan on a detour of about a mile from the old road into Beverly Hills. Restrooms are on site, the grounds are wheelchair accessible, and the estate is suitable for a visit with children. Allow an hour or so to walk the gardens.

The Franklin D. Murphy Sculpture Garden at UCLA is about 1.5 miles away, and the Fowler Museum at UCLA is about 1.8 miles off, so a garden morning pairs easily with an art afternoon. Coldwater Canyon, which crosses the Santa Monica Mountains, is about 1.6 miles away. The Beverly Hills Hotel is roughly 0.4 miles from the estate.