Tarzana Home Supposedly A Part of Edgar Rice Burroughs' Estate Hits The Market

By Marty McFly - Wednesday, February 27, 2013 - 2 Comments

[Update June 5, 2013]: This home sold for $1,110,000 on May 10, 2013 which was $115,000 more than the original list price of $995,000 and $792,000 more than the original purchase price of $318K on June 9, 1987.

[Original Price]:

Image courtesy Deasy/Penner & Partners

5038 Brewster Drive

5 Beds/4 Baths on 3,725 sqft on a total lot size of 0.51 acres built in 1938 in Tarzana currently listed for $995,000. The home was last purchased on June 9, 1987 for $318,000. The listing states that the home is "originally part of Edgar Rice Burroughs' estate (author of Tarzan)." So any prospective buyer must ask, was this home really a part of the Burroughs' Ranch as I will try to investigate below?

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The original estate is located at 18500 Tarzana Drive (which is still present) and was last purchased on April 30, 2004 for $2,850,000. According to erbzine.com (official site for Edgar Rice Burroughs and Tarzan), General Harrison Gray Otis (founder and publisher of LA Times) purchased 550 acres in 1911 of what is now Tarzana. In 1919, Burroughs purchased the Otis Ranch and built his home there calling it the Tarzana Ranch. In 1923, Burroughs subdivided a portion of his land for homes that was known as the Tarzana Tract that was bordered by Ventura Blvd, Avenida Oriente, Tarzana Drive, and Mecca Ave which was directly north of the Tarzana Ranch. I also recommend visiting interior pictures here, early Tarzana pics here, WW2 history on the ranch here, and ground level picture from the 1920s here.

Mil Flores, country estate of General Harrison Gray Otis on the site of the Trazana Ranch. This structure was known as the Koonskin Kabin which served as a guest house which Burroughs rented out as a set for film companies. Image courtesy ERBzine.com.

The original Tarzana Ranch circa 1920s. Image courtesy ERBzine.com.

The original Tarzana Ranch circa 1920s. Image courtesy MSFV.

Map of Subdivided Tarzana Tract north of Burroughs' Ranch. Image courtesy ERBzine.com

The Tarzana Ranch shown in 1952 which was still empty land. Image courtesy Historicaerials.com.

The Brewster House shown in 1952 surrounded by other homes but also empty land nearby. Image courtesy Historicaerials.com.

The Tarzana Ranch shown in 1977 with development on the left hand side and the El Cabellero Country Club fully developed. Image courtesy Historicaerials.com.

The Tarzana Ranch shown in 2003 with a portion of the ranch subdivided and homes already being built. Image courtesy Historicaerials.com.

Tarzana Ranch today (center) with new development all around. Image courtesy Google Maps.

Brewster House for sale shown in green marker compared to Tarzana Ranch shown in red marker which are approximately 0.70 miles apart in a straight line. Image courtesy Google Maps.

So to answer the question above, it appears that this home is not a part of the Tarzana Ranch and Burroughs' Estate using the images and development history above. It looks like Burroughs didnt own any land west of Reseda Blvd which is where the Brewster house is located. I could be wrong on this one but the limited information above suggests that the Brewster house was not a part of the Tarzana Ranch. If I am wrong, I hope the Realtor has supporting documentation. If you are purchasing this home, do your due diligence so you are not short changed on a $1 million purchase.

Listing Description and pictures:

Originally part of the Edgar Rice Burroughs' estate (author of Tarzan), this eclectic, character rich, expanded rustic estate is situated on over 1/2 acre of manicured grounds with enormous swimmers pool on a quiet cul-de-sac in the historic heart of Tarzana. An historic cabin occupies the lower level and features an expansive stone and brick fireplace, rough hewn beam ceilings, 2 bedrooms w/ baths and spacious cook's kitchen made for entertaining. The upper level includes a spacious master suite with fireplace and 2 additional bedrooms with vintage bath. A completely unique, spacious family home steeped in local history, folklore and rustic charm.