For Months I would drive up and down Highway 18 to go to Wal-Mart, or to the doctors and each time I drove by I'd get lost in thought.
After asking around, and doing some research I've come to find out that, this house once belonged to Newton T. Bass the founding father of Apple Valley California. In my search to know more about this house I've heard all kinds of stories about this house. Stories such as this house is haunted, and no one who buys this house and property stands a chance because they are chased away by the "spirits of the pass". I however do not believe this.
This is what The Bass house looked like when Mr. Bass lived in it.
Photo Credit: Maynard L. Parker
This is what is looks like now!
Kind of Sad if you ask me! How would Mr. Bass feel if he could see his beloved home now?
Newt and his partner Bud Westlund set out to buy property for the purpose of starting a cattle ranch. So they headed to the High Dessert, where they purchased 22,000 acres all for the estimated price of $2.75 an acre. After purchasing this 22,000 acres Newt. and Bud saw some potential, not just for cattle ranching, but Newt. and Bud had an idea to turn this land into a resort community. On that land they bought they built what is known as the Historical "Apple Valley Inn" which still stands today, and has been turned into a strip mall, with various business in it, such as, insurance agents office, a thrift store, and a Church just to name a few. (Not sure how Newt. would feel about this either)
Newt contracted an architect named Francisco Artigas from Mexico. Mr. Artigas dreamed up a home with Newt that was simply amazing. Being a millionaire, money was no object to Newt. Newt wanted his home to be perched high a top a hill where he could watch over his resort.
What kind of resort could Newt and Bud build in the middle of a dessert, and hours from Hollywood? Newt built an oasis in the middle of the dessert. Celebrities such as Bob Hope, Dean Martin, Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, and Natalie Wood frequented Newt and Bud's Apple Valley Inn Resort.
Francisco Artigas dreamed up the plans for Newt's castle on a hill. The details of this house we're simply amazing. Mr. Artigas used materials taken right from the hillside, one feature included building around a huge set of rocks that were in the dinning room of Newt's home, a feature I am guessing not found in anyone else's house.
Photo Credit: Maynard L. Parker
Above is a picture of what Newt's dinning area looked like. Below is a picture of how it sits today, again a sad sight.
You might ask, what happened? It's outdoors now? In 1967 after Newt moved from his house, a fire burned the house. It was rebuilt but it was rebuilt for office purpose. It was said that the after Newt used the house (building) for meetings, for his oil company. So therefore a portion of the house or structure was rebuilt. I personally think this makes a cool patio area (without the graffiti of course). After the rebuild what was the dinning room and living room was turned into a patio area with the pool. Before the fire a portion of the pool was actually part of the living room. (A coolness factor on a whole other level)
Photo Credit: Maynard L. Parker
Above is a photo of how the living room looked when Newt lived there. Below is what the living room looks like.
I can imagine that when the structure was rebuilt after the fire, it made for a nice place for Newt to have meetings and wow his clients. But I do not think Newt would be proud of what it has become, and it would wow his clients in a whole different way.
The part of the structure that was rebuilt was what was Newt's bedroom and bathroom, and what I believe was the kitchen. (I could be wrong, I still have some more digging to do about the layout of the original blue prints of the home; please feel free to enlighten me if I am wrong about the layout of the house)
Photo Credit: Maynard L. Parker
Above is a picture of what Newt's bedroom looked like. With a built in TV to the fireplace, and his bed steps away from the indoor part of the pool, this was a dream.
Below is a picture of what Newt's bedroom looks like today.
I think this is one of the things that broke my heart the most. To see this garbage, it just makes me mad to think that something as historical as the home of the founder of Apple Valley can not be preserved, and protected by the town. Instead is lays in ruins, belonging to birds, and the vandal's and homeless who choose to destroy it.
Before hiking up to the house, I researched the house, and it's history as much as I could. And I know there have been attempts by residents, and others to "rebuild" the house and make it into something that the community of Apple Valley, and visitors can enjoy, such proposal's include some type of nature park where people can hike, and ride horses. Other idea's include turning it into a restaurant, or banquet hall for weddings, and other events.
As the property sits today, it is currently for sale with a list price of $750,000 for the house and 26 acres. Some might ask why doesn't the Town of Apple Valley buy this property and do something to honor the founder of their town? One would ask that, I know I asked many times. It blew my mind that the town leaders would not to want to preserve this place, and make it into something worth wild, something Old Newt would be proud of today.
Even if the Town did buy the property and the structure it would take so much money to bring everything up to code. I once sided with residents who tell stories of this place in it's heyday to rebuild it, and even dreamed of buying it myself and fixing it up. But after going up there and seeing first hand what is left of this once legendary house, I must say there is not anything to save. I am all for the town doing something with the property, something of the sort of hiking/horse trails, so that the community can enjoy this hill top, but as it currently sits the community can not enjoy it.
What will become of the Newton T. Bass home? Who knows? Only time will tell.
Below are some more pictures I took. I do hope you enjoyed my point of view of this subject matter, and again if I have got any facts wrong about Newton or the home please feel free to correct me.
(Above): This is what the house looks like as you walk up the drive way. A sight for sore eyes.
The Stairs leading to the pool area.
The front of the house, and carport. I haven't found any mentions of a recent fire but there was evidence of one, the roof of the carport area is burned, and the drop ceiling is collapsed.
The pool. Or what is left of the pool.....a very sad sight!
This is a room off the carport area. I am not sure what this room was, or if it was a storage area.
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