The Puck Drops on the Sale of Ed Snider’s California Estate

This fully loaded and lushly landscaped property can be yours for a mere $52 million. An unadvertised bonus: The nicest next-door neighbor you could possibly have - Oprah Winfrey.

The late Ed Snider's palatial retreat in Montecito, Calif. | Photos: Jim Bartsch via Susan Burns

The late Ed Snider’s palatial retreat in Montecito, Calif. | Photos: Jim Bartsch via Susan Burns

The estate of Ed Snider has put his 9.4-acre Southern California estate on the market.

Snider, who parlayed his ownership of the Philadelphia Flyers into the sports and entertainment behemoth known as Spectacor, died in April at age 83, leaving behind an elegant Montecito estate that includes an eight-bedroom mansion, a two-story tennis pavilion with a wet bar and rooftop deck view, a two-bedroom guest house, and a swimming pool with cabana.

This estate, reminiscent of villas in Italy’s Lake Como region, dates to 1919. Snider purchased the property in 1994 and built the Italianate main house, designed by architect David E. Martin, in 2001. The estate’s landscape is the work of world-renowned landscape architect Robert E. Truskowski, who spent five years planting trees, restoring the property, and overseeing its maintenance. Among his contributions to this estate are two gardens, a wide variety of trees, and the restoration of the Art Deco-esque backyard reflecting pool and balustrades created by original landscape architect Lockwood de Forest, Jr.

The property, which also boasts ocean and mountain views, was a popular retreat for Snider, who lived primarily in Philadelphia. Listing agent Susan Burns of Coldwell Banker Previews International, who knew Snider personally, told The Wall Street Journal that the sports and entertainment mogul often invited friends and family to watch Flyers games in his home theater, a family-room feature with a bar and two flat screens.

All this will be the home of one lucky buyer for just $52 million. Not included in the sale price: Oprah Winfrey as your next-door neighbor.

 

THE FINE PRINT

BEDS: 8 in main house, 1 in poolside cabana, 2 in guest house

SQUARE FEET: 21,300 (main house only)

SALE PRICE: $52,000,000

Grand European Estate in Montecito, Calif. 93108 [Susan Burns | Coldwell Banker Previews International]