The Pink Palace: A Short History of the Beverly Hills Hotel

It opened in 1912, before the city existed. It wasn't painted pink until 1948. In 2012 it became the city's first historic landmark.

The Beverly Hills Hotel is older than the city of Beverly Hills. It opened in May 1912, about 20 months before the city incorporated, because the developers needed a reason for people to come and buy land.

Built to sell a subdivision

Burton Green’s Rodeo Land and Water Company had laid out curving streets and big lots, but buyers were slow to arrive. The hotel was built for Margaret J. Anderson, a widow, and her son Stanley S. Anderson, who had been running the Hollywood Hotel. It was designed by Pasadena architect Elmer Grey in the Mediterranean Revival style. According to the city’s history, it sat at the old Gathering of the Waters and was served by a small “Dinky” railroad. It also doubled as the community’s theater, meeting hall and church.

The Courtright era and the Polo Lounge

In 1941, banker Hernando Courtright bought the hotel with a group of friends that included the actresses Irene Dunne and Loretta Young and studio executive Harry Warner. Courtright established the Polo Lounge, which became one of Los Angeles’ best-known places to see and be seen.

Why pink

The famous pink-and-green look isn’t original. The hotel was first painted pink during a 1948 renovation. The next year, architect Paul R. Williams added the Crescent Wing.

Owners, a long closure and a landmark

1958–1979: Ben L. Silberstein owned the hotel until his death.
1986–1987: Marvin Davis bought it and sold it less than a year later to the Sultan of Brunei.
Dec. 30, 1992 – June 3, 1995: the hotel closed for a full restoration.
1996 onward: it has been run as part of the Dorchester Collection.
2012: it was named the first historic landmark in Beverly Hills.

Today it has about 210 rooms and suites and 23 bungalows on Sunset Boulevard. A photograph of the hotel is on the cover of the Eagles’ album Hotel California.