Los Angeles has never been shy about excess—but some of its homes take things way past luxury andstraight into the bizarre.
From a “Jaws”-like mansion tied to murder lore to a flying saucer home perched on a single pole, these architectural oddities aren’t just eye candy.
These are the properties that makeeven jaded Angelenos do a double take—and the strange stories hiding behind their walls.
Located in the heart of the trendy east side Los Feliz neighborhood, the John Sowden House is a Mayan revival fortress that is impossible to miss.
Built in 1926 and designed by Lloyd Wright (Frank Lloyd Wright’s son), it’s nicknamed the “Jaws House” because it features a jagged concrete facade that resembles a giant, gaping mouth that looks like it might bite you.
The house’s history is darker than its windowless exterior, though. In the 1940’s it was owned by Dr. George Hodel, a primary suspect in the infamous Black Dahlia murder.
Nothing was ever been proven in court, but Hodel’s own son, homicide detective, later claimed his father committed the gruesome murder of Elizabeth Short right in the basement of the iconic house.
Inside, the house only adds to the mystique: a narrow, cave-like entrance opens into a hidden courtyard. It reportedly last traded hands for $6.16 million in 2022.
Better known as the Witch’s House, this is straight out of a storybook, and completely out of place in Beverly Hills.
With its intentionally lopsided roof, tiny windows, and a moat filled with lily pads, it looks like a relic from the 1600’s—but it was actually built for a movie studio 1921, and was relocated to North Walden Drive in 1934. While it looks derelict by design, it’s actually a meticulously maintained private residence.
Source: California Post – Breaking California News, Photos & Videos
