-
Image Credit: Warner Bros. -
Image Credit: Airbnb The sprawling property, built in 1937, still looks much as it did in the “Fresh Prince” days, but unfortunately, it is largely obscured from public view courtesy of a large hedge-covered wall that surrounds it. Thanks to Airbnb, fans are finally being allowed behind the gates!
-
Image Credit: Warner Bros. “Host” Smith explains, “Some may say I’ve done it all, but I’ve never opened the doors to a wing of the iconic mansion that helped launch my career. It holds a lot of special memories for me and my friends, and I hope you’ll leave with memories (and a dope handshake!) to last you well beyond your stay.” As set forth in the listing, the manse is available for five one-night visits only – October 2nd, 5th, 8th, 11th, and 14th. The cost, a paltry $30 per evening (a nod to the anniversary, natch!). Airbnb will also be making a donation to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Philadelphia as part of the promotion.
-
Image Credit: Warner Bros. -
Image Credit: Airbnb As iconic as the location is to “Fresh Prince” fans, thanks to the fact that it showed up weekly on our TVs, very little filming actually took place there. Aside from the opening credits, establishing shots, and the recurring footage of DJ Jazzy Jeff (Jeffrey Townes) being tossed out the front door, the mansion scenes were all lensed in front of a live studio audience on a soundstage-built set, first at Hollywood Center Studios, then Sunset Gower Studios, and finally NBC Studios (the production moved around quite a bit in the six years it was on the air).
-
Image Credit: Warner Bros. Interestingly, 251 N. Bristol is not the only pad that can call itself “‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’ house.” In the Season 1 Christmas-themed episode “Deck the Halls,” a similar-looking Colonial at 10436 Kling Street in Toluca Lake was used for exterior shots of the Banks mansion, including in a scene in which Phil and Vivian (Hubert) arrive home aghast to find their swanky digs completely shrouded in a hodgepodge of twinkle lights and over-the-top holiday trimmings.
-
Image Credit: Warner Bros. -
Image Credit: Airbnb However, it is the Brentwood property that is best-known as the Banks mansion. In real life, the residence, which you can see interior photos of here, consists of 5 bedrooms and 5 baths in a whopping 6,438 square feet. Featuring multiple fireplaces, a built-in bar, a wood-paneled office, a formal dining room, and an eat-in kitchen, the manse is not short on amenities.
Outside, on the 0.88-acre grounds, there is a large pool, a hot tub, fountains, a koi pond, a sprawling lawn, and a winding driveway that’s perfect for making a grand entrance — via taxi, perhaps? The Colonial-style dwelling last sold in 1978 for $732,000. Its value is estimated at just under $6.5 million today!
-
Image Credit: Airbnb The lucky few who are able to secure a booking will stay in a closed-off wing of the estate with access to a bedroom decked out in vibrant “Fresh Prince”-inspired décor, a full bathroom, a dining room, the pool, and an outdoor lounge area. Though other areas of the property are off-limits, it still leaves plenty of space to do “The Carlton”! (Tom Jones CD likely not included.) Access to the kitchen is barred, but the listing stipulates that all meals will be provided — and “served on silver platters,” no less!
-
Image Credit: Airbnb In looking at photos of the interior compared to the listing pics, it is obvious that the mansion’s living room, complete with a grand piano and French doors, is the area being rented out on Airbnb.
-
Image Credit: Airbnb And the adjacent office is serving as the rental’s “dining room.”
-
Image Credit: Airbnb Bookings for “The Freshest Los Angeles Mansion Around,” as Airbnb is calling it, open at 11 a.m. PDT on Tuesday, September 29th. Due to the pandemic, Smith will not be on-site to greet guests. Each will instead be welcomed virtually by DJ Jazzy Jeff and a “socially distanced mansion concierge.” (No word if Geoffrey will also be made available to cater to vacationers’ every whim.) Only Los Angeles County residents are allowed to book stays and capacity is limited to two people, both of whom must currently reside in the same household and cannot have traveled outside of California within 14 days of arrival. Apparently you can go home again — but there are rules!
Until next time, Happy Stalking! 🙂
Stalk It: The Banks Mansion from “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” is located at 251 North Bristol Avenue in Brentwood. Disclaimer: Please remember this is a private home. Do not trespass or bother the residents or the property in any way.
Click back over to the main page for more Dirt on the “Fresh Prince” house.