El Mirasol, Spanish Colonial Revival mansion in Palm Beach, Florida
El Mirasol is a 37-room mansion that extended from the Intracoastal Waterway to the ocean, spanning two full blocks. The property featured multiple courtyards and gardens along with practical facilities including a 40-car garage, a tea house, and a private zoo.
Architect Addison Mizner completed the residence in 1920 for Edward T. Stotesbury, a prominent financier who acquired the property at his wife's request. Lucretia Stotesbury later directed several expansions of the house before its demolition in 1959.
The property served as a filming location for W. C. Fields' silent film 'It's the Old Army Game' in 1926, reflecting the glamour of that era. Such film use shows how prominent and recognized this residence was in society at the time.
The property spreads across two blocks, so visitors should allow time to explore the different areas. The layout with its gardens and structures is best experienced on foot to appreciate all the details.
The property was so extensive that it housed its own private zoo collection, which was quite unusual for a residential mansion at the time. This feature shows just how self-contained and lavish the property was designed to be.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
