Inside the Ennis House, the Frank Lloyd Wright Mansion That Inspired Blade Runner and House on Haunted Hill
LOS FELIZ, CALIFORNIA – The Ennis House stands as one of Los Angeles’s most distinctive architectural landmarks, a striking textile block mansion that has become a favorite filming location for decades of movies and television, all while remaining a private residence rarely open to the public.
Architect Frank Lloyd Wright designed the home for Charles and Mable Ennis in 1923, completing it in 1924 while simultaneously working on the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo and several other Los Angeles commissions. The house is the fourth in Wright’s series of homes built in his signature textile block style, drawing heavily on Mayan Revival influences, and sits prominently on a highly visible lot in the Los Feliz hills.
Decades of Earthquakes Led to Major Restoration
Years of earthquakes and rain damage took a significant toll on the structure over time, prompting its designation as a Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monument in 1976. More recent renovations have since stabilized the building, preserving Wright’s original design for future generations even as the home remains privately owned.
A Hollywood Favorite for Nearly 70 Years
Both the exterior and interior of the Ennis House have appeared in numerous film and television productions over the decades. In 1959, the house’s exterior featured prominently in House on Haunted Hill starring Vincent Price, and it later served as a private residence setting in the 1975 film Day of the Locust.
The home reached its most iconic film status as the inspiration for Rick Deckard’s apartment in Ridley Scott’s 1982 film Blade Runner, a connection that has helped cement the house’s reputation among film buffs. The property also appeared in the TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, serving as the home of vampire characters Angelus, Spike, and Drusilla.
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