By Sydnie Moore
Bill Walton’s magnificent secluded Marston Hills home is a shrine to rock n’ roll history, and to his storied sports career.
The landmark home, which he describes as “California Dreamin’,” is on the market for the first time in 30 years. In this sprawling, walled-in private compound overlooking one of Balboa Park’s most spectacular canyons, Walton — a towering basketball legend — raised four energetic, sports-minded boys. “This house was always full of life — lots of children and activity,” he said.
Walton, clad in a T-shirt emblazoned with an image of Bob Dylan, grew nostalgic as he talked about his childhood in San Diego, and his love of Balboa Park and its environ — especially his own neighborhood, a pristine enclave rich in history and meticulous Spanish Revival style homes. “I treasure this area and all that Uptown has to offer, he said. “Our neighborhood truly is an oasis in an urban setting, with a real sense of community. We are best friends with all of our neighbors.”
What he especially enjoys is the area’s proximity to Balboa Park. Though he grew up in La Mesa, Walton said, “this is where I spent lots of time as a child. I discovered Muni Gym here when I was very young and just getting started.”
Since his first foray into basketball at a young age, Walton has attained legendary status. A San Diego native, he played basketball for Blessed Sacrament Elementary School and Helix High School. He then played at UCLA for Coach John Wooden, and was part of many National Collegiate Athletic Association records that still stand to this day, including the Bruins’ 88 consecutive game-winning streak, all the while earning individual recognition as college player of the year for three straight seasons.
His professional career began when he was the number one overall pick in the 1974 NBA Draft by the Portland Trailblazers. In addition, he played for the Boston Celtics, the San Diego Clippers and the relocated Los Angeles Clippers. He has been inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, The Breitbard Hall of Fame here in San Diego, the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame and the UCLA Hall of Fame, and named one of the NBA’s 50 Greatest Players of all time.
Not surprisingly, his expansive home is a memorabilia-filled testament to a life well lived. The house, he proclaimed, “has personality.” This is almost an understatement. The front room — encompassing a game room and built-in bar — is anchored by a huge pool table, and the living room houses an immense drum ensemble. The garage is a weight room, and a basketball court occupies the side patio. “Our four sons played all the sports, but eventually gravitated to basketball,” he said.
Photos of friends, family and rock-and-roll luminaries blanket the walls of all the living areas. Walls not covered with photos and posters are lined with books.
A fan of Neil Young, Bob Dylan, The Allman Brothers Band and other 1970s mainstays, Walton is above all a die-hard “Deadhead.” The cornucopia of faded photos includes images of him posing with members of the Grateful Dead. Walton, who is just under seven feet tall, recalled how he forged an enduring friendship with the band at a Dead concert. “One of the roadies asked me to get off the chair I was supposed to be sitting in — they thought I was standing on it — because I was blocking the audience’s view. Then he recognized me, and asked me to come backstage and meet the band.”
Since that time, Walton has jammed with the Dead, toured with them and seen more than 700 of their concerts. “We’ve been friends for 36 years,” he said. It is safe to say that the Grateful Dead has played a pivotal role in his colorful life — Walton met his wife Lori through friends of the band. “She’s a fan of the Grateful Dead and she went to UCLA,” Walton said with a big grin,” two very important attributes.” In 2001, Walton added yet another accolade to his impressive repertoire: induction into The Grateful Dead Hall of Honor.
Walton himself practices at the drums and the piano. His oversized drum set, personally assembled for him by members of the Grateful Dead, encompasses almost a quarter of the living room. Here, he has spent many hours jamming with friends and family.
The impromptu jam sessions reflect the relaxed, carefree nature of Walton’s house and life. “The house was in great condition, but very traditional and formal when we bought it,” he said. Eschewing any formality, Walton and his wife focused on making it livable, and suitable for a lively brood.
Originally built in 1931, the two-level home is 6,300 square feet, with six bedrooms, eight full baths and a pool house complete with a bar and steam room.
“We made one change to the house: a walk-in closet in the master bedroom,” said Lori. “To me,” she laughed, “a new closet is better than a diamond ring.” A pair of upstairs bedrooms further the home’s decidedly rock n’ roll motif: the Bob Dylan room, filled with photos and books related to the iconic musician, and the Neil Young room, which pays tribute to another visionary singer/songwriter.
Continuing the ongoing theme, “Dia de Los Muertos” tiles — in honor of the Grateful Dead — adorn the somewhat spartan kitchen. While simple, “this kitchen is very functional,” said Lori. “It’s been put to very good use over the years!” The tiles link the kitchen and breakfast room to the foyer, and also accent the massive fireplace in the living area — a light-filled, expansive space with huge glass doors opening onto Walton’s beloved garden.
“My father was really into the outdoors, and fortunately passed that onto me. I’m a lucky old son and truly blessed husband,” he said, looking fondly at his wife.
Studded with numerous water features — including a swimming pool which harmonizes beautifully with the landscape and a Jacuzzi with a cascading waterfall — the outdoor area is a tropical urban sanctuary and reflects Walton’s love of all things botanical.
Over a 30-year time span, he worked with acclaimed horticulturist and landscape designer Michael Bostwick to accrue and nurture a varied and valuable collection of plants. The lush, secluded gardens span almost an acre and are enhanced by the series of waterfalls, pools and rock structures, all custom designed and built by master artist Mark Allen of Boulderscape Inc. The sheer quantity and variety of plant types here is mind-boggling — cycads, ferns, staghorns, orchids, tillandsias, bromeliads, bamboo, palms, succulents, hibiscus, gardenias, ginger, heliconias, chamadoreas, cactus, aloes, euphorbias, dracaenas, sansevierias, epiphyllums, and philodendrons represent just a small sampling.
With this complex ecosystem, Walton’s larger-than-life personality is imbued in the property’s outdoor spaces — just as it is in its interiorscape.
Walton has made this home truly unique, and his roots are certainly entrenched here — why would he consider moving? “We are simplifying our lives,” he said matter-of-factly.
Not surprisingly, he plans to stay in the neighborhood. “We have made our life here,” he said. The rock-and-roll theme will undoubtedly continue wherever he moves. “Our life is a big jam session,” he said with a smile. “As the song goes: ‘We used to play for silver, now we play for life’.”
Potential home buyers may call Edward Galigher at Engel & Voelkers: 888-303-3038. (Serious inquiries only, please.)
