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Iconic Moorish Dome Home in Arizona Comes With Fascinating History

Located in Paradise Valley, AZ, the Dome at Casa Blanca is a portal to another era. The amazing abode with an onion-shaped dome reminiscent of Moorish architecture is now on the market for $1,175,000.

“There is nothing else like the Dome,” says listing agent Grant Almquist, of Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty. “Not only is it a magnificently designed historic treasure, there are countless stories about all the legendary celebrities who’ve visited.”

The residence was built in the 1930s for David Kellogg, who contracted architect Robert Evans to design a hacienda for his 63-acre ranch at the base of Camelback Mountain. The resulting adobe brick hacienda featured Mexican tiles and carved woodwork.

The place was sold eight years later to George Borg, who named it Casa Blanca and added the dome. He also began building guest casitas around the property to accommodate corporate clients and family. 

“Before he knew it, Borg turned it into a resort,” Almquist says.

Borg then sold the spread to a developer, who named it the Casa Blanca Inn. The property was transformed into a luxury vacation spot, and the domed residence became a swanky restaurant called the Sultan’s Table.

As a high-end resort, the place attracted Hollywood stars, including Errol Flynn, Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable, Charlie Chaplin, and Betty Grable.

In the 1960s, the resort changed hands and was converted into a guard-gated community with private condos. The domed structure was converted back to a two-bedroom residence, which it remains to this day.

The unit was sold in 2003 to its current owner, who repainted the walls white and added colorful tiles. The dome remains the focal point of the home and of the community.

It also provides “dramatic volume that you get in the main living space,” according to Almquist.

The 25-foot-high dome graces the family room, which has clerestory windows to allow in natural light. Every room is filled with colorful tiles and handcarved millwork. The open layout makes for easy entertaining, and outside there’s a private garden courtyard.

While the artwork on the walls aren’t for sale, the home’s furnishings could be sold in a separate sale, according to Almquist.

While there’s only one dome home here, it is possible to purchase other properties in the community. They include a two-bedroom home for $675,000, one of the original historic buildings. There’s also a condo with front-row views of the dome that’s on the market for $549,000.

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