L. Ron Hubbard's House on 44th Street

By Niki D'Andrea Wed., Dec. 1 2010 at 9:00 AM

A side view of L. Ron Hubbard's house in Phoenix.

Perhaps one of the wisest things L. Ron Hubbard ever said was, "If you want to make a little money, write a book. If you want to make a lot of money, create a religion."

Hubbard, the founder of Scientology, was definitely onto something there (although we can't vouch for the quality of his science fiction novels). We'd be interested to hear the late Hubbard's take on how to make a residence into a religious mecca, especially considering all the hubbub surrounding Hubbard's old house near Camelback Mountain in Phoenix.

An American flag flies outside Hubbard house.

Hubbard moved into the house, located on 44th Street just north of Stanford Drive, in March of 1952. While there, he founded Scientology (the first organization was the Hubbard Association of Scientologists) and authored his first five books on the then-new religion.

The Church of Scientology purchased the house in 2000 and began converting it into a museum. The interior of the house was restored to appear as it did when Hubbard lived there, and displays were set up, including the recording equipment Hubbard used to record lectures from 1952 to 1955 (some 600 lectures total), his design of the original scientology cross and collar pins, his motorcycle helmet and gloves, his camera, and a bust of Hubbard done by one of his students.

All that said, visitors cannot tour the L. Ron Hubbard House. This is because, as our colleague Robrt Pela explained in this feature on the Hubbard house last February, neighbors in the area were less than thrilled with the idea of a scientology "recruitment center" and tour buses on their street.

A sitting area in the backyard of L. Ron Hubbard's house.

So the house just sits there for now, its last known occupant a live-in manager named Marlyse Brock. Interior photos of the house can be seen at lrhinphoenix.org, but some of the exterior can be seen from the street -- despite the wall now wrapped around the property.

You can almost see the pool through the chain link fence at Hubbard house

Most of the backyard is visible behind a chain-link fence, and boasts a swimming pool, orange trees, and a quaint sitting area where we picture Hubbard pontificating on the nature of the human spirit or whatever. An American flag flies proudly along the side of the house by the gravel driveway, and modest strings of Christmas lights adorn the awning at the front of the house.

That was about all we could see beyond the big mauve wall, which makes the L. Ron Hubbard house one of the most hidden "Hidden Valley" places we've visited.

L. Ron Hubbard's house is located at 5501 N. 44th Street. Tours are "temporarily suspended." For more information, call 602-840-5060.

Behold the wall at Hubbard house.

Tags:

44th street, camelback mountain, house, l. ron hubbard, phoenix, scientology

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Scientology student MM

As a Scientology student I am looking forward to seeing his home someday. He has truly been a source of inspiration. If you can hear this Ron, "Thank YOU!"

Guest

Ron is on Venus,OSA, you'll probably have to shout a little louder.

Scientology student MM

Thank you, OSA, I didn't know Hubbard was on Venus.

Sue Riexinger

I thought he was Dead?

plumrose

Maybe Scientologist will open a Shrine at Spahn Ranch. since Charles Manson used Scientology brainwashing and used an E-Meter on his Cult Family there.

Jeanne Basoon

The LRH house in Phoenix has particular significance for Scientologists. It is not a shrine. But it is the site of a historical breakthrough in religion. It was in Phoenix that Mr. Hubbard researched the potentials of the being and developed processes to return a being to his true potential. All of these materials are available--most are on the shelves of public and university libraries. Mr. Hubbard's writings are at once incredibly enlightening and easy to understand and Scientologists believe in making this information available to everyone.

Helix Barkaway

"Scientologists believe in making this information available to everyone."

You mean that's why some people pay over a million dollars to do Scientology, like actor Jason Beghe, and then they find out it is a scam.

Scientology is brainwashing which involves the planting of false memories in people, including false memories of their past lives. The vast majority of people who have ever taken a scientology course or read a Scientology book no longer believe in it, at all.

Hubbard baloney got typed out of his mind like projectile diarrhea. No one outside this cult finds anything of value in Hubbard's so-called "breakthroughs" in religion, science, or tomatoes.

Less than one percent of the population, on a cold reading of Dianetics, finds it anything other than boring or absurd in its claims and bizarre in its bloated, meandering style. Most of the stuff Hubbard wrote after Dianetics does not get a whole lot better.

It is a cult!

Guest

Jean is OSA. I hear they get treated relatively well, although Miscavige might give them a smack now and again, so her glasses are rose-tinted.

Helix Barkaway

I'd like to quote Jason Beghe,

"At Scientology's prices, you couldn't CLEAR Beverly Hills."

Their goal is to clear the planet. It costs tens of thousands of dollars to go "clear" and then hundreds to reach other levels, to learn about Xenu and start ridding oneself of dead space alien souls.

You can't go clear by reading library books Hubbard wrote. Also, a lot of libraries throw them out. They take up too much space and anyone interested in this cult, goes in for the brainwashing and is forced to buy their own books for $4000 and more.

Helix Barkaway

It's a sacred place for sure, if you're cuckoo for Xenu puffs. Just think, L. Ron Hubbard, the author of the crapsterpiece Dianetics, probably took a dump in the bathroom of that holy place, as he went on an amphetamine-fueled jags to type all night, turning it into a "religion."

L. Ron Hubbard gave us the first million dollar religion with special facilities for celebrities -- Scientology Celebrity Centers. Where would celebrity mental science be without it?

Bow your head when you pass that house, since they don't pray, just make one up:

Tom Cruise, who art in Scientology, Hollywood be thy name... L. Ron Hubbard's bum, Dianetics will be dun, on Teegeeack as it is on Venus.

Make money, make money, make more money everlasting, Amen.

Guest

Scientology is in major decline, regardless of what they would say about new orgs opening. Go to http://askthescientologist.blo... for an in depth look at the way the winds are blowing in the organization.

Bert

Seems like a waste. Scientology could use the house as another one of their slave labor camps. They are getting more and more members sent to be "re-educated" every time their leader flies into one of his psychotic rages.