After years of renovation the Annenberg Estate at Sunnylands is now complete, the home in its original glory revealed to us during a special tour.

 

"We're trying to make it even more than people expected," said President of the Annenberg Foundation and Trust, Geoffrey Cowan. "The Annenbergs set wonderfully high standards for everythng they did and they range from art to education and of course what took place at Sunnylands was a remarkable range of important policy decisions as well as great fun."

 

It was a sneak peak inside the Annenberg's winter home, a look into the life and luxury of the nation's rich and powerful. No longer just a home, the estate now serves a greater purpose.

 

"Sunnylands is a combination of many things, primarily we're a high level retreat center that will welcome leaders from around the world to fulfill our mission to affect change from around the worl," said Mary perry, Media Relations and Communication for The Annenberg Retreat at Sunnylands.

 

When the president stays at Sunnylands he sleeps here, in the only bedroom in the main house. It was once Walter and Leonore Annenberg's bedroom, now it's reserved strictly for the Commander in Chief.

 

"Our mission is that people will come here to create situations that will affect world change," Perry said.

 

...And what better place than the Sunnylands Estate, where so much history has already taken place. Stories captured in the room of memories, filled with family photos and pictures of every important dignitary, president and royal figure you can think of. 

 

"It actually is a museum in a living room absolutely the quality of the works that the annenbergs collected was so high that it's a wonderful opportunity for people to get a flavor and a bit of the experience of accessing that kind of space, a home filled with artwork of museum quality," said Janice lyle, Director of The Sunnylands Center and Gardens.

 

The dining room where Queen Elizabeth once sat and remarked to Walter Annenberg that his collection of china was larger than hers. The guest quarters where 7 presidents have stayed, President Reagan liked the yellow room the best. 

 

Not much has changed since then, the estate is stunning, meant as a retreat for world leaders 

 

"The Annenbergs wanted the estate to be left for those types of retreats starting with the President of the United States the Secretary of State and international leaders to bring about world peace, well that would be nice," Cowan said.

 

The home is surrounded by a 9 hole golf course that can be played as an 18 hole course, and several lakes. Even a mausoleum sits on the grounds-- both Walter and Leonore forever at their Sunnylands home.

 

The Sunnlyands Garden and Center are free to the public. It opens march 1, 2012.

 

If you want a private tour of the estate that costs 35 dollars.