Jeffrey Katzenberg, CEO of DreamWorks Animation, has spent his adult life making dreams come true. Under his leadership, animation classics such as Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, and Shrek have been added to the permanent cultural memory of children and adults alike. When he and his wife, Marilyn, decided to build a home in Deer Valley, they approached the project with no less zeal. The end result is an estate that realizes every family’s dream—a secluded haven where the clan is drawn together to spend private time enjoying one another’s company amid the vast natural beauty of the Wasatch Mountains.
Katzenberg’s 14,000 square-foot, six- bedroom home was designed around the large central gathering room with a soaring 30-foot ceiling and anchored by a towering stone fireplace. The indoor pool, hot tub, and sauna become retreats for conversation and laughter after returning from a day on Deer Valley’s ski runs that are accessible just steps from the front door. Situated on two wooded acres in the gated Bald
Eagle neighborhood, the exterior is that of a grand mountain lodge with walls of rustic pine log siding and granite stone foundations. Massive logs flown in from Montana serve as column supports on exterior terraces that overlook a forest as enchanting as Shrek’s.
The interior floor plan entices family members to spend time together. “When we vacation at the house, we literally eat breakfast, lunch and dinner together,” said Katzenberg. “Our twin sons, now 29, often meet us here as many as a dozen times a year.” Warm wooden staircases mirror one another on either side of the grand entrance and lead to either the elegant master suite replete with gym and walk-through closets or a sumptuous second suite. From the main living area an interior walkway leads to a separate wing with four bedrooms that allow guests their privacy and a cozy caretaker’s residence.
True to his profession, Katzenberg has designed a spacious entertainment room below the main living area featuring a massive 3D technology screen, along with a bar stocked with movie snacks and games. This floor also has the ski-prep room with built-in boot warmers and plenty of storage for winter sports equipment. A door opens onto stone steps that cascade down to a ski-access trail leading to “Big Stick,” a black-diamond run in the Deer Valley ski resort.
Naomi Leff, interior decorator for high-profile names like Spielberg and Lauren, did the decorating of Katzenberg’s primary home in Malibu. They were so pleased with her work they asked her to bring her magic to their Deer Valley home as well. “She had a Western vision for the Deer Valley house from the get go,” said Mr. Katzenberg. Original Native American artifacts and Western art fill the rooms, giving awe to the era of the old West.
The design down to the last detail is intended to welcome family and guests with warmth and comfort. It is impossible to enter any room and not be captivated by the art pieces and relaxed by the ambiance.
This one-of-a-kind estate is currently available for purchase. Contact Paul Benson for details.
435-640-7441, paul.benson@sothebysrealty.com, parkcityhomesearch.com
