“Dark Tourism” finds a new destination in the Los Angeles Murder Mansion

From the Hindenburg crash site in New Jersey to the spooky hiking trails of Colorado, many places once associated with death and tragedy have now become popular spots for “dark tourism” in the United States. New to the list is a mansion in Beverly Hills in Los Angeles.

The house came into the spotlight after the release of the popular Netflix series “Monsters” and documentary The Menendez brothers. Now the mansion has turned into a huge tourist destination, and according to CNN, tour buses and rental vehicles are constantly stopping by to take a look at the place.

Netflix's true crime anthology series Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, based on the Menendez brothers' case, was released in September. A month later, the streaming giant released a two-hour documentary titled “The Menendez Brothers,” which featured new audio conversations with the siblings. A new generation was confronted with a case that left their parents and grandparents glued to television screens during trials in 1993.

The trial was one of the first of its kind to be televised. The country was captivated by the story of two charming but troubled young men who seemed to have it all before they suddenly snapped and killed their parents with shotguns.

Since the release of the Netflix series and documentary, TikTokers have turned the home's resurrected celebrity status into a treasure trove of viral footage by filming the mansion and re-enacting the graphic details of the crime scene for viewers online. In recent months, more and more tourists have flocked to the crime scene.

CNN interviewed visitors who traveled from near and far to view the home. Toni Ricci, who runs a dance class in the area, claimed she came with her five colleagues who were following the case. But the neighbors are not so enthusiastic about the influx.

While one local who spoke to CNN hopes the hype dies down, he knows it won't happen anytime soon. He said: “We probably have to wait another decade or two now for things to calm down and hopefully there won't be another documentary in 20 years.”

The Menendez family no longer owns the mansion. Exactly 28 years after the brothers were convicted by the jury, the house sold for $17 million in March 2024, according to the real estate agent. The names of the buyers were not disclosed.

The manor house is currently unoccupied and is currently being renovated. However, this has not diminished its appeal at home and abroad.