Casa Mia is on this year’s Vancouver Heritage House Tour. I finally got to tour it with my partner in crime Aaron Chapman
Casa Mia is featured in Sensational Vancouver: Built on Rum
Owned by Rum Runners:
Casa Mia must be one of Vancouver’s most storied old mansions, and at the moment, one of the most controversial. It’s a late addition to the tour, and a smart move by the owners looking to sway public opinion towards their plan to turn the old girl into a 61-bed home for seniors.
Casa Mia was built in 1932 for George Reifel, a brewer who made his fortune during U.S. Prohibition. The proceeds from selling rum to thirsty Americans between 1920 and 1933 was so lucrative that he also built a hunting lodge in Delta (now the Reifel bird sanctuary), and with his brother Harry, who built Rio Vista a few doors down, built the Commodore Ballroom, the Vogue and the Studio, all during the Depression.
The Reifels:
Bill Lort told me my favourite story about Casa Mia. Bill’s father Ross Lort designed the hunting lodge and Casa Mia for George Reifel. One Saturday morning in 1931 when Lort was inspecting the property, Reifel pulled up in his long black car. Dressed in a full length coat and fedora and puffing on a cigar, he asked Lort if he’d like some money. Not waiting for an answer, Reifel reached into his pocket, pulled out a wad of bills, peeled off a thousand dollar note and handed it to Lort. Bill, the youngest of five kids, was only four at the time, but still remembers his dad arriving home with the bill. “My father came home, showed the thousand dollar bill to my mother who damn near died of heart failure looking at it,” he says. The Lorts’ hid the note under their bed and took turns sitting on it until the bank opened on Monday morning.
Artists from Walt Disney:
Casa Mia is built in the Spanish-style, with nine fireplaces, 10 bathrooms, a sauna, and a ballroom that had the only sprung floor outside of the Commodore. George brought up artists from Walt Disney Studios to hand-paint murals in the playroom.
While Casa Mia is the most impressive house on the tour this year, the VHF has put together a nice range of houses from both the east and west sides of the city. Tickets are $40.
For more about Casa Mia and the Reifels see:
The Commodore, Casa Mia and others
© All rights reserved. Unless otherwise indicated, all blog content copyright Eve Lazarus.
31 comments on “Casa Mia on this year’s Vancouver heritage house tour”
Hi Eve…loved your post on Casa-Mia. some old stories and accounts of this house also involve secret tunnel(s), leading to the river, for access to the family’s rumrunning boats…also deceptively powered by retrofitted powerful engines.
I believe the family also owned a large country home in Langley, not sure if it is still standing, but was equally unique and well-appointed. that might be a fun sidebar. also…I don’t think the family ended all that happily, in something of obscurity compared to their early days. a caretaker at the bird sanctuary??
cheers, Mary-Gay Gray
Thank you! Harry (George’s brother) owned Bella Vista, a farm near Langley – it’s still there and featured in my ghost chapter in Sensational Vancouver. And, unfortunately no tunnels, although I loved that rumour!
I had occasion to be at the Casa Mia a few times when Dr. J. Ross MacLean, who owned owned the house for a time. Dr. MacLean also owned Hollywood Hospital, famous for LSD, mega-vitamin and insulin deep sleep therapy and medial withdrawal from alcohol, in New Westminster. On staff at Hollywood Hospital for a few years in mid-70s, I heard talk that often “high end” and famous patients would be admitted at the hospital but stay at Casa Mia while in therapy and treatment.
I had occasion to be at the Casa Mia a few times when Dr. J. Ross MacLean owned the house. Dr. MacLean also owned Hollywood Hospital, famous for LSD, mega-vitamin and insulin deep sleep therapy and medial withdrawal from alcohol, in New Westminster. On staff at Hollywood Hospital for a few years in mid-70s, I heard talk that often “high end” and famous patients would be admitted at the hospital but stay at Casa Mia while in therapy and treatment. Hollywood Hospital had some rich and famous local, national and international clientele (patients?) come medical alcohol and prescription drug withdrawal, as precursor to LSD therapy.
That’s really fascinating. I wrote a little about Dr. MacLean, but I didn’t talk to anyone who had met him? What was he like? Lani Russwurm has written a little about his connection with Al Hubbard in Vancouver was Awesome, who apparently was connected with MacLean in the Hollywood Hospital.
I met Dr. Ros MacLean in 1967 first as an employee at Stuart Island Resort, 30 miles northwest of Campbell River. The doctor had just bought the resort out of bankruptcy, and was employed as a fishing guide, while my father managed the resort for him.
Later we leased the resort from MacLean, and I would go to annual business meetings at the Hollywood Hospital, where his main offices were. The meetings included MacLean, his accountant, my father, and I.
Maclean had a mind for facts and figures equaled by very few. The calculations done in his head were astonishing. He would look at his accountant a few minutes after stating some quick calculations, only for verification as bean counter worked feverishly with pencil and pad to do confirm MacLean’s calculations.
Physically, he was a large mustached man, a tad over 6′, a big frame with a complimenting large belly, that strangely didn’t signal obesity, but more of strength and power. Added to that stance he was always waving his hand imperiously with a long 8-inch cigar in it, but I rarely recalled it being lit.
The story circulating then, which is before he bought Casa Mia, was his seed money came from his marriage to the daughter of the founder of Royal City Cannery, a popular brand in the day, but I think now gone.
He was also involved with the Shriners, in a big way, and I believe he was the Potentate of either Canada, or possibly all of Shriners International in the 70s. As well as being involved with ultra-right-wing groups in the USA – they would have meetings at Stuart Island.
The last I talked to him directly was in 1978, when he offered to sell me the resort for an unbelievably low price, which I accepted. Apparently he had serious problems with Revenue Canada. At that time he no longer had the Hollywood Hospital, and hadn’t had it for at least three years as his head office was now Wallace Machinery, on Venables St. in Vancouver.
Only through rumor, from a friend of his daughter, it was said he had lost all his wealth and was then living with his daughter. It is hard to believe that in its entirety, because he was truly a gifted man and only his ego could have toppled him.
This is fascinating! Thanks so much for stopping by.
I am writing an article on Hollywood Hospital but can’t find much about Dr. Maclean – as I understand he suffered a heart attack in the mid-seventies, sold Hollywood Hospital which is now New Westminster Center was 515 5th Ave. (along the old stagecoach line) and died shortly after – a mensch to the end he is listed as a sponsor of a local women’s softball team that placed second in the world in 1978. Can’t find an obit. Anybody?
Whoops, managed to get some parts of the Reiffel family story(ies) wrong……..so tonight I got down your book At Home With History. I’m up to speed again, really had a great time dipping in to your 2007 book, and can’t wait for the new one, Sensational Vancouver.
The impact of US Prohibition on us here in B.C. really fascinates me. In At Home I focussed on the Reifel’s and their houses. In Sensational Vancouver I’ve written a chapter called Built on Rum and I just found it really interesting looking at some of the other big players like Joe Hobbs – behind the Marine building, and some of the smaller ones that took all the risks. I’ve looked at the commercial buildings that the Reifels built – Commodore, Studio, Vogue etc.
Hi Eve,
Thanks for more history of Casa Mia. Fascinating! I read a book recently that credits one of your books with the reference of a midden buried under Casa Mia. Is this true???
Sheryl
Yes. George Reifel told Major Matthews that they found a midden when they were excavating the land. It was still there in 1938. What was the name of the book that referenced mine (At Home with history)?
Yes, At Home with History. It is referenced in the book Vancouver Was Awesome.
Gotta love them footnotes 😉
And just one more reason to love Vancouver was Awesome….
I house sat in Casa Mia one New Year’s Eve (I think it was Jan 1 1972). I worked at a jeans store that Dr. MacLean owned; can’t remember the name but I was earning $1.50 an hour, which was minimum wage at the time.
The MacLeans’ originally were going to stay in that night, but changed their minds, and had already given their staff the night off.
So Dr. MacLean’s son, who I worked with, asked if I would house sit.
I said yes and his son arranged to pick me up.
I had visions of a limo picking me up.
Alas, his son picked me up in a Pinto!
I stayed overnight, and was paid $150 for basically doing nothing but answering the phone at midnight.
More money than made in a month.
It was a fabulous home.
Mrs. MacLean was very kind, and taught me how to make scrambled eggs the next morning.
Never will forget it.
Funny thing is; many years later I met George Reifel Jr. through fund raising for Ducks Unlimited.
I didn’t realize he had ties to Casa Mia.
Fabulous story Mari, thanks for sharing it – I’m truly envious!
Casa Mia had no tunnels or hidden chambers. All myth. 1850 S W Marine started out as guest house for Casa Mia, but George decided to sell it off before it was complete as there was no bridge over small ravine and stream at 1890 S W Marine( stream still there) Before Nelson Skalbania and Bill Norton bought all the properties along stretch of Marine drive and subdivide and developed “Angus Lands” below the escarpment, Casa Mia and the Malkin Estate (1950 S W Marine, sat on 7+ acres each. The houses were on the upper 2 acres and pasture land was below. When C N W Woodward owned 1950 S W Marine ( The old Malkin Estate) there ws a riding ring, a riding track and stables on the lower 5 acres.
Victoria MacLean (daughter of John Ross MacLean) kept her horse in pasture of Casa Mia for a while until moving her horse up to the MacLean’s ranch up near Clinton.
Harry Reifel’s house Rio Vista, which is more elegant and impressive than Casa Mia was another home reported to have “tunnels and secret passages” All not true. There is a “Spanish Style” house across from Rio Vista that was intended as a guest house/servant quarters but was severed off from Rio Vista when Marine Drive was realigned at the particular point. Loma Vista farm in Langley was Harry Reifels’ farm where he raised prize winning Jersey Cattle and thoroughbred race horses. He was friends with Austen Taylor who lived at Shannon (10 acre estate on 57th and Granville) Austen Taylor had a large thoroughbred farm near Harry Reifel’s place, which was owned by Dan Blocker (Hoss on Bonanza T V Show) after Austen Taylor died.
Thanks for adding to the story! Harry’s farm in Langley was called Bella Vista–it’s still there. George owned what’s now the Reifel Bird Sanctuary in Ladner/Delta.
I knew DR McLean’s wife and younger daughter Lynda in the 1990s. Mrs. Mclean was a very nice lady. Mrs.Mclean loved the time her family lived at Casa Mia and spent may hours showing me pictures and telling me stories.
Back in 1969 I spent a couple of nights at Casa Mia at the invitation of Dr Ross MacLean.. Dr. MacLean was a very active supporter of the Order of DeMolay, At the time I was employed as the Membership Director at DeMolays International headquarters in Kansas City , Mo and was asked to represent the organization at the Provincial conference in Vancouver.
During the two day conference I was the guest of Dr. MacLean at Casa Mia. Dr. Maclean and Mrs. MacLean were very gracious hosts and I enjoyed my stay with them very much.
Casa Mia indeed was quite an impressive home. I remember Dr. MacLean telling me that the bed I was sleeping in was one that was slept in by the singer Andy Williams just two weeks earlier. Of course, he did not tell me why Andy Williams was visiting him but years later I learned that Dr MacLean would often have celebrities stay at Casa Mia while a patient at his Hollywood hospital.
Dr MacLean impressed me as being a very kind and dedicated man.
Thanks for letting us know a bit more but Casa Mia and Dr. MacLean.
Hello, Eve Lazurus. I’ve come across this quite late in the game during some idle research on my boss of old, Dr. J. Ross Mclean. In the mid-70’s, he hired me to act as supervisor for a small 6-store chain selling jeans and accessories. He called it “Union Jacks and Jeans”. I worked down the hall from his office, the door of which he operated with a push-button control hidden under his desk, which, if memory serves, was raised significantly overlooking the room. All of this I noticed when I first interviewed with him from a position in front of, and below, his desk. Very imposing! He toured my wife and I through Casa Mia, where he told us that he was the only person in Canada at the time legally allowed to possess LSD – pretty sure that memory is solid – due to his practice at Hollywood Hospital. (There is a dedication to him at the beginning of the book “The Eden Express” written by Mark Vonnegut, son of Kurt Vonnegut, who found treatment at Hollywood Hospital.) He was very proud of his girl softball team sponsorship, and often threw bbq’s at Casa Mia for them. Long time ago. I write this for any who may come along after seeking information on a very interesting man. Dr. J. Ross Mclean
Thanks so much for all this great information on Dr. Mclean, Casa Mia and the Hollywood Hospital!
I visited Casa Mia once while the MacLeans lived there, as Dr. MacLean’s son Ross was living there with my friend Janet Butts and her two young daughters. The ground floor was elegant but the bedrooms upstairs (all of which appeared to have ensuite bathrooms) were dated and a bit shabby looking. One thing that struck me and has stayed in my mind since then (about 1980) was Mrs. Maclean’s bedroom. There were newspapers strewn all over the floor and she herself didn’t seem very engaged with her surroundings. At the time I thought she was being treated as a kind of afterthought by her husband, as I believe they had separate bedrooms. Not long after I visited Ross, Janet, and Janet’s daughters moved to their own place, so I never visited again. Janet died in 1981 or 1982 and Ross continued caring for the girls for a while afterwards.
Hi Eve,this might be a bit late coming,but I am very amazed with this Maclean family and would you know if the daughters are still living, I was living in the area of south marine drive in my younger years and went by the Casa Mia many times… thank you for any information you might share
Diane Holden
Good evening Eve, I have been following along with the Maclean family and Casa Mia and this is all so fasinating….love history of our city. Are the Maclean family still around or is too late a question.seen it does go back quite a few years..I have ordered books from Amazon to follow the years and all the happenings . thank you Eve.
Thanks for stopping by Diane. Most of the information about the Macleans is in the comments. This post is several years old now and I haven’t done any more on Casa Mia or the family.
I knew Dr. J. Ross MacLean pretty well. Also knew his sons Ross and Stuart and his man Friday and chauffeur, Jim. I frequently hung out with Ross and Stuart at Casa Mia during the 70’s. I could tell you lots of things about Dr. Mac Lean, pieces of his entourage, and parts of his regimen. I knew him briefly from 1970 to 1975. His best friend was my cousin Ron Markin. There is much I could tell you about him , if you are interested. e.g. his sons Ross and Stuart had to actually make appointments with his secretary to talk to their dad in the second floor boardroom in Casa Mia. I remember Giovanni (Johnny} well, the live-in master carpenter who maintained the whole castle, with its carved doorways etc. Dr. Mac Lean and Ron were in a number of business ventures together in California, Hawaii, and Vancouver. I had just come back from University and was asked to join them in the jeans venture. I had a management contract with them later on to manage two of the jeans stores and was actively involved with them building the chain/ planned franchise jeans operation based on Jeans West from the US. First name was “Funk ‘n’ Jeans”. Name lasted only a couple of months and then had to be changed and became “Union Jacks & Jeans “. Lasted four years, had 10 stores and an office/warehouse and when it was time in ’74 for the IPO, investment firm said market was too soft and entering a recession. Stores were sold to an Eastern firm. We all went our separate ways. If you’d actually like to ask me some things about him or that era of Casa Mia, you can email me back and we can arrange a meeting. I live in the west side of Vancouver and am fully retired. Jerry
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