This Hidden Pasadena Cottage Was a Real Tea House Once

Tucked away in Pasadena is a fairytale cottage with a genuinely wild backstory: it was originally built as the tea house for Busch Gardens, once a sprawling 32-acre botanical wonderland. Reddit found it, and the internet is smitten.

From Botanical Tea House to Storybook Home

Built in 1910, the Old Mill House has been featured in An Architectural Guidebook to Los Angeles, the Pasadena Star-News, and Cottages & Bungalows. This 2-bedroom, 2-bath, 912-square-foot cottage sits on more than 16,000 square feet of gardens, and it's packed with original details: leaded stained-glass windows, handcrafted millwork, soaring ceilings, and a lofted guest space.

A Water Wheel and a Totem Pole, for Good Measure

Outside, a brick patio and winding pathways lead to the home's signature water wheel, which Reddit immediately clocked as the standout detail from the photos. One commenter even tracked down an old PBS episode of "California's Gold" featuring the property. A two-story lofted basement, storage shed, and detached two-car garage round out the space.

The Internet Has Thoughts

Naturally, this listing caught the attention of Reddit's r/zillowgonewild community. See what people are saying about it here.

Fairytale charm, real Pasadena history. View the full listing here.