BACHELOR crew members are setting up at the $4.4million LA mansion used before the pandemic ahead of filming Clayton Echard’s upcoming season, exclusive photographs obtained by The Sun show.
While the most recent seasons of The Bachelorette were not filmed at the luxury home due to coronavirus restrictions, many memorable contestants from past seasons have resided in the property while filming.
The home is called Villa de la Vina, known to fans simply as “The Mansion.”
Photographs show white tents set up on the property, crew members getting to work, and even cranes as they transform the home for the upcoming season of the ABC dating show.
A source told The Sun the production team still have to follow strict Covid guidelines and the network has a backup resort lined up if anyone falls sick on set.
The insider revealed: “They’re beginning production at Bachelor mansion and the intention is to have as much of the season filmed there as possible.
“But there are a lot of hoops they have to jump through with COVID protocols being in LA county.
“They have another resort as a backup they might end up using, they’re literally running into new obstacles everyday. But yes the current setup at the mansion is for Bachelor production.”
According to a previous listing on Airbnb, the stunning property sits on a beautiful 10-acre lot in Aguora Hills, California, situated within the Santa Monica Mountains of Malibu.
It features seven bedrooms and eight baths, while the home is large enough to sleep 13 guests.
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A luxurious pool sits outside of the 200 year-old Mediterranean-style revival house, while romantic archways create a luxurious feelings as cast members can enjoy picturesque views of the canyon, mountains and a vineyard.
The latest seasons of The Bachelorette were filmed at the La Quinta Resort & Club in La Quinta, California and starred Clare Crawley, 39, and Tayshia Adams, 30.
It was the first time the ABC show had not been filmed at ‘The Mansion” since 2012.
Built in 2004, the home was last sold in 2010 for $1.7million, but is now believed to be worth around $4.4million, according to online property websites.
Contractor and president of The Marshall Group Marshall Haraden and his family reportedly live in the Agoura Hills mansion whenever production isn’t filming.
It is also available to rent for receptions and corporate conferences, and was even listed on Airbnb for $6k a night.
“They’re here 42 days, twice a year,” Marshall told Us Weekly in 2017 of production crews taking over the home.
He continued: “Everything leaves—everything that’s not tied down, that’s not part of the home.
“Curtains, TVs, pots and pans, clothes – everything in one day goes out.
“And then they take two weeks to put it together the way they want it, and they shoot for X amount of days, and then they spend two weeks to put it back.”
Marshall added: “They’ll paint it to the colors they want, whether it’s a man or it’s a woman – Bachelor/Bachelorette, they’ll change the motif.
“They paint it back and forward a lot, so [in total the show has given it] about 44 coats of paint.”
He revealed the rose ceremonies are held in his den, which is normally home to a pool table and bar, while the deliberation room is actually a bedroom when cameras aren’t rolling.
The Bachelor chose Clayton as the latest lead because he’s a “wholesome Midwestern gentleman” following the show’s scandals, The Sun previously revealed.
Missouri native Clayton, 28, who is from the tiny town of Eureka, was chosen as a “last minute” decision, a source close to production told The Sun.
“It’s a big gamble with Clayton because viewers don’t even know him yet but he’s a midwestern gentleman that the audience will love,” the insider gushed.
They continued: “He’s very naive and pure to the whole TV thing, he’s not an aspiring influencer like a lot of these people.
“He will charm the audience at a time the show desperately needs a more wholesome lead.”
The source went onto explain that the unconventional choice of picking a Bachelor before their Bachelorette season even airs was due to scheduling.
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