Duke Farms
Friday, December 15, 2006 at 09:03amJanet and I are planning on going here today, to tour Duke Estates. For those of you who don’t know about the fascinating Doris Duke, here’s a primer. I’ve never been to the estate before, so I’m looking forward to it. I’m interested in the beauty of the old and lavish home, but to be honest, I’m way more interested in the spectacle of Doris herself. She is a legend in these parts. She took in people who needed to hide from the media, like Imelda Marcos and Paul Reubens. She loved animals and gave away tons of money. Beautiful, rich, connected in Hollywood, eccentric, adopted a 35-year-old woman with whom she may or may not have been in love, and was possibly killed by her butler. She also may have murdered someone. Scandalous!
I don’t think I can take photos inside the house, though. Boo.
Greater Czarina on Friday, December 15, 2006 at 9:57 am
Have fun, ladies! You know, I used to live round the corner from the estate, yet we never toured it. I’ve driven past the gardens, though, many times and they look gorgeous.
freakgirl on Friday, December 15, 2006 at 10:17 am
Apparently you can bike the grounds; I’m definitely going to do that in the spring.
Jen in OH! on Friday, December 15, 2006 at 10:22 am
Oh wow, crazy and mega-rich is even better than regular crazy. I hope you two find a secret room or something.
Lauren on Friday, December 15, 2006 at 10:35 am
Is it bad that when I was reading about how she ran over her interior decorator in Newport, and then paid off the police cheif I wasn’t even phased? That would be so normal in Rhode Island.
Megan on Friday, December 15, 2006 at 12:34 pm
They did a whole piece on “Sunday Morning” on CBS about these two…very interesting stuff. Wasn’t she technically married to her interior decorator and that they were both beards for one another?
shannon on Friday, December 15, 2006 at 2:43 pm
Our local Baker’s Treat is the sole caterer to the estate (for events.) Aside from the fact that they have amazing food, the owner and her partner hire only women who are coming through or have come through the domestic violence shelter systems or through drug/alc. treatment centers. 100 percent of their proceeds go to womens shelters and support networks. They are very cool and they are VERY happy to be part of the Duke Estate.
freakgirl on Friday, December 15, 2006 at 7:11 pm
We had a really nice time; more on Monday. But I am now DYING to work there.
Bruce on Saturday, December 16, 2006 at 3:22 pm
Anyone interested in Doris Duke should plan a visit to Rough Point, her Newport home. It is now operated as a museum, as required in her will. The house is situated on the Atlantic Ocean, and contains a large portion of her clothing collection, as well as everything else as it was on her last day here. Open mid-April to November. I am biased, but I think this is the most livable mansion in Newport.
freakgirl on Saturday, December 16, 2006 at 5:34 pm
I definitely want to come see Rough Point. I’ve only seen pictures. Thanks for the info, Bruce.
Sheila on Saturday, December 16, 2006 at 8:09 pm
The estate is great. I love the Japanese gardens the best. It’s a great place to visit in the winter when it is all gray and icky outside. Nice and warm in the green houses.
Jamie on Monday, December 18, 2006 at 11:06 pm
I’ve lived within ten miles of the Duke Estates pretty much all my life and yet I’ve never been to the gardens. Every summer I intend to go on one of those tours they have, and every summer I just never get around to it. I bet it’s beautiful.