Scientology's Inland Empire

File name: fi-scientology17 Headline: Scientology Desk: fi Scientology’s inland empire Run date: 12/17/05 Artist: Rebecca Perry Once a haven for Hollywood moguls, a former resort near Hemet is now a major Church of Scientology base of operations. It includes international management offices, movie production facilities and a Size: 69p3 x 49p6 $9.4-million mansion that ex-members say was built for the expected return of the religion’s late founder, L. Ron Hubbard. In the last seven years, the church has poured at least $45 million into expanding the facility, which each year produces 10 million DVDs and other training materials for Scientologists worldwide. Tom Cruise spent extensive time studying at the complex in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Scientology compound

Golden Era studio 1 N

6 Bonnie View

Administrative offices

The villas 3 5 Management building

2 Staff apartments

MILES Guest cottages Lamb 4 0 5 Canyon Rd. Lake Gilman Perris Hot Ramona Expressway Springs Soboba Scientology compound Rd. San 79 215 RIVERSIDE Jacinto COUNTY 74 79

74 t. Golf course Hemet S 79 N State

Photographs by Don Kelsen Los Angeles Times

1 Golden Era studio 2 Staff apartments 3 The villas 4 Guest cottages 5 Management building 6 Bonnie View Known as “The Castle,” this Construction that began about a Scientology’s ecclesiastical lead- Ex-members say Cruise stayed in The $18.5-million building This $9.4-million structure was $10.8-million, 70,000-square-foot decade ago remains unfinished er, David Miscavige, maintained a specially renovated cottage in houses upper-level management built as a home for what facility is where Scientologists on buildings designed to house living quarters in these renovated the late 1980s and early 1990s offices of the Church of Scientologists believe will be shoot a dozen educational and about 1,000 of the church’s Sea buildings left over from the while studying Scientology and Scientology International. It the late Hubbard’s eventual training films each year, along Organization members who staff resort. Miscavige’s accommoda- undergoing training. A nearby includes space for the Religious return, ex-members say. The with other video features and the Golden Era complex. They tions included furnishings field of wildflowers was planted Technology Center, which owns building, which includes a lap promotional productions. continue to live in apartments in custom-made to his size and for Cruise and Nicole Kidman to the lucrative Scientology and pool and movie theater, is a Hemet. tastes, a former Scientology romp before their marriage in Dianetics trademarks and is museum that houses most of interior designer says. 1990, ex-members say. overseen by Miscavige. Hubbard’s belongings. Source: Times reports

Rebecca Perry Los Angeles Times