In 1926, Edward Buehler Delk was hired by Waite Phillips to construct an Italian style villa after recently visiting Italy. Herbert Hare was hired as the landscape architect. The building has 72 rooms and the garden was originally built on 23 acres. The furnishings of the villa alone cost $1.2 million, and this was back in the 1920’s. Phillips was able to commission the extravagant home due to the success of his oil business.