A new owner plans to preserve the “Hangover House” in South Laguna Beach, built by adventurer Richard Halliburton in the 1930s.

Realty agent Fred James of Laguna Beach brokered the sale of the property, which he owned, having obtained it out of bankruptcy, along with 13 other properties, from the late Zolite Scott’s estate.

A Laguna local bought the 2,2000-square-foot house for $2.4 million, about half the original asking price, and an adjacent 8,000-square-foot lot for $800,000, James said.

Four other lots that adjoin the ocean-view parcel had been sold by the bankruptcy trustee handling the Scott estate.

The owner has plans to renovate the Halliburton house, which needs new plumbing and other fixtures, but keep the historic nature of the property intact, James said.

The Hangover House — so named because it overlooked a cliff — is built of concrete and appears solid, but steel rebar inside it has rusted and needs repair, he said.

William Alexander Levy designed the house, which Halliburton lived in briefly. A world-renowned adventurer and travel writer, he died in 1939 while searching for his friend, Amelia Earhart. His Chinese junk, the Sea Dragon, was lost during a typhoon.

“[The house] has ocean views, white-water views, Catalina views, [Aliso Creek] golf course views and snow-capped mountain views of the Saddlebacks in the winter,” James said.

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–Cindy Frasier, Times Community News

Photo: This historic home in Laguna Beach was built by the famed adventurer and travel writer Richard Halliburton. Credit: Times Community News