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Planning to visit the Getty Villa when it reopens? Here’s a look at what to expect
The Getty Villa plans to reopen next week for the first time since the Palisades Fire.
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Brian van der Brug
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Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
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The Getty Villa museum will look a little different when it reopens next week.
While the ancient relics and art pieces were protected from the Palisades Fire behind sealed fire doors and flame resistant walls, much of the outer grounds were damaged or destroyed. It forced the museum to close for five months, allowing staff to deep clean ash from the walls, purify the pools and replant its gardens.
But next week on June 27, visitors will get to see their remediation work and visit the Getty Villa for the first time since the January fire. Here's what you'll find:
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What’s the drive up like?
Roughly 1,400 trees were destroyed or damaged by the fire, meaning about 40% of the trees had to be cleared. Without them, you now have a clear view of the ocean.
Brian Houck, the museum's director of grounds and gardens, says regular visitors will also notice a difference on the drive up from Pacific Coast Highway.
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“Most of the trees are gone. It used to look like this forest canyon, and now it’s just like bare hillsides," Houck said. "So they’ll get their first impression before they park.”
The Getty Villa lost about 40% of its trees to the Palisades Fire.
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Julia Paskin
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LAist
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Staff at the museum spent months cleaning ash and shoot off the property.
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Brian van der Brug
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Getty Images via Los Angeles Times
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What you’ll see when you arrive
Once guests reach the museum they may notice more exposed earth without its usual shrubbery.
”Normally, you wouldn’t even see the hillside," said Houck. “We would have green on it because we would want a green backdrop.”
The fire also burned some of the rosemary that used to hug the concrete buildings.
Discerning eyes may also notice parts of outer grounds and herb gardens are less manicured and a little crispy. The irrigation system melted in the fire, so watering will be a little less efficient through the summer months, according to Houck.
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The good news is the groundskeeping team is expecting the greenery to return as they continue to refresh the landscape.
Les Borsay is the emergency planning specialist for the Getty Villa and helped protect the property from the Palisades Fire.
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Brian van der Brug
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Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
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Preserving for centuries to come
Emergency preparedness specialist, Les Borasy, was on small team that guarded the museum when the fire was active. He said there were some close calls, including an aerial water drop that likely saved the original Getty Ranch House.
The Getty Villa staff work to remove ash from the outer halls and walls of the Getty Villa ahead of its reopening.
(
Julia Paskin
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LAist
)
”When I was able to walk through [there] the next morning to take pictures to show that everything was fine, it hit me a little bit," said Borsay. “We’re responsible for this so that in 2,000 years somebody is going to be able to come and see these.”
Borsay said it can be a little overwhelming to think about protecting the campus and ancient art.
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He gestured to a bust of Julius Caesar and said, "This sculptor probably saw him, Caesar. You can’t recreate that.”
When you can visit
The Getty Villa reopens from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Monday, starting June 27. Online reservations are required. Only 500 guests will be allowed daily.
Tickets are still free, and parking is $25.
Corrected June 20, 2025 at 8:20 PM PDT
An earlier version incorrectly referenced the title of Julius Caesar. We regret this error.
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You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
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