Hugh Hefner‘s son, Cooper, says he had a normal childhood growing up in the Playboy Mansion, despite the numerous and infamous Playboy parties that happened in his home.
This week, Cooper took Business Insider on a tour of the home where he grew up.
Cooper, 23, said his dad went to great lengths to protect his kids from the debauchery of the parties that happened at the Playboy Mansion.
“We were kept away from the parties while we were growing up when we were younger,” he said. “Like any other 13, 14, 15-year-old, if you’re upstairs and your parents are having a Christmas party, you’re going to sneak down and try to figure out why you aren’t allowed at the party.”
Hugh Hefner's son reveals what it was like growing up at the @Playboy Mansion: http://t.co/bA1bPXnI6y @cooperhefner pic.twitter.com/ujsjj3qpBz
— BI Video (@BI_Video) November 5, 2014
Cooper said the famous pool Grotto, which is where many drug and alcohol-fueled orgies reportedly occurred, had a very different meaning to Cooper.
In his young mind, the Grotto represented an adventurous place to pretend he was on an Indiana Jones-style adventure.
Spending the evening with my Dad at the Mansion #throwbackthursday pic.twitter.com/tRp2y1gnY1
— Cooper Hefner (@cooperhefner) October 30, 2014
He also said he loved the mansion’s zoo full of exotic animals and the games of hide-and-seek played in the forest of redwood trees found on the property.
Hugh Hefner, 88, is not necessarily the lecher imagined. Instead, he is someone who cares deeply for those close to him. An example of his kindness is his recent support of former Playboy model Kendra Wilkinson when her marriage woes became public. Hefner reportedly let Wilkinson know that he is there for her and she is welcome at the Playboy Mansion any time.