Slideshows

Castle Homes

Castle Homes

Wealthy families have long lived in grand monuments to their riches, such as the in San Simeon, Calif. But castle homes aren’t reserved for the super-rich or those holding European titles. Although it’s commonly thought of as an Old World practice, Americans live in castle-style homes in all corners of the New World. This collection features representatives from Washington state to Florida, each with varying degrees of castle features. Some carry legacies of famous tycoons, while others were bu
Realtor.com

Wealthy families have long lived in grand monuments to their riches, such as the Hearst Castle in San Simeon, Calif. But castle homes aren’t reserved for the super-rich or those holding European titles. Although it’s commonly thought of as an Old World practice, Americans live in castle-style homes in all corners of the New World. This collection features representatives from Washington state to Florida, each with varying degrees of castle features. Some carry legacies of famous tycoons, while others were built for private families indulging a case of turret syndrome.

What follows are 10 castle homes that are for sale or were recently on the market, provided by Zillow and Realtor.com. They are presented in order from the most humble (well—as modest as house can be when it takes the form of a castle) to the most sprawling and luxurious.

By Colleen KanePosted 26 January 2012

Waynesville, N.C.

Price: $350,000Bedrooms: 3Bathrooms: 2    Square Footage: 3,400What do you get when you cross a log cabin and a castle? Someone not only already asked this question—in 1996 somebody went ahead and created the answer. Now this resulting structure on Biodome Drive is . The unlikely hybrid three-story home includes hot water radiant heat on the first floor and double decker decks out back. The third-story master bedroom has vaulted ceilings and an office. There isn’t a moat in the yard, but there i
Zillow.com

Price: $350,000
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 2   
Square Footage: 3,400

What do you get when you cross a log cabin and a castle? Someone not only already asked this question—in 1996 somebody went ahead and created the answer. Now this resulting structure on Biodome Drive is for sale.

The unlikely hybrid three-story home includes hot water radiant heat on the first floor and double decker decks out back. The third-story master bedroom has vaulted ceilings and an office. There isn’t a moat in the yard, but there is a freestanding log workshop.

White Salmon, Wash.

Price: $1 millionBedrooms: 4Bathrooms: 3    Square Footage:  5,616This castle sits on the banks of the White Salmon River and is considered a local point of interest. It was for sale in July 2011 for $1.2 million, and then the price dropped to $1 million, and is now off the market without a record of a sale. The home was built in 1988 by a man who wanted to live in a castle like the European one he got married in—or so goes the legend reported when this was a House of the Week on The home was c
Zillow

Price: $1 million
Bedrooms: 4
Bathrooms: 3   
Square Footage:  5,616

This castle sits on the banks of the White Salmon River and is considered a local point of interest. It was for sale in July 2011 for $1.2 million, and then the price dropped to $1 million, and is now off the market without a record of a sale.

The home was built in 1988 by a man who wanted to live in a castle like the European one he got married in—or so goes the legend reported when this was a House of the Week on Zillow The home was constructed with two concrete masonry units, keeping it energy efficient—cool in the summer and warm in the winter. There’s also a plaster teepee guesthouse and a stocked trout pond on its 26 acres.

Albany, N.Y.

Price: $1.15 millionBedrooms: 11Bathrooms: 3    Square Footage: 10,000The former home of Charles LaDow, an inventor of agricultural machinery (and according to lore may have invented puffed cereal), is still one of Albany’s finest mansions. Ever since the granite sat vacant from 1939 to 1952, it was known by locals as the (the ghost is said to occupy the third floor turret). More recently, it has been used as office space.
Zillow

Price: $1.15 million
Bedrooms: 11
Bathrooms: 3   
Square Footage: 10,000

The former home of Charles LaDow, an inventor of agricultural machinery (and according to lore may have invented puffed cereal), is still one of Albany’s finest mansions. Ever since the granite house sat vacant from 1939 to 1952, it was known by locals as the “haunted castle” (the ghost is said to occupy the third floor turret). More recently, it has been used as office space.

Special non-ghostly features include hidden doors carved into mantelpieces, an interior chapel, astounding carved wood staircases and wood floor inlay patterns, carved marble on each of eight fireplaces, and stained glass insets in doors and windows.

Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Price: $4.25 millionBedrooms: 8Bathrooms: 8 full, 2 half              Square Footage: 11,500This modern East Fort Lauderdale castle sits along 100 feet of waterway on the Middle River, with a private full-service dock for taking the yacht for a spin out to the Atlantic. It’s for quite a bit more than the last sale price in 2004, which was $875,000, according to public records. In the hotel-like mansion’s interior are three-story ceilings, with coffered ceilings in the smaller-scale rooms, wroug
Realtor.com

Price: $4.25 million
Bedrooms: 8
Bathrooms: 8 full, 2 half             
Square Footage: 11,500

This modern East Fort Lauderdale castle sits along 100 feet of waterway on the Middle River, with a private full-service dock for taking the yacht for a spin out to the Atlantic. It’s on sale for quite a bit more than the last sale price in 2004, which was $875,000, according to public records.

In the hotel-like mansion’s interior are three-story ceilings, with coffered ceilings in the smaller-scale rooms, wrought iron railings, and the expected luxury features of chef’s kitchen, media room, and wine cellar.  Exterior features include a rooftop terrace, a two-story greenhouse and a four-car garage. 

Oak Brook, Ill.

Price: $4.499 millionBedrooms: 5Bathrooms: 9    Square Footage: N/AThis brick, cement and stone structure, built in 2009, might at first appear to be a McMansion. However, it’s replete with castle-like features, including 18-inch walls, pointed arch windows and doorways, vaulted 40-foot ceilings with exposed beams, and more.The also features an entertaining room with bar, and 12 skylights over the large indoor courtyard area.
Realtor.com

Price: $4.499 million
Bedrooms: 5
Bathrooms: 9   
Square Footage: N/A

This brick, cement and stone structure, built in 2009, might at first appear to be a McMansion. However, it’s replete with castle-like features, including 18-inch walls, pointed arch windows and doorways, vaulted 40-foot ceilings with exposed beams, and more.

The mansion also features an entertaining room with bar, and 12 skylights over the large indoor courtyard area.

Piermont, N.Y.

Price: $8.5 millionBedrooms: 10Bathrooms: 8    Square Footage: 15,000This ivy-clad stone Beaux Arts country palace was built in 1892 and designed by the era’s biggest-name firm in architecture, McKim, Mead, and White. It has the princely address of 1 Castle Road. The has more than 30 rooms and with detailing like carved moldings, coffered ceilings, a lovely palladium window, wood parquet floors and (talk about old-school)—a walk-in safe. The home’s 18-plus acres include cottage, barn and a pool
Realtor.com

Price: $8.5 million
Bedrooms: 10
Bathrooms: 8   
Square Footage: 15,000

This ivy-clad stone Beaux Arts country palace was built in 1892 and designed by the era’s biggest-name firm in architecture, McKim, Mead, and White. It has the princely address of 1 Castle Road.

The mansion has more than 30 rooms and with detailing like carved moldings, coffered ceilings, a lovely palladium window, wood parquet floors and (talk about old-school)—a walk-in safe. The home’s 18-plus acres include cottage, barn and a pool.

Laguna Beach, Calif.

Price: $9,975,876Bedrooms: 22Bathrooms: 24 Square Footage: 18,300Construction began on in 1927 by Walter Pyne, who made his living the old-fashioned Calfornia way: oranges, then made his fortune when oil was discovered on his land. At first, it was a mere 62 rooms. Later it was known as President Richard Nixon’s Western White House. It has since been converted into apartments—12 legal and 4 “non-conforming units.” Pyne Castle is currently and the price has fluctuated, but has been at nearly $1

Price: $9,975,876
Bedrooms: 22
Bathrooms: 24
Square Footage: 18,300

Construction began on Pyne Castle in 1927 by Walter Pyne, who made his living the old-fashioned Calfornia way: oranges, then made his fortune when oil was discovered on his land. At first, it was a mere 62 rooms. It has since been converted into apartments—12 legal and 4 “non-conforming units.”

Pyne Castle is currently for sale and the price has fluctuated, but has been at nearly $10 million since October 2011. The 3.5 acres of oceanfront property include guest houses, rose gardens, fountains, old-growth trees.

Bronx, N. Y.

Price: $2.995 millionBedrooms: 5Bathrooms: 4 full 1 half               Square Footage: 20,541This stone mansion in Fieldston, a landmarked section of  Bronx’sRiverdale, was built in 1899 for the shipping line tycoon Giuseppe Cosulich. According to the , it was possibly built in imitation of the family’s 16 century Croatian castle, which is now a hotel.
Zillow

Price: $2.995 million
Bedrooms: 5
Bathrooms: 4 full 1 half              
Square Footage: 20,541

This stone mansion in Fieldston, a landmarked section of Bronx’s Riverdale, was built in 1899 for the shipping line tycoon Giuseppe Cosulich. According to the listing on Zillow, it was possibly built in imitation of the family’s 16th century Croatian castle, which is now a hotel.

The turret serves as a breakfast nook on the ground floor and a study on the second floor. While original features like the floors and woodwork remain intact and restored, the house has a completely revamped gourmet kitchen, and the rest of the home comes equipped with Bose sound systems, new lighting, Internet connections, and flat-screen TVs. The walled garden is paved with flagstones.

Newport, R.I.

Price: $4 millionBedrooms: 10Bathrooms: 9    Square Footage: 27,000The ornate Belcourt Castle was built as a summer cottage in 1894 using a mishmash of styles and was based on Louis XIII’s Versailles hunting lodge, at a cost of $3 million. http://www.belcourtcastle.com/history.htm  The first owner was Oliver Hazard Perry Belmont, whose family earned their wealth in the Rothschild banking business. The mansion is now an events venue. The website reveals juicy historical background:  “In the origi
Zillow

Price: $4 million
Bedrooms: 10
Bathrooms: 9   
Square Footage: 27,000

The ornate Belcourt Castle was built as a summer cottage in 1894 using a mishmash of styles and was based on Louis XIII’s Versailles hunting lodge, at a cost of $3 million. The first owner was Oliver Hazard Perry Belmont, whose family earned their wealth in the Rothschild banking business.

The mansion is now an events venue. The website reveals juicy historical background:  “In the original plan the mansion had one bedroom with bathroom, no guest rooms and no kitchen. There were sleeping quarters for thirty full-time servants. The entire first floor was devoted to a fine carriage collection and a stable with 30 luxurious stalls accommodating prized coaching horses.”

In the plan that did get built, the mansion features a breathtaking cathedral-like French gothic ballroom with stained glass windows, lots of woodwork and marble details. According to records on the Zillow listing, it was on the market for $7.2 million in 2010, then dropped down a few times until the price reached $4 million last year. The house is currently off the market.

Great Barrington, Mass.

Price: $11 million Bedrooms: 14 Bathrooms: 17 Square Footage: approx. 60,000 The term “Berkshire Cottages“ is a misnomer used with a wink to mean the mansions built in western Massachusetts by business tycoons of the Gilded Age. This French Chateau-style mansion on 61 acres in the Berkshires region went for $15 million a few years ago. The price has since been reduced. Built as Kellogg Terrace by the railroad tycoon widow Mary Hopkins circa 1887, the mansion later took the name of her second hu

Price: $11 million
Bedrooms: 14
Bathrooms: 17
Square Footage: approx. 60,000

The term “Berkshire Cottages“ is a misnomer used with a wink to mean the mansions built in western Massachusetts by business tycoons of the Gilded Age. This French Chateau-style mansion on 61 acres in the Berkshires region went on the market for $15 million a few years ago. The price has since been reduced.

Built as Kellogg Terrace by the railroad tycoon widow Mary Hopkins circa 1887, the mansion later took the name of her second husband, Edward Searles, whom she hired to decorate the home. In recent decades, the estate has served as a school and an events venue.