What’s Stopping These 3 American Castles From Selling?

The United States doesn’t have royalty—but that doesn’t mean there aren’t American castles to be found throughout its amber waves of grain. Just ask Kristin and Ian Dennis, who own a 1930s Romanesque manse just outside of Houston, colloquially called the Santa Fe Castle. “Many Europeans have scoffed at us, informing us: ‘That is not a castle,’” Kristin says. “But it very well is a castle—it’s an American castle.”

Strictly speaking, the critics across the pond are right. Castles are medieval fortified structures mostly designed to keep royalty and nobility safe during attacks. And if the hairs are being split, then the United States doesn’t have this type of property. But what it does have is a surprising collection of Gothic and Romanesque revivalist stone mansions that, without a historian’s eye, certainly look like they belong on the leather-bound pages of a fairytale book. “Many were built around the industrial age,” Tom Vozzella, a realtor based in Connecticut who previously represented a castle-style home, tells AD. “These people were making money in the field business or in the railroad business, and most came from Europe. So they were having European castles built for wealthy new Americans.” The early 20th century saw another castle boom in the United States, when prominent businessmen like William Randolph Hearst and Raymond Pitcairn had expansive homes built (Hearst Castle and Glencairn, respectively) to house their art collection.

Since they’re not wildly common, the existence of American castles is often surprising. “We never expected to find a castle for sale 30 minutes from our dull suburban house,” Kristin says. And for this reason, they often capture a frenzy of attention from both social and professional media when they come to the market. But when the dust settles—as it always does—the unique homes often remain unsold, still waiting for a buyer sometimes years after listing.

Take Tiedemann Castle, a 9,000-square-foot lakefront home reportedly owned by Derek Jeter through an LLC. Originally listed in June of 2018 for $14.75 million, the estate has been on and off the market for the past five years. Most recently, it was put up for auction with a minimum asking price of $6.5 million, still without any takers. “It’s not for a lack of trying,” Diane Mitchell, the listing agent, says. It’s had offers, some of which have been accepted, but various complications—such as the pandemic and stock market crashes—seem to pop up before it goes into contract. “I wish I knew why it’s taking so long to sell,” Mitchell adds.

She has theories, though. As with any luxury property, the market is much smaller. “Only so many people have the cash to purchase this type of home,” she explains. Remove those who don’t want to live in a castle home and that number shrinks. Next, factor in those who don’t want to live outside of Manhattan and the number of eligible buyers becomes even smaller. “In real estate, we say there’s a foot for every shoe,” Mitchel says. “So it’s just about finding that one person.”

More broadly, there are other conditions that make selling American castles hard. Though Tiedemann Castle is fully modernized—and even features smart technology—most homes of this style aren’t. “Many of these houses can be functionally obsolete,” Vozzella says. Kitchens are often in the basement, reminiscent of the era in which they were built, when it was common to have house staff. They tend to lack much natural light and can feel dark and cold. “​​People today are often looking for more modern finishes and light and bright properties,” Vozella adds. Additionally, castle-style structures are usually costly to maintain or restore if they’re in a state of disrepair, which many tend to be.

Vozella spent three years selling a castle-like home in Connecticut, and he said the timeframe was generally to be expected. “I’d certainly do it again,” he adds, noting that there are benefits to this type of home too. Most are located on beautiful pastoral lots that are often in secluded areas. “They were cited for the most prime position on the land, usually up high,” he adds. “And if you’re European or if you’ve traveled to Europe, you appreciate the architecture.”

And though they may come with challenges, there will always be people like the Dennises’ who see the fairytale where others only see a fight. “I sincerely believe there are fundamentally two different types of people,” Kristin says, “those who saw the impending disaster and the massive expense of restoration costs and those whose souls become intertwined with the property, falling deeply in love and [willing to] do whatever it takes to breathe life back into the castle.” The only question is how long it will take for them to find each other.

Three American castles currently on the market

If you fall into the same camp as Ian and Kristin, perhaps an American castle is in your future too. Below, AD surveys three available castles that are still anxiously awaiting their next steward.

This home located in Rochester, Michigan isn’t just a castle, but a royal estate. Complete with a moat, waterfall, drawbridge, and portcullis, the medieval-style property was first listed in November of 2022 for $2.5 million, but has since been lowered to $2.35 million. The home’s 26 rooms span across 10,781 square feet, which include “secret rooms, hidden doors, hidden passageways, a hidden staircase, wine cellar, and a Tudor-style pub,” according to the listing. Though it is designed to look like it came from the middle ages, the home is outfitted with modern amenities, including an elevator and central air conditioning.

Like many young children, Christina and Vivien Mark dreamt of being princesses when they were younger. While they weren’t born into a royal blood line, that didn’t stop their father, Christopher Mark, from ensuring they lived like they were. So he built them a castle. Overlooking a 30-acre pond, the Chris Mark Castle is something of a local landmark in Woodstock, Connecticut. The 18,777-square-foot home is currently for sale with an asking price of $39 million. While this is lower than when it first hit the market at $50 million, the property has actually been listed for as low as $26 million.

Described as “nearly famous and truly iconic” in its listing, Castle Von Frandsen sits on a little over eight waterfront acres in Frandsen Forest near Sandpoint, Idaho. According to the listing, the home was built from granite quarried in British Columbia, which was hand-chiseled to fit on-site. Though not in disrepair, the medieval-style property is only half finished and will require a buyer willing to complete the home. It was first listed in July of 2022 for $7 million and is currently available for $4.5 million.