Castle built by 'eccentric millionaire' an odd sight in ordinary neighbourhood

Nothing says “eccentric millionaire” like building a modern-day castle, especially one built in Connecticut in what seems to be a fairly ordinary neighbourhood.

On the market for $US39 million, (AU$51 million) this property has a short but chequered history. It was completed in 2009 – although the New York Post reports that construction began in 2001 – by Christopher Mark, the great-grandson of  Chicago steel tycoon Clayton Mark Sr.

It’s a 10,668 square metre home, on 30 hectares of land, with a turret, moat and lake, resembling an amusement park castle or something similar – but it’s not built with real stone, but rather a material similar to stucco.

It also has nine bedrooms, seven bathrooms, a 1400-square-foot kitchen and, at one point, was home to a modelling business. Mark had also run a refuge for exotic animals called Wilderness Kingdom Inc, on the site which according to Curbed included a camel that met a sad end, along with an emu and a zebra.

The property requires about 10 people to run. Naturally it includes a maid’s quarters and room for an au pair. 

Boston Magazine reported in 2014 that it had been valued at $4,630,400 which was for the entire property, not just the 30 hectares on the market for over a year.

Nevertheless, as something that was “built to amaze”, it may still find its perfect buyer.

The property from the air. Photo: Google Maps

Woodstock, Connecticut. Photo: Randall Realtors.