His (former) Royal Highness Harry, Duke of Sussex, made a surprise visit to the Stockyards Championship Rodeo in Fort Worth to take in the bull riding at the signature, 126-year-old event and seems to have enjoyed himself.
Frankly, the hat looks more Aussie Outback than Cowboy Western but I understand the boots were credible. Along with some sartorial steering, could the wannabe Cowboy Prince also benefit from some real estate council?
I mean Montecito? Really? How predictably unimaginative. Yeah, it’s handy to have Oprah and Ellen within walking distance when you feel like doing a global headline-grabbing interview, but there’s always Zoom. And then there are the high taxes, LA traffic, and LA attitude. Why not join Elon Musk and the nearly 700,000 other Californians who have wisely decamped to the welcoming Lone Star State in the last 10 years?
Dallas-Fort Worth can offer you world-class shopping, outstanding museums — one of which contains the only Michelangelo in this hemisphere, a ballet company, two symphony orchestras, and two opera companies. And hey, D-FW could shave two-and-one-half hours off flying time to England.
Your California digs are estimated to be worth about $22 million. In Fort Worth, you could pocket at least $15 million from the sale of your Montecito estate and still live like a royal. For expert advice on princely properties, we turned to two Fort Worth real estate heavyweights.
A Private Fort Worth Equestrian Estate
John Zimmerman, head of the Zimmerman Group at Compass, thinks his 50-acre ranch listing at 11802 Rocky Creek Road would be ideal as a princely domain. The main house has four spacious bedrooms and four-and-one-half baths. Floor-to-ceiling windows throughout flood the interior with light.
“It’s double gated for security,” John points out, ideal for the high-profile couple. “The finished-out barn could be housing for staff and the 7,000-square-foot spread has plenty of room for entertaining and extra bedrooms when family visits.”
The mostly open concept floor plan still has intimate areas for respite. Finishes are nothing short of stunning. Bleached oak floors complement museum-finish walls.
The principal bedroom is located at one end of the regal residence for maximum privacy. The spacious bathroom is luxuriously clad from floor to ceiling in Carrara marble.
As an additional fillip, there are stables for seven horses, one extra for a six chukka match to kit out the polo-playing prince.
John Zimmerman of the Zimmerman group has priced 11802 East Rocky Creek Road at $4.3 million.
Opulent Overton Crest French-Inspired Palace
Genteel Martha Williams of Williams Trew Real estate would be the perfect candidate for Fort Worth’s Realtor to royalty. Martha suspects that Meghan would want to live closer to town and has the perfect princely property for Harry and his family. Perched high atop a hill on a nearly two-acre lot, 4400 Overton Crest feels safe and secluded.
“The property is totally secure behind gates,” she tells me. “And at nearly 12,000 square feet the dimensions are, well, palatial”.
Hovering near “over the top,” the mansion — there really is no other word — has so much to offer. Ornate Corinthian columns define a lateral axis traversing the house of six bedrooms, six baths, and four powder rooms.
The largest bedroom has a marble fireplace — one of three in the residence with an attached, uber-luxurious bath.
The house has so many extras that the listing has a separate amenities list, which includes the totally equipped home gym with a dry sauna and a home theater as opulent as movie palaces of the golden age of cinema.
The property has unique panoramic views of the city for the newly minted Fort Worthophiles to enjoy. The property in the posh enclave of Overton Crest, has access to highly rated Tanglewood Middle School, though, I expect the royal rug rats will be the beneficiaries of au pairs, tutors, and private schools.
Sussexes, if you are listening, please weigh in in the comments section below.
Martha Williams of Williams Trew Real Estate is offering 4400 Overton Crest Street for $6.9 million.
