Looking for an 11,134-square-foot, five-story castle with lake views, private balconies, and its own drawbridge? Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty agent Eric Hacker with the Hacker Property Group has got you covered.
Hacker, a retired Major League Baseball pitcher, is no stranger to fancy real estate, but Parsons Castle wins the trophy when it comes to luxury living.
“We see so many awesome properties, based on location, size, finish-outs, the views,” he said. “We’re so fortunate to see so many amazing structures. This one is so different. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Parsons Castle at 119 Private Road 1820, Clifton, Texas, sits on 2.3 acres of Lake Whitney coastline and is listed for $5.5 million.
Landing the listing came about through Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s network and presence in the luxury real estate market, Hacker told daltxrealestate.com in an exclusive interview this week.
“We’ve had a handful of [serious buyers] call with specific questions, most of which have come from people in the event space, which is what we expected,” Hacker said, noting that the listing was picked up by Zillow Gone Wild last week. “It’s set up for living or as an event venue.”
A Look at Parsons Castle on Lake Whitney
The current owners built the home over a 10-year period beginning in 2008 and have used it as their primary residence, renting it out for weddings and events about 12 times a year, Hacker said.
“They did not really go into this with the idea of a full-blown event center as in, ‘Let’s build a big-time business plan and make a ton financially,’” Hacker said. “When they first acquired the property, they had a couple of weddings there before anything was built. They started brainstorming about building this castle and started collaborating with some architects and builders.”
Parsons Castle is marketed on The Knot wedding website, but it’s basically advertised itself through word of mouth, the Realtor explained.
It features 10 bedrooms, 15 bathrooms, and an elevator that goes to the penthouse suite.
The owners love the property but are building a new home elsewhere, Hacker said.
“They’re hopeful this will turn over to someone who takes it to the next level,” he said. “They know firsthand that there’s so much more potential here that they’ve never pushed.”
The castle is appealing because of its fairytale ambiance — certainly for brides-to-be — but also because it’s not a dark, scary castle, Hacker said.
“It has so much glamor that is so different and so rare,” he said. “You can’t find it anywhere else. It’s not dark and heavy castle-y colors that you would see in some 100-year-old castles. It’s more of a modern-day castle look with a white finish and a red tile roof. It’s comfortable and has a modern-day vibe. It’s got a bit of a Disney feel to it.”
The site is about 30 minutes from Waco, an hour from Fort Worth, and two hours from Austin, so it’s centrally located but privately isolated.
Special Features at Parsons Castle
Whether the new owner is pursuing a business venture or a forever home, they’re going to be thrilled, Hacker said.
“It’s turnkey,” he said. “Someone could take over this space and build from it. They already have people calling weekly who want to book out into 2024. They’ve had to turn people away because they’re working on selling the property.”
The castle was listed at $6.5 million two years ago and didn’t sell. Hacker said the lower price is a huge attraction to potential buyers.
“You absolutely could not build this structure for that price,” he said. “If you just took the average home and put it on 2 ½ acres on Lake Whitney, you’re still talking about $1.5 [million] or $2 million. And it’s not just the castle. There’s another home on this property that a property manager or staff could live at and take care of the premises. It’s a small ranch-style three-bedroom, two-bathroom home that’s a bonus feature for this property.”
The photos and videos are stunning, but there’s a feeling that can only be captured when standing at the peak of an actual castle.
Visitors can take a spiral staircase up to one of two bedrooms on the fifth floor and step out on a walk-out balcony that faces the front of the castle.
“It’s so cool because when you’re at the top of the castle, you kind of feel like you’re on top of the water,” Hacker said. “I don’t know how to explain that feeling. You’re so high and you’re right on the water’s edge. You can see off the cliffs of Lake Whitney. The whole setting is really breathtaking.”
