“Rare opportunity” is probably an overused cliché. What’s a really rare item? Coins, stamps, baseball cards, memories, and meat. Furniture used to be “rare” but these days even “antiques” seem to be mass-produced and shipped from somewhere offshore.
Opportunities might actually be the only true rare items remaining. The TCU football team going to the Fiesta Bowl as part of the College Football Playoff is certainly a rare opportunity. In the housing world, rare opportunities are … well … they’re rare.
Fab Find in Fort Worth’s Park Hill
For this week’s Tarrant County Tuesday column, I’ve found a truly rare opportunity that might not come along ever again. A once-in-a-lifetime occasion that hasn’t happened since the 1920s. I’m assuming that none of you reading this article are planning on being around in 2123, so take advantage of this gift and check out this home in the beloved Park Hill neighborhood of Fort Worth.
Park Hill was established in 1915 in Central Fort Worth on a bluff overlooking what is now the Fort Worth Zoo. Filled with majestic trees and rolling hills — if you’re a runner, your calves would appreciate you NOT running in this neighborhood — the area is filled with Spanish and Tudor homes built in the 1920s with deep setbacks which allow for front yards to be prominent throughout the neighborhood.
A Rare Opportunity in This Park Hill Tudor
The Tudor at 2424 Medford Court W in Park Hill is a beautiful and old home in a great neighborhood, but why so rare? Because this home has never been for sale on the open market. Apparently, the house was a second-generation home and was purchased by the current owner off market. Therefore, the next owner will be only the third owner of a home that is over 100 years old. Is that rare enough?
According to historians, including listing agent Jeff Anderson, the home was first inhabited by the Bristol family on October 23, 1929. Why is that important? Well, it was the day before the Black Thursday stock market crash of 1929 that led to the Great Depression.
As you would expect, the main home has a tremendous amount of attention to detail and craftsmanship throughout. They don’t make ’em like they used to (wow — I’m starting to sound old), but it’s true and it’s certainly something to appreciate when going through the home.
With 5,247 square feet of interior space plus a full-sized basement (hey, that’s rare in Texas), you get four bedrooms, three bathrooms, three living rooms, and three fireplaces.
The primary suite is large, and also has a fireplace and a handy bonus area attached that can be used as an office or catch-all room.
Plenty of Extras in This Park Hill Home
Aside from the main home, the property comes with many added features.
The private backyard includes a swimming pool among lush landscaping. Part of the detached garage is a guest cottage, and you will also find a detached studio near the pool that would be perfect as an art room, exercise room, or place to get away and enjoy the beautiful sounds of the nearby zoo.
Other features of interest that are super-rare are a Prohibition-era hidden bar in the basement, the pool coping made of bricks from the Fort Worth Stockyards, and there is a double-door cubby for milk delivery in the main house that is still functional. That’s definitely something you don’t see in many homes anymore.
Don’t wait another 100 years for this property to be available again. Go and see this wonderfully rare home in a highly desired neighborhood as soon as you can. Don’t miss this opportunity.
Mark Philpot and Jeff Anderson of League Real Estate have listed 2424 Medford Court W. in Fort Worth’s Park Hill for $2.65 million.
