A teeny bit of royal life
Miniature castle up for sale in Fort Lauderdale
An early 20th century miniature castle in Fort Lauderdale, complete with towers, coral rock and a view of the water, is up for sale.
Owned by a brother and sister for 16 years, the home with a rich history in Fort Lauderdale is ready for a new owner as the pair enters their retirement years.
“We just used it as a guesthouse and had events there for family and friends over the years because it’s got great grounds,” said Richard Joyner, the semi-retired president of Joyner National Real Estate Consulting.
Now they are ready to part with it for $1.75 million.
The home, also known The New River Castle, has a coral rock exterior with turrets above the windows. Located near the New River in a gated community in the Tarpon River neighborhood, the castle itself is small, measuring only 882 square feet.
With one bedroom, a small bathroom, living room and kitchen, it’s a cozy residence on almost half an acre of land.
The home is situated on the widest part of the New River in Fort Lauderdale, giving potential owners a view of the waterfront and unrestricted access to the water. For boating enthusiasts, the home has four docks that can fit sailboats and yachts up to 70 feet.
Built between 1924 and 1928, the castle was originally used for tourists during the winter season, according to documents from the History Fort Lauderdale.
“A lot of women who visit like to take pictures of their head sticking out of one of the towers,” Joyner said, referring to a figure of Rapunzel.
The castle has been in the
family of Joyner and his sister Kathy Leikauf since 2005, when they updated parts of the home, while making sure to keep its unique features alive.
The home has updated electric, plumbing, a new roof, and updated cabinets and countertops in the kitchen.
It’s been on the market for about 48 days. A potential buyer has a conditional contract, which means the deal could go through if certain criteria are met.