A fairy-tale castle with a storied Hollywood and Broadway history has hit the market in Irvington, New York, offering a rare chance to own a piece of architectural whimsy just 22 miles north of Manhattan.
Villa Keen, as the property is known, is listed for US$1.8 million (AUD$2.85 million) – a surprisingly accessible price point for a historic home with genuine celebrity provenance.
The five-bedroom, six-bathroom residence spans 3,502 square feet and sits on 2.43 acres of wooded land in the Hudson River village of Irvington.
Built in 1929 by Joseph Keen for himself and his wife, the castle features four turrets, a stucco facade designed to resemble limestone, a terracotta roof, and a central interior courtyard. Two of the turrets house bedrooms, while the grounds include a pool and pool house.
The property retains many original details, including stained glass windows, ornate millwork, an antique Chesneys fireplace mantle and a Schonbek Austrian crystal chandelier.
Villa Keen’s resident list reads like a mid-century entertainment who’s who.
Lloyd Stratton, who served as assistant general manager of the Associated Press during World War II, once called it home. Television producer Robert Wright, known for his work on “The Carol Burnett Show,” later took up residence.
In the late 1960s, Academy Award-winning actress Shirley Jones and Tony Award-winning actor Jack Cassidy rented the property while starring in “Maggie Flynn” on Broadway. Their son, multi-platinum recording artist Shaun Cassidy, also spent time at the estate.
According to listing agents Ryan Paige and Adam Blankfort of Corcoran Baer & McIntosh, the property’s legacy extends even further back – a beech tree at the front is believed to bear markings carved by Native Americans.
The castle last sold in July 2023 for US$1.65 million to a tech entrepreneur with an interest in architecture; the buyer had planned a substantial renovation but relocated to the West Coast before completing the work.
“It’s very hard to find something in this price range with this kind of historical significance so close to the city and the unbelievable river towns of Westchester,” Mr Blankfort told Mansion Global.