AN empty $224million mansion, once referred to as the “American Versailles,” has 55 bedrooms, 20 bathrooms, a massive ballroom, and a tragic tie to the Titanic.
The home was built on a 34-acre plot near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania , back in 1900 by Peter Widener, who was, at the time, one of the world’s richest men. 7 The once-magnificent home now sits abandoned According to The Daily Star , Widener was a 20 percent investor in the Titanic but declined a spot on the famous ship due to old age.
However, his son, daughter-in-law, and grandson — who were overseas in 1912 looking for a chef to hire for their new hotel, the Ritz Carlton — were offered a spot on the boat.
His son and grandson tragically died when the ship sunk. His daughter-in-law Eleanor was the only survivor.
Widener himself, who made his fortune in public transportation, died three years after and ownership of the massive property went to his youngest son, Joseph.
The home, Lyneewood Hall, also contains a massive indoor pool, a ballroom that could host 1,000 people, and its own art gallery.
But the grand home has been tragically abandoned.
After Joseph Widener passed away in 1943, the home was left empty until radio star Carl McIntire purchased it almost a decade later.
McIntire turned the massive home into a religious school, but it shuttered in 1992 due to financial struggles.
Four years later, the building — which was reportedly in need of several fixes that McIntire never tended to — was given to the First Korean Church of New York.
Reports say the church purchased the enormous home and property for $0.
The New York Post reported that the once-magnificent mansion has murals from a 16th-century European chateau and artwork from greats like Vermeer, Rembrandt, El Greco, Manet, and more.
Despite the massive home being built for $8million back in 1900 — which would add up to around $224million today with inflation — the home was reportedly listed for sale for $20million in 2019.The price was lowered to $11million recently. 7 The massive home was turned into a religious school for several decades 7 Widener was reportedly a 20 percent investor in the Titanic
