Everything’s bigger in Texas, and that includes this massive Fort Worth castle that’s headed to auction next month.
The seven-bedroom fortress has towers, double-height rooms, imposing fireplaces—there’s a hearth in nearly every room—stone and wooden arches, columns, ornate ceilings, lancet windows and gilded details.
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Bidding for the more than 19,000-square-foot home—which is also listed for sale asking $11.75 million—opens on Dec. 3, and the hammer will fall on Dec. 18. Starting bids are expected to be between $4 million and $6.5 million, according to Concierge Auctions, which is handling the sale.
“I’ve had personal appraisals on this that surpassed $15 million, and you couldn’t build this for less than $20 million,” said Michael Hershenberg of the Hershenberg Group at the Real Brokerage, who has the listing with colleague Ricardo Valderrama.
“If the gavel came down at $9 million or $9.5 million, everyone would be in great spirits.” he said.
The house, in Fort Worth’s upscale Montserrat neighborhood, was built in 2006 for energy tycoon Bob Simpson, the co-owner and co-chairman of the Texas Rangers Major League Baseball team, according to the listing.
Simpson sold the grandiose home in 2021 to the current owner, listing records show. Since Texas is a non-disclosure state, the purchase price is not publicly available, but it was last listed in 2020 for $5.5 million. The owner couldn’t be reached for comment.
The estate is “built in a European manner with classic architecture and very high build quality. You have very high-detail stone work, beams [and] hand-carved areas all around the property,” said Hershenberg. And “the amenities really speak for themselves.”
There are multiple kitchens, indoor and outdoor pools, a sports court, a climate-controlled wine room, a theater, a gym, dedicated guest quarters and a primary suite with elevator access to a private office above.
“We’ve started getting initial feedback in, buyers are responding well,” Hershenberg said. In particular, buyers are drawn to “the indoor pool, the amenities and the exterior. And the ability to walk from the primary bedroom directly to the indoor pool is a real treat. They think that is so unique and unlike any property in the area.”
The indoor pool area is also a highlight for Hershenberg. The hot tub is nestled in a corner of the space, and from there “you look up to this dome and you feel like you’re at the Sistine Chapel or something, it’s pretty special.”