Connecticut castle lists for $26M

If you’ve ever wanted to live like a king or queen in a castle, now’s your chance.

The luxurious Chris Mark Castle, nestled at 580 Brickyard Road in Woodstock, Connecticut, has hit the market with a price tag of $26 million, a significant drop from its earlier listing price of $60 million in February 2022, CTInsider reported.

While $26 million isn’t exactly chump change, it’s the lowest price ever listed for the castle, the outlet reported citing data from Zillow.

Christopher Mark, the castle’s owner, had a dream of giving his daughters a taste of royal living. 

He began constructing the castle in 2003, and it was completed in 2010. Mark’s vision was to create a fairy tale-like setting for his family.

The 18,800-square-foot castle has 20 rooms, including nine bedrooms, seven full bathrooms, and three half bathrooms. Its interior is adorned with imported European furniture, collected over three decades.

The castle overlooks 30-acre Potter Pond and is surrounded by a moat, evoking a medieval feel. The castle’s towers reach a regal height of 126 feet.

Although the current listing comprises 75 acres, down from the original 400, there is still an option to acquire additional land, which would affect the final price, according to Compass listing agent John Pizzi.

One of the castle’s quirks is its social media presence, with Christopher Mark and his daughters frequently dressing up as royalty on the castle’s TikTok account. 

Christina Mark, the eldest daughter, revealed in a 2022 interview that her family’s Irish heritage played a role in the decision to build the castle, in addition to her wanting to live like royalty.

“My sister and I, when we were younger, we would dress up like princesses, and he just wanted our dream to come true,” Christina Mark told the outlet.

Castles do hit the market from time to time.

Last year, a tech and real estate finance entrepreneur paid $9.5 million for a Moorish-style castle on St. Croix that was built by a Bulgarian-born countess.

Yuri Farber, the husband of the late Countess Nadia de Navarro-Farber, sold the ivory domed castle and its 110-acre estate to John Alexander, who said he planned to turn it into a short-term rental or an events space.

In June, hotel mogul Robert Rivani sold his “castle” inspired by “Games of Thrones” and “Harry Potter” for $20 million.

The owner of Black Lion Investment Group, based in Pico-Robertson, has sold the 15,200-square-foot mansion at 9 Beverly Ridge Terrace in Los Angeles.

— Ted Glanzer