Fort Worth Castle Heads to Auction

A Fort Worth mansion built for Texas Rangers co-owner Bob Simpson is headed to auction, giving luxury buyers a shot at one of the city’s more extravagant residential curiosities.

The castle-style estate in Montserrat, a gated enclave in far southwest Fort Worth, will be auctioned by Concierge Auctions starting Dec. 3, with bidding expected to open between $4 million and $6.5 million, the Dallas Business Journal reported. The home at 9553 Bella Terra Drive, spanning 19,359 square feet on 2.12 hilltop acres, was commissioned for Simpson, the longtime Fort Worth energy executive who stepped down as CEO of TXO Energy Partners this spring but remains chairman.

Concierge Auctions is marketing the estate, noting that Simpson sold the property in 2021. The home is now owned by John Lupo and Andreana Michael, according to Tarrant Appraisal District records.

Built by Southlake-based J. Lambert Custom Homes, the estate sits on two parcels appraised at a combined $3.5 million. It last surfaced on the market at $11.75 million, but failed to trade.

Like other high-end Texas listings that have lingered as price ceilings meet softer demand, sellers are increasingly turning to auctions to widen the buyer pool and reset expectations.

The mansion leans into its castle branding. Nearly every room has a fireplace. It has seven bedrooms, 13 full baths and five half-baths, plus a 4,734-square-foot bonus area and separate guest quarters. The primary suite is its own compound-sized setup, with a spa-style bath, walk-in shower, Jacuzzi, a closet advertised as “Texas-size” and a private office perched above. It also connects directly to the indoor pool and hot tub.

Amenities pile on from there: multiple gourmet kitchens and living spaces, a private theater, a custom gymnasium, indoor pool complex, climate-controlled wine room, sports court and a private pond with access to a community water feature. The setting, on an elevated ridge overlooking southwest Fort Worth, is part of the pitch.

Luxury auctions have become a familiar pressure valve in Texas’ upper-tier market, especially for oversized, highly customized homes that don’t slot neatly into comparable sales.

— Eric Weilbacher