A Florida man who was inspired by his Disney-loving granddaughter to build his own castle is now selling the half-finished storybook home for $1.2 million.
The 10,000-square-feet, three-story castle has hit the market in South Daytona, and features a grand archway, turrets, a two-story library, and even a dungeon in the basement.
But despite the staggering asking price, the six-bedroom, five-bathroom home isn’t actually finished, meaning a potential buyer would have a fairy tale fixer-upper on their hands.
A Florida man who was inspired by his Disney-loving granddaughter to build his own castle is now selling the half-finished storybook home for $1.2 million
The 10,000-square-feet, three-story castle has hit the market in South Daytona, and features a grand archway, turrets, a two-story library, and even a dungeon in the basement
But despite the staggering asking price, the six-bedroom, five-bathroom home isn’t actually finished, meaning a potential buyer would have a fairy tale fixer-upper on their hands
It features an elaborate stone archway entrance with two fountains of a mermaid and merman, plus several under-the-sea mosaics set up behind them.
A large stone wall separates the castle from the road, and behind it is a house with a fortress and turrets on top
Listed on Zillow by Adams, Cameron & Co., Realtors, the home looks like it was ripped right out of Disney World and plopped down 70 miles away on the beach
The castle is the work of Ricky Ginder, who purchased the land in 2013 for $163,000
Listed on Zillow by Adams, Cameron & Co., Realtors, the home looks like it was ripped right out of Disney World and plopped down 70 miles away on the beach.
It features an elaborate stone archway entrance with two fountains of a mermaid and merman, plus several under-the-sea mosaics set up behind them.
A large stone wall separates the castle from the road, and behind it is a house with a fortress and turrets on top.
The home also includes a four to eight-car garage, a workshop, a three-story elevator shaft, a grand goyer, and five-foot-wide grand staircases.
There is a large library straight out of Beauty and the Beast with an 18-foot ceiling, as well as a dungeon for storage downstairs.
Photos show a staircase from the garage guarded by nutcracker statues, patios, and a large open floorplan.
Photos show a staircase from the garage guarded by nutcracker statues, patios, and a large open floorplan
While the home is advertised to have six bedrooms and five bathrooms, the interior is unfinished, with no finished walls, ceilings, or flooring.
Furniture has been set up in some of the unifinished rooms, showing a taste for an old-fashioned asthetic
The realtor explains: ‘This project is 5 years in the making and as time changes, so do dreams and priorities. About 50-60% complete, this palace has so much opportunity and potential’
The realtor adds: ‘Let your imagination run wild and finish the dream’
Grinder hoped to have his family — including his wife, two adult daughters, and three grandchildren — moved in by the end of 2018
It was his granddauchter, Ericka, who gave him the idea for building a castle in the first place
Grider currently lives in nearby Port Orange, but in 2017 began building the castle of his dreams, designing it himself and enlisting friends to help him build it
But while the home is advertised to have six bedrooms and five bathrooms, the interior is unfinished, with no finished walls, ceilings, or flooring..
The realtor explains: ‘This project is 5 years in the making and as time changes, so do dreams and priorities. About 50-60% complete, this palace has so much opportunity and potential.
‘Let your imagination run wild and finish the dream,’ they add.
According to Hometown News Volusia, the castle is the work of Ricky Ginder, who purchased the land in 2013 for $163,000.
Grider currently lives in nearby Port Orange, but in 2017 began building the castle of his dreams, designing it himself and enlisting friends to help him build it.
He hoped to have his family — including his wife, two adult daughters, and three grandchildren — moved in by the end of 2018.
‘My granddaughter and I were cutting the lawn one day and we always talked about what we wanted to build and she always kept saying she wanted a castle,’ he said
‘She grew up going to Disney. I started researching it and looking at books and trying to figure which style I wanted to do,’ he said
He said he ‘decided on the old English/Scottish look’ and got to work on the castle
‘My grandson, Waylynn, is going to be the prince of the castle where Ericka is going to be the princess in the castle and they have worked here. They love it,’ he said
Unfortunately, plans seem to have changed, and in July he listed the house for $1,400,000. It has since comed down to $1,195,000
While most of the framework appears to be there, the outside needs more work, too
It was his granddauchter, Ericka, who gave him the idea for building a castle in the first place.
‘My granddaughter and I were cutting the lawn one day and we always talked about what we wanted to build and she always kept saying she wanted a castle,’ he said.
‘She grew up going to Disney. I started researching it and looking at books and trying to figure which style I wanted to do. So, we decided on the old English/Scottish look.
‘My grandson, Waylynn, is going to be the prince of the castle where Ericka is going to be the princess in the castle and they have worked here. They love it.’
‘It’s just a house and something I think the family name will have forever. That’s the plan anyway,’ he added.
Unfortunately, plans seem to have changed, and in July he listed the house for $1,400,000. It has since comed down to $1,195,000.
The home will not only need a certain type of buyer, but a lot of patience to keep building
There appears to be a guard house, just like one that might be outside a real castle
None of the rooms are finished and still need walls, ceilings, and floors, so there is quite a lot of building to be done
The home also includes a four to eight-car garage, a workshop, a three-story elevator shaft, a grand goyer, and five-foot-wide grand staircases
There is a large library straight out of Beauty and the Beast with an 18-foot ceiling, as well as a dungeon for storage downstairs