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This M Kentucky Castle Is Looking for a Fairy-Tale Ending

Here’s a romantic real estate tale. You’re young, you’re in love. So naturally, when the two of you come back to your old Kentucky home from a sightseeing trip to France, the obvious next step is … to build a European chateau.

And where else but in the aptly named town of Versailles, KY?

The original owner, Rex Martin, “wanted to build the love of his life a castle,” says listing agent Susan Hammett. “All fairy tales have an ending, but not all [are] good. They ended up getting divorced.”

Martin started his structure in 1968, but the project dragged out over decades, and it was sold unfinished to current owner Thomas Post in 1999. Now called CastlePost, it’s operating as a bed-and-breakfast.

The castle is now on the market for $15 million, making it the third most-expensive listing in the Bluegrass State, behind a couple of $16 million horse farms for sale.

The residence’s fortunes didn’t improve much after Post’s purchase, though. The castle was nearly complete in 2004. “It was exquisite,” Hammett says. The exterior walls and turrets had all been finished, and the interior work was well underway.

Then a fire destroyed all the interior work that had been done. Post “had to start over from scratch, but he was determined,” says Hammett.

The estate was finally finished in 2008—and it was well worth the wait.

Measuring just over 17,000 square feet and sitting on 50.5 acres, the imposing structure looks as if it were transported from another century, if not another country.

There are 16 en suite bedrooms and two half-baths. There are landscaped gardens, a tennis court, basketball court, billiard room, library, dining room, and ballroom.

The property is being sold as is, and it can continue to run as a business. And despite its shaky romantic history, the site has turned into a successful wedding venue with over 80 events hosted last year, according to the agent.

The buyer wouldn’t need to reinvent the space, because many of the furnishings are included.

“It is stunningly beautiful,” Hammett says. “The interior has fabulous, museum-quality pieces of furniture.” The decor also includes ornate chandeliers and paintings.

The owners, who live part time in Florida, are looking to downsize. This time around, let’s hope this castle comes with a true fairy-tale ending.

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