What would you do should you had $1 million? You possibly can purchase your very personal fort in Covington.
Newer building meets medieval occasions because the 5,000-square-foot, custom-built luxurious dwelling at 74450 Hwy. 437 is in the marketplace for $1 million. The 2-story dwelling, which sits on 12 acres that features a further barndominium-style constructing, was in-built 2018 by house owner Chanse Mortenson. He mentioned he was impressed since his childhood to assemble a fort, and when he had his son, that inspiration got here to fruition.
“It is a dream that I by no means let go of since I used to be a baby – making forts with cardboard containers and blankets and constructing sandcastles. Individuals speak about being a king, queen, prince, or princess, and dwelling in a fort. Effectively, I went out and constructed one,” mentioned Mortenson. “We began constructing when my son was younger as a result of I wished him to develop up as a prince in his fort. We skilled that dream, and now, I’m seeking to go that dream onto another person.”
The itemizing agent is Andrea Bose, dealer and proprietor of French Nation Actual Property.
“It’s such a magical dwelling that blends fashionable conveniences with enchanting medieval design,” mentioned Bose, who grew up in Covington. “You are feeling the fort instantly with an entrance drawbridge and a Narnia-style wardrobe entrance door that units up a theme that’s continued. There’s a secret passageway, {custom} moon-shaped eating room desk, round bedrooms, and even a copper dragon firepit atop the pool. The proprietor had a dream and a wealthy historical past in building; this fort is a testomony to his meticulous craftsmanship and distinctive imaginative and prescient.”
A Fort with a Secret Passageway, Rain Bathe, and Dragon Firepit
The 12-acre property is formed just like the Louisiana boot. The principle residence, a.okay.a. the fort, is 2 tales, three bedrooms, and two and a half baths. It has an intentional, century-old, battle-worn exterior look. There’s an aforementioned reverse drawbridge that lifts once you stroll into it, and one other Narnia-style wardrobe entrance door, that’s electronically set and “seems like part of the entrance home is opening up,” mentioned Bose.
The inside options an in depth use of wooden and different pure surfaces. The dwelling has an indoor movie show with a custom-built base field, so it appears like once you’re watching the film, you’ll be able to really feel the vitality by means of the vibrations within the room. There’s a recreation room, bar, indoor spa, chef’s kitchen, and a secret passageway, uniquely positioned within the children’ room, but additionally accessible by adults.
“The inside does a superb job of mixing enjoyable and fashionable requirements,” mentioned Bose. “There’s a ton of counter house and cupboards within the kitchen. There are fashionable facilities all through. The lounge has round couches. There are dragons and medieval determine statues all through. There’s a secret passageway for the youngsters upstairs, but additionally a linen closet within the corridor with a shelf you’ll be able to transfer to stroll by means of a hatch. It’s all very cool with a lot element and thought.”
The principle rest room within the king and queen’s major suite is maybe the crown jewel of the house. The lavatory options hand-laid Louisiana river rock on the flooring and ceilings, displaying a cave impact with stone partitions. There’s a spa-like bathtub and a curved bathe with a number of showerheads and an digital setting to customise the water temperature.
“I in all probability get essentially the most compliments on the rain bathe and first suite rest room, which is the room I’m most pleased with,” Mortenson mentioned. “It will probably produce a stress of about 20 gallons of water per minute when every part is on. Individuals love the rain bathe impact. It’s one of the vital refreshing, coolest experiences within the dwelling.”
Each the back and front balconies provide views of the property. There’s a beach-type pool with a copper dragon firepit you could mild to get the impact of a dragon spitting out hearth at night time.
Along with the primary residence, the 12-acre property features a versatile barndominium-style constructing. This construction encompasses a two-bedroom house with bonus house. The constructing additionally features a storage and workshop, providing house for tasks and storage.
Fort Shared as Airbnb Expertise
Born in southern California, Mortenson began working in building on the age of 14 and has accomplished contracting work since. He purchased the 12-acre property at 74450 Hwy. 437 in Covington in 2014. The home was constructed by 2017, and the Mortenson’s lived in it for a number of years.
In 2019, Mortenson established a charity, “Second Chanse Castles,” by which he regarded to raffle off the house, however he bumped into logistical issues.
“We wished to deliver consciousness and monetary assist to different charities that assist individuals by means of the raffling of castles, constructed by us and the communities we enter. It could give hope and energy to these communities by means of dreaming massive. However sadly, it simply didn’t work out. We might pursue that dream once more later.”
In 2020, Mortenson made the choice to let different individuals expertise the distinctiveness of the house by advertising and marketing it as an Airbnb rental, at upwards of $600 per night time.
“It was very profitable. We have been consistently booked for essentially the most a part of two years,” mentioned Mortenson. “The seems on individuals’s faces – youngsters and adults – once they skilled the property and residential for the primary time. I’ll always remember the enjoyment that they had staying right here. That’s an enduring reminiscence that I’ll cherish.”
Within the latter a part of 2021, the Airbnb rental enterprise at 74450 Hwy. 37 got here to a halt when St. Tammany Parish disallowed short-term leases for the house, and the parish code enforcement officer requested Mortenson to take down the itemizing. He did. Mortenson then determined to promote the house. It went in the marketplace in 2022, and truly got here below contract, however the purchaser financing fell by means of. It’s again in the marketplace now, as of final week, below Bose because the itemizing agent.
“We’ve accomplished numerous social media advertising and marketing to precise the distinctiveness of the fort and get the phrase out nationally as a result of this will likely find yourself being a distinct segment, relocation or second dwelling purchaser,” mentioned Bose. “We’ve accomplished many digital showings, and now we have somebody coming in from Texas to see the house.”
The property is positioned in a residential space, minutes away from downtown Covington, simply outdoors of town limits, and headed towards Bush.
Bose mentioned the Covington market has carried out properly over the primary six months of the yr, persevering with to draw patrons to its “family-friendly tradition, nice colleges, distinctive eating places and sights, and various properties.”
“Homebuyers can actually discover something they’re searching for in Covington,” mentioned Bose. “There’s one thing for everybody – waterfront properties, luxurious properties in good neighborhoods, waterfront or golf course entry, properties with plenty of land, and even a fort, should you’re searching for one.”