Deep in the heart of Florida sits a Neo-Classical mansion known as the Money Pit. The enormous home was built by a Georgia native, who made his fortune owning naval stores and lumber. His business empire controlled much of the turpentine harvest at the turn of the 20th century when citrus, turpentine, and lumber were Central Florida’s primary industries.
The house was completed in 1911 at a cost of $25,000. It took three years to build and is considered one of the most ornate mansions in the area. At 11,000 square feet, the enormous mansion had plenty of room for the owner’s wife and their seven kids.
In 1924, the naval store owner and his family traded homes with the vice president of a local bank. The house sold in the 1940s and was converted into a funeral parlor. It remained a funeral home for almost 20 years before being converted into a meeting hall. Soon after it was sold and renovated into apartments. In 1990, the property fell into foreclosure. The property was listed for sale for $129,000. Without a buyer, the bank asked the city for a demolition permit.
In 1992, the house was saved from impending demolition after a couple offered the bank $90,000. The house suffered from extensive termite damage and would require $225,000 or more in renovations. The new owners estimated the restoration to take five years and created a nonprofit organization to help restore the house. The goal was to return the house to its original charm and allow opening it to the public as a museum or wedding venue. Unfortunately, the new owner fell ill and asked the city to take over the restoration effort. The city felt the project was better suited for an established nonprofit organization. A few years later, in 1995, a nonprofit was established. A board was able to apply for and awarded several state grants which allowed repairs to continue.
Over time the board diminished, and in 2005 a new board was created. This board was awarded several state grants, but because of the recession in 2008, no funds were allocated by the state that year, or for the following three years. Now, almost twenty-five years since the restoration began, the house remained unfinished. The nonprofit organization is actively seeking funds but has not been successful so far.
Amazing photos. I teach history, not U.S., world.
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Janice
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Thanks so much! I’ll check it out.
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I will look forward to your visit
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Great work buddy.
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Dig the historical aspects to the work. Far too often, shooters just want “the shot” as a trophy. Your attention to detail shows.
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That’s where I met you too – the Community Pool on Janice Wald’s blog! So you were a new blogger back then – well congratulations for still being here – a few I tried from that list have since gone. This house is really beautiful but I find it quite eerie and brooding to look at. Like it is waiting for something just like in a horror film!
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I love your photos! I am still learning how to take decent photos with my Canon EOS D700. I can’t seem to find the technique.
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Thanks. Keep at it!
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I wonder if the couple would be open to selling this home for a low price so someone else could take on renovations? It’s actually in fantastic shape for a house that old. Termite, electrical, and plumbing repairs alone would be in the 1 million dollar range. Restoration in total probably about 2 million if you were going to fill the home with some furniture and trinkets from that era. Add in the paint and wood repairs plus more modern amenities. I can’t imagine what the kitchen and grounds look like. Probably another $20,000 to fix any landscaping or pools.
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Hey there! Is there any shot of renting this space for a film shoot? I’m trying to find some more info on this and if anyone could help I’d greatly appreciate it. I’m looking for an abandoned-looking interior space similar to this that would allow filming.
Thanks!
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Which city is this mansion in?
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Sure you know this already but the piano is a Charles M. Stieff Square Grand Piano and looks to be Brazilian Rosewood. I found one like it here:
http://antiquepianoshop.com/product/charles-m-stieff-square-grand-piano/
Great photos and wonderful detail! Still making my way through the other collections and came here from ProperPeople.
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Thank you for the reference and Welcome!
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Not bashing but just curious. Are you also trespassing to take these photos for your blog? Or do you get in contact with the city and like get a permit to go on the grounds?
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Wow, another really cool article, not just a photo dump like so many other urbex sites.
About this one I have a question though:
“No concrete proof has ever been found that the Money Pit is haunted.”
Has there ever been concrete proof (scientific proof) that any place is haunted?
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I am a photographer from Tampa, I found this location online but can’t seem to find the town or information on who owns it. I’d like to contact the owners to see about getting permission to do a photo shoot there that will be getting published. Can you help me out with that information?
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