Once upon a time, in the rolling hills of Burnet County, a Texas businessman dreamed of bringing a Bavarian king’s lost vision to life. Now that dream is up for sale.
The Falkenstein Castle, a 14,000-square-foot stone mansion inspired by Germany’s Neuschwanstein Castle — the one said to have inspired Disney’s “Sleeping Beauty” castle — has hit the market for $15 million, MySA reported. The price is $1,071 per square foot.
Perched on a panoramic 110-acre estate overlooking the Highland Lakes, roughly 35 miles northwest of Austin, the property at 7400 South Park Road 4 is a Texas Hill Country landmark.
Kale Stephens of Horseshoe Bay Living Real Estate has the listing. It has seven bedrooms, four full bathrooms and four half-baths, plus there are six tiny homes on the property.
The castle was built in 1998 by Terry and Kim Young, who were inspired by Bavarian King Ludwig II’s undelivered plans for Falkenstein Castle during a 1995 trip to Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany, which is said to have inspired Disney’s “Sleeping Beauty” castle.
Known for his lavish spending and ambitious architectural projects, Ludwig II — the “Mad King” — commissioned some of Europe’s most iconic palaces before his mysterious death in 1886, leaving several grand designs, including Falkenstein, unfinished. Determined to bring the king’s architectural vision to Texas, the Youngs returned home and constructed the sprawling estate just outside Burnet.
The property includes seven bedrooms, four full and four half bathrooms, towering ceilings, a game room, a soaking tub and six tiny guest homes scattered across the grounds. It has previously served as a wedding venue and short-term Airbnb rental. The home has been passed down to the Youngs’ son, who is now selling the estate, according to Realtor.com.
The home also comes with income-generating potential from its history as an event space and short-term rental.
— Judah Duke
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