What a house! What a history! The Grand Manor was built in 1916 for Alfred T. Ringling. He was one of the Ringling brothers that founded the circus. Located on Lake Swannanoa in Jefferson Township, New Jersey. He created two dams on the property so the circus animals would have drinking water. At one point it was comprised of 600 acres and it is where the animals stayed during the winter. The fireplace was purchased for $10,000 in 1917. Made of walnut and ebony. That would be $183,000 today! The walls of the house are two feet thick! The home even has a tunnel that leads from the basement to the lake! It eventually became the St. Stanislaus Friary. Thanks to angie_loves_vintage on Instagram for tagging me in her post about this beautiful estate! Eighteen bedrooms and eight bathrooms. Located on 4.61 acres. $800,000
From the Zillow listing:
The original opulent and Grand Manor built in 1916 to accommodate the world’s greatest Ringling Brothers Circus impresario Alfred T. Ringling. The Manor resides on over a 4.5 acre parcel with access to the Lake Swannanoa in Oak Ridge, one of the finest jewels in the Skylands Region of New Jersey. The property is now available for sale to any astute buyer who has a vision and smarts to restore this iconic structure and to become part of the great American experience. The property is being offered in ‘as is’ condition and it is registered in the National Register of Historic Places. The Ringling Manor is located only 38 miles away from New York City. Call for a private showing now.
Let them know you saw it on Old House Life!
