Since 2016, our goal has been to save old houses and improve communities. That video is available on YouTube (click here!) A Lawrence developer named Dan Riedemann wanted to restore the mansion, open a winery and build bungalows for overnight guests on acreage surrounding the landmark. Since Bigknife continued to live on the property, this is also highly unlikely. . google_ad_slot = "7565819021"; I told him this. I am sure that when Jason started this Facebook page, his intentions were noble. The foundation did look like it was in good shape, but as my editor was taking her turn leaning and looking. She remained where she was until her husband returned. Not only was the main house a showstopper, but the acreage around it was meant to amaze the passerby. In January 1987, Bud Wyman, his son and daughter in law, Cliff and Cindy Jones, bought the home hoping to turn it into a bed and breakfast. And, hes thinking about putting solar panels on the back side of the house. Wyandotte County slapped the house unfit for habitation in the 1990s as neighbors and history lovers lamented from a distance at the deteriorating state of Sauer Castle. I already knew it was falling down. The county needs a judge that will actually enforce the hard line with Carl. Victorias excitement while visiting her grandmother in Sauer Castle extended past her experiences in the middle of the night. As the house neared completion in August 1873, the, reported, It is in plain sight for a considerable distance along the southern road., boasted that the view included Wyandotte, Armstrong, and Kansas City, the two rivers valleys, and a very large scope of the country in Missouri and Kansas lie at the feet of the observer like a beautiful map or a splendid picture.. At this time, no one lived in the house. A bench warrant was issued when he failed to do so. Unfortunately, its clear now, these hopes now seem far-fetched. He made both my editor and me awkwardly lean down and focus our eyes on the foundation to prove how straight and sturdy it is. After many thousand dollars in attorneys fees, we finally got our money, Huber recalled. Windows are shot out every month or smashed by those trying to break-in. On a visit to Kansas City, Laurance took a risk and contacted his distant cousin, Carl and asked for a tour of the home. These accents may be cosmetic, but they are vitally important to the life that remains of Sauer Castle. It had been over 10 years since he bought it, and photographs indicate that the house was not being renovated or maintained. Paul Berry wasnt afraid to protect Sauer Castle. Schwalm was the organizer of an Occult Studies Special Interest Group in the Kansas City branch of Mensa. However, this difficult task has only yielded minor improvements such as fixing balconies and putting a large fence around the property. No sooner had he left when Jones heard a noise coming from the attic that she could not explain. For years, his 18 acres of fine vineyards produced grapes to be made into wine.

In 1937, 23-year-old Eva Marie Perkins married George F. Martin and finally moved away to Austin, Tx. As they say, The devil is in the details. These details inside and out are slowly disappearing from this national landmark. Caretakers seem to have a habit of not staying very long at the Castle. He wasnt happy with my assessment and demanded that I, basically, take it back. These stories sometimes make the crazed man Anthony Sauer himself or even his son-in-law, John Perkins. This one probably came from the large springs on the south side of the property. Under the kitchen is a vegetable cellar- under the dining room a fine, well-lighted and airy apartment for a billiard room- under the parlor a deep wine cellar, the key of which Mr. Sauer intends to keep snug in his own pocket,the Wyandotte Gazette wrote. It seems Ms. Jones always kept a .22 derringer in her pocket. UPDATE: The Sauer Castle Haunted House of Kansas City has its surrounding 11 acres currently up for auction according to a posting on the Unified Governments website , as well as the house itself, in separate auctions. Courtesy Victoria Hampton. Due to his own ill health, it was suggested that the cleaner air to the west may benefit him. Rumors of multiple deaths, supposed murders, and ghost sightings in this now-vacant villa leads to its lore. Whenever the home was up for auction for back taxes, he would wait until the last minute to pay the taxes. There were groups of people who had tried for years to get the property away from his distant relative with the hopes of restoring it. He failed. Maurice Schwalm was one Jones invited to the house. Mind you, the tuck-pointing was completed decades ago. Victoria Hampton is Carl Lopps first cousin once removed- Carls mother was Victorias first cousin. On the west side of the property, a large swimming pool was dug. After Sauer's death, while a fence was being built at the edge of the grounds. People also indicated a creepy feeling of being watched and reported objects shaking violently. Sauer loved horticulture, and his grandiose greenhouse housed imported flowers from Europe. When I went to Sauer castle, it was called Igors. He needed a plan so he could keep the castle- a plan that would help quash the plans the city had. The city had been concerned for years about the property, and Riedemanns plan was recommended to the Board of Commissioners. No proof that either tunnel ever existed has been found. An outdoor pergola and a small garden were adorned with furniture for summer dining. This site is strictly for informational and entertainment purposes and will not be held responsible or liable for its use or accuracy. The property has been on the citys auction site for a while now with no auction date or starting bid, so we are unable to provide that information. Absolutely. Travel & Tourism Home. By 1868, Anthony and his children had settled into growing Kansas City. 2022 - All Rights Reserved | Bard Theme by Royal-Flush. The master bedroom had solid walnut furniture with marble tops, lace curtains and expensive rugs. You would think that as a descendent, Loop would have at least maintained the home. He admitted there is no family trust. This was the reason for all my research, and my feeling is that it is not. They are on separate auctions with nor auction dates as of yet. The second floor held the spacious bedrooms. Windows were broken, the roof had extensive holes, the iron around the widows peak was falling down, and the grounds that once showcased one of the most beautiful gardens in the area had tree limbs scattered on the unkempt lawn. Riedemann went to the city with his redevelopment proposal. I believe in proving a haunting; you must thoroughly research the history of the location and all persons involved. The city would like to see the property He planted 18 acres of vines on his property and built a wine cellar from stone on the side of the cliff. The script was rehearsed and perfected he has regurgitated the same stories- with the same attention to specific details- that I had seen in Thomas Laurances, Even though he had read my article and should have acknowledged that I knew the history of Sauer Castle quite well, he still started from the very beginning- unable to break from the repeated record of detail given to people less informed than I. I visited this house frequently. In 1875, tragedy struck directly into the home when Anthonys 23-year-old son, Emil from his first marriage died inside the castle. After some dancing around a declared number, Carl finally said it would be two to five years. remained in the family until 1950. The original tax sale was delayed due to the pandemic. His sons bought interest in a grocery store at 3, and Main as Anthony settled into a home at 17. and Grand while serving as president of the German Savings Association. There are people who are ready to help restore the castle, including historic preservationists, flooring specialists and carpenters. Daughter Helen (sometimes listed as Frances) died in infancy age 14 months. For a few awkward minutes, I waited, making small talk, until my editor arrived. The years after Carl Lopp purchased the mansion saw the greatest deterioration of the home. A system of bells on wires could be rung from any room in the house and would signal the servants to the room they were needed. We referred to this as the haunted house, as it was very spooky to look at from the sidewalk. And in keeping up with the times and ever rising prices, stayed tuned for our new Cheap-ish category featuring a collection of amazing old homes under $250K. Yet seeing Carl dismiss a structure- the wine cellar- something just as old as the home the way that he did shot an arrow through my heart. Architect Asa Beebe Cross designed it as an example of Italianate architecture. The Sauer Castle in Kansas City, Kansas He would spend hours with his children outdoors and taught them German songs in his gorgeous gardens. Always the tour guide topped with a cowboy hat accented with a feather, Carl Lopp accepted the chance to show off Sauer Castle. If we go by Carl Lopps past 30-plus year record, its more than likely that all of us will be forced to watch from a distance until he either sells or is forced to sell. After they sold it, the next owner, Paul Berry, only lived in a small section of the house. The special taxes are for special assessments charged to the property for mowing and trash/debris removal, Wendy M. Green, Assistant Council for Wyandotte County explained. Trust in his word has been broken countless times. Eva stayed in the home after daughter Eva Martin moved to Austin. Huber was awarded a judgement for the amount due in 2004. Haunting rumors go back to the 1930s, and the house has received much publicity as such. Some local historians propose that this myth is from people mistaking this legend with the Quindaro Slave Tunnel. In addition to housing violations accruing, Lopp was developing a reputation of playing the property tax game. The pictures we took show the figure of a woman in the fount upstairs window on the right looking at the house and another on the entrance stairs. google_ad_client = "pub-0468606833551520"; When Carl bought the castle- I cannot stress this enough- it was still a working, living, habitable building. The Wyandotte Gazette boasted that the view included Wyandotte, Armstrong, and Kansas City, the two rivers valleys, and a very large scope of the country in Missouri and Kansas lie at the feet of the observer like a beautiful map or a splendid picture.. The cellar measured approximately 35-feet long, 15-feet wide, and 12-feet high.

You could see her in the tall windows swing; the family moved to the east and left a caretaker for the place. Vine-covered arches led from the entrance of the cellar and a high-arched ceiling complimented racks placed to hold kegs of wine. 1873) and Clara (b. This is my family history, too, Laurance explained. The history of this castle starts with the vision of an enterprising man and his quest to build the best money could buy. We also were allowed to go down the basement where they put all of their preserves. Of course, a little ghost lore wouldn't hurt business. That game was supposed to have ended before now. The house needed restoration, but even as they did work on the home, they opened it up to visitors. I also knew that in the past, Carl hasnt spoken to reporters- he doesnt return their phone calls. I found it particularly ironic that he told me this as I stood in the shadows of the kitchen addition off the back of the castle that, literally, has fallen down. There, they had their five children: Gustave O.L., Anthony Philip Jr., Julius J., Emil, and Johanna. He has grandiose plans to tear that kitchen off and build a brand new one. Others asked where Carl Lopps plans were to restore the castle. The orchards were still producing, and with her mother, they would make jams and preserves to keep in the cool basement. On the south side of the home, still visible in the brush, you can see how Mr. Sauer cut away at the slope to grow his grapes. I have known people like Carl.

The post is as follows: Right. I am shocked by how many times the court has given him, "One last shot at a payment plan". The servants quarters and childrens classroom was on the third floor, as was the entrance to the tower which afforded a spectacular view. My mother- when she saw what Carl was doing to the castle- it just broke her heart. "I would like everyone to know that respects and admires the Castle and its history that I am very appreciative of your support of our restoration efforts. Its current condition doesnt help with the suspicions surrounding the three-acre property. Although its been years since this happened, Huber did recall that Lopp wanted to attack the problems one at a time instead of fixing everything all at once. Since a physical investigation on the property is not possible, finding the root of the rumors about the mansion has become my goal.