Mel Gibson Finally Sells Old Mill Farm

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed)
Apr 2nd 2010 at 6:02PM

It took almost three years but Mel Gibson's Greenwich, Connecticut home, Old Mill Farm, may have finally sold. The Stamford Advocate points out that the contract was reported on the Greenwich Multiple Listing Service Tuesday. No details on the buyer or a selling price are available. When the estate hit the market in 2007 it was listed at $39.5 million but cut the price last year to $29.75 million.

Old Mill Farm is a design by architect Charles Lewis Bowman built in 1926 for his horse-loving client, G.L. Ohrstrom. The home is one of the last great manor homes in Greenwich and is significant not just for the architecture but for the fact that it has 77 acres of land. The home itself is an Elizabethan-inspired Tudor mansion of 15,800 square feet and the property has 15 bedrooms and 18 bathrooms total. The jaw-dropping room of the place is the great hall which has a 40-foot cathedral ceiling with a stone minstrel's gallery, walk-in fireplace and leaded glass ceilings. The grounds, which were done by landscape designer James Doyle, include formal gardens and a maze. There is also a terrace pool, tennis court, greenhouse, stable, staff houses, log cabin and a pond on the property.

One thing that might not be going along with the property is the mural in the dining room. A sharp-eyed commenter recently pointed out that the Maxfield Parrish painting Sing a Song of Six Pence which is shown in the dining room in these listing pictures from Sotheby's Realty is set to be auctioned off for an estimated $2.5-3.5 million next month.

One of Gibson's other properties, his Lavender Hill Farm in Malibu, remains on the market for $14.5 million.

[Thanks, James]

Gallery: Mel Gibson's Old Mill Farm

Tags: celebrity real estate, greenwich, mel gibson, old mill farm

Filed under: Estates, Celebrity Shopping

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Tessa Apr 3rd 2010 2:33PM

WOW...he probably didn't want to sell this place...but with the current "regime" in office now....now one can afford to pay the taxes on homes like this!!!!!
Too bad...it is a stunning property!!!!

Spectacular Bid Apr 3rd 2010 7:31PM

Tessa, your remark has to be one of the most bizarre I've seen in a while. I presume the term "regime", used in quotes, from your posting is a thinly veiled poke at the White House which really has nothing to do with Fairfield Co. CT or Greenwich taxes. It matters not a wit as to who is in power in Washington, DC - if an owner (current, former or future) cannot afford the property taxes in Greenwich then so be it.

Mel - as the above points out and has been widely reported - has both owned this property and had it on the market for quite some time. Yes the taxes are tremendous but that has been the case since the day he bought it.

Among the highest property tax payers in Greenwich are Diana Ross with her Quarry Hill (former Reynolds Tobacco heiress farm) stone mansion and the Lindemann property of Cellular Farm, so named for a portion of their fortune from telecommunications.

Gibson tried to get his taxes reduced after putting a few sheep and a horse on the property and calling it a farm. That didn't work, but he wasn't the first to try it using an agricultural exemption. Maybe if he put in a steeplechase training facility or a heard of angus it might have been less of a farce.

Regardless, the buyer of the property is getting a steal IMHO with the architecture, history and considerable amount of beautiful and diverse 'back country' property at that price. C. Lewis Bowman, a McKim Mead & White trained plus Cornell University grad architect, was at the top of his game when he designed the gracious stone manor house, outbuildings and stables.

I for one certainly hope that it has not been acquired by someone who is looking to revise the property in its look or feel ... or worse raze the home and divide up the property.

JLS Apr 4th 2010 4:09AM

A political jab at Obama? Wow, poor form considering this is about an estate on the Luxist website. His loss on this home is because of the economy. The last 8 years of Republican tyranny is why. If you throw stones, Tessa, we will throw boulders and real evidence back.

Beautiful place. Very classy and old world. Too bad he had to sell it - but when you cheat and produce babies with mistresses, this is what the result is. A big damaging divorce.

Tessa Apr 4th 2010 3:58PM

OH...OUCH...the 'truth" doesn't sit well with you LIBS...does it......
As the "Chosen One...continues to RAISE TAXES on the AMERICAN PEOPLE..(and yes....that included YOU TOO)...you will begin to see more and more of
this kind of thing happen to the very rich...they will have to sell off in order to maintain at least ONE property instead of MANY.

As for Mel's private life........YOU....sound so bitter about his choices.....
He isn't losing this house due to his private life....which is just that.....PRIVATE....no matter if you like what he did or not.

Tessa Apr 4th 2010 3:46PM

I wasn't making reference to the taxes on the property specifically. It's the overall increase in taxes across the board. If you don't think the Obama Administration is raising taxes - you're smoking the same stuff Barry did. Mr. Gibson's income far exceeds the fluctuating personal income amount that Obama's gaggle of socialists are imposing on Americans. Granted the taxes in Greenwich are outrageous, but a little research on who is responsible for that might not make you happy either.

By the way, democrats complained about price of gasoline for the entire eight years Bush was President. Now that "your guy" is in office, the price of gas has become mildly interesting. But, like Bush, I'm sure Barack is just doing it to help out his big oil buddies.

In closing... if you feel you aren't paying enough taxes and would like to do more - you can always contribute to the U.S. Genral Fund with a check. I'm sure Barney Frank, Chris Dodd or Harry Reid will find a pocket for it.

Judy Apr 4th 2010 4:05PM

Yes another Republican who is really upset we've exposed all this mess and are working to try and repair the country. She'd rather have Bush and Cheney back to start another war that we all have to pay for for decades.

Judy Apr 4th 2010 4:10PM

Why would anyone bring up who is responsible for taxes here? Sorry, I don't get the relevance to it. We are looking at estates and commenting on what we see, aren't we?

pennylyons Apr 28th 2010 3:49PM

Congrats to Mel. Three years is a long time to have your home on the market. Of "estate" distinction is one of Southport's most beautiful estates, DEERMEADOW. This gorgeous 20+ acre property is located in the heart of tony Southport, Ct, just minutes from downtown Westport and only 55 minutes to NYC. At a perfect 7000 sf, the main residence is enhanced by the charming 2 Bedroom Guest House/former 3 Stall Stable, a salt water pool and the vistas of paddock and acreage that provide privacy and tranquility for those seeking privacy. Casually elegant, DEERMEADOW , was built with re-claimed materials to exude the elegance and comfort of an era gone by. visit www.southportequestrianestate.com and www.afahomes.com. Call Penny @ 203 671-9992 for a private showing.

pennylyons Apr 28th 2010 3:54PM

The relevance of the above comment was as it relates to the tax base...but somehow it got deleted. As taxes for these large estates go, no question Greenwich comes in as the winner with the lowest taxes. Unfortunate for Mel that he did not get the "Farmland" designation. DEERMEADOW, mentioned in my comment above, has an "Open Space" designation, with a resultant incredibly low tax of $34,000+/year. This is unbelievable when you consider it is 20+ prime acres in the heart of Southport, down a splendid half mile long driveway. Calling all buyers for whom privacy is a must. Thank you.

William T. Voris May 7th 2010 4:38PM

The property is under contract to IBM Corporation pending my acceptance of an executive position with the company. For more information please refer to my published Resume/CV or do an AOL or Google search on my name.