Dean Gardens Estate Finally Sold

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed)
Aug 4th 2010 at 11:01PM

One of our more intriguing estate of the day properties, Dean Gardens has finally found a buyer. The Atlanta Business Chronicle reports that the home's sale makes it the highest purchase price for any residence in the Atlanta area since the sale of the Dobson estate, 'Descante' on Tuxedo Road. Dean Gardens was most recently listed at $13.9 million with Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby's International Realty but had been on and off the market for the last 15 years with prices from $20 million to $40 million. There were even rumors that Michael Jackson had considered buying the estate.

The property in Johns Creek was created by Larry Dean, a software entrepreneur. The property's 58 acres include elaborate gardens, two carriage house apartments, a caretakers cottage, wedding chapel, Asian tea garden, grass tennis courts, amphitheater, conservatory ,lake and an 18 hole golf course. The home's interior is a hodgepodge of tastes and styles. The rotunda was inspired by Florence's Brunelleschi Cathedral. Art Deco and Art Nouveau flourishes abound in the bedrooms. Much of the terrace level is given over to a Moroccan theme and a game room has a 1950s diner look. Some of the home's many theme rooms including the Peacock room, the Egyptian suite and the elaborate French bedroom. Check out more images at the property website.

Gallery: Dean Gardens

Tags: atlanta real estate, dean gardens, georgia real estate

Filed under: Estates

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Spectacular Bid Aug 4th 2010 11:35PM

Dean Gardens has long been the benchmark by which bad architecture and horrible interior design can be measured by in the US. I've never seen one iota of taste found anywhere in that sprawling mall-like palace that frankly only an Iraqi dictator could be proud of.

One can only hope the new owners will raze all structures to the ground. If not torn down - at least its sale can prove that even the poster child for garish design will find someone both wealthy and possessing nary common sense or taste to buy another man's folly.

Moneydoesntgiveyoutaste Aug 5th 2010 1:51PM

Agreed. Only Michael Jackson could have liked the taste of that gaudy pink eye sore. I am thrilled the new owners are knocking it down. As for the gardens- let's hope they stay intact.

MCal Aug 5th 2010 4:50PM

Totally disagree, the home should not be torn down. Even though it may be over the top and crazy - being there in person would give off such a different feel. The home is extremely large and packed with detail, it's a museum really. The property should have been donated to the city and turned into City Hall or a Community Centre or even build a few large homes around the property and have this masterpiece as the clubhouse. Such a shame to tear it down, so much work went into it - not to mention so much money. If you want to tear something down why don't you target trumps ridiculous property in Florida? What did he want....$100M+?

http://www.PriceyPads.com

Nolan Aug 6th 2010 1:18PM

While it may not be what I would build I respect the imagination of the builder. Certainly it could be adapted to the tastes of another person with some renovation. The grounds look amazing as well. This guy clearly lived his dreams and that is respectable -- how many people can say that?

Felix Dennis talks about this in his book 'How To Get Rich', that you want to get this out of your system as soon as possible - the big houses and extravagant living - as soon as your business really takes off and your bank account is growing by millions a year. He sees it as a stage, I could certainly see wanting the big 30,000+ sqft house in your mind as you are working yourself to the bone trying to start the company -- and it's a bit of a celebration of your success to finally build it - but really do you want to live in such a large house? It would always feel too empty to me. Give me nice large grounds like this for privacy, but something a little more manageable in size, something that feels more like a home than a hotel.

carol Aug 12th 2010 5:34PM

I wrote Mr. Dean about leasing the house...purchase later. I was just finishing up some details when I found out that he had sold the house. My planners and I had a discussion just two days of reading this that we should contact Mr. Dean again and clue him in as to what we had in mine...to get a take on his thoughts of a nation wide TV show at his house. I have other homes in mine but this estate was my first choice. It is sad that it will be torn down. I am sad that it was sold to anyone that would do this. I admit that it was a little over the top. My plan was to eventually tone it down a bit, but keep all of it's glory and beauty in tact. Hopefully the new owner will reconsider and keep the house.

mcal2005 Aug 11th 2010 6:41PM

Join the SAVE DEAN GARDENS Facebook Fan Page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pricey-Pads/283356141790?ref=ts#!/pages/Dont-Demolish-Dean-Gardens-Estate/103055933086215?ref=ts

Kristen Sep 10th 2010 9:02AM

Yes, it's ugly. The inside is the most ridiculous thing you've ever seen on the planet. But for the people that grew up in the Alpharetta/ Johns Creek area, it's a landmark. We all called it "the Pink Mansion" and to hear that it's being torn down is absolutely heartbreaking! I moved to Alpharetta/ Johns Creek when I was 4, grew up there and this is just about the saddest thing I could thing of for Old Alabama Road- no one ever gets tired of looking at it. Honestly, if it weren't pink, it would be just like any other ridiculous piece of property.