Overgrown New York castle built by Abercrombie & Fitch founder lists for $2.9M

Real Estate

This onetime gorgeous estate is seeking an owner to give it a new lease on life.

In Westchester County’s coincidentally named town of New Castle, a formerly glorious castle built by Abercrombie & Fitch’s co-founder, the topographer David T. Ambercrombie, is looking for a buyer who doesn’t mind fixer-uppers and has $2.9 million to spare. The news first appeared on Realtor.com.

“It’s a quirky property,” agent Christina DiMinno of William Pitt – Julia B Fee Sotheby’s International Realty, who holds the listing, told The Post of the over 90-year-old compound, which Abercrombie named ELDA, an acronym of his children Elizabeth, Lucy, David and Abbott’s names. 

Constructed in the late 1920s based on a vision by Abercrombie’s architect wife, the manse was once set on more than 300 acres, a number that has today dwindled to a still impressive 49.6. 

The castle is set on just under 50 acres. William Pitt – Julia B Fee Sotheby’s International Realty
The castle and a barn are not currently inhabitable. William Pitt – Julia B Fee Sotheby’s International Realty
The abode has fallen badly into disrepair over the decades. William Pitt – Julia B Fee Sotheby’s International Realty
For the right buyer, it’s a fixer-upper like no other. William Pitt – Julia B Fee Sotheby’s International Realty
Many original elements remain intact, if in need of significant refurbishment. William Pitt – Julia B Fee Sotheby’s International Realty
An aerial view of the castle. William Pitt – Julia B Fee Sotheby’s International Realty

The castle is “in need of total renovation,” having fallen badly into disrepair over the decades. Both it and a barn are “uninhabitable.” 

Despite being a shell of its former self, there are still plenty of stunning and salvageable features from its glory days, including a fireplace-equipped open patio and the cast iron spiral staircase leading up to its tower. 

Abercrombie also personally “really cultivated” much of the landscaping throughout the property, and also created multiple walking trails. 

Nearly a century on, the greenery still shows his touch, and some of the trails remain accessible, DiMinno said. 

The address last changed hands over 20 years ago, in 2001, for $1.5 million.

Although aerial shots of the abode make it appear far from society, it is in fact a 10-minute drive from the closest Metro-North station, and from there it’s only 48 minutes to the city. 

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