After serving as a historic bed-and-breakfast in Denver for 30 years, Castle Marne is for sale as a residential property, listed for $2.29 million last Saturday.
Built in 1889, the mansion is recognized by the city and state as a historic landmark, and is even listed on the international duPont Registry of castles, owner Jim Peiker said. Its exterior is made of 22-inch thick Castle Rock rhyolite, which Mr. Peiker said only about a half dozen of homes in the neighborhood were constructed with because of its high price.
The home has served various functions over the years, from its original purpose as a show house for the neighborhood, to a seven-unit apartment building in the 1920s, and has had a few local notable owners, including Civil War Col. James H. Platt Jr. It was last purchased in 1988 by Mr. Peiker, who renovated the mansion and opened a bed-and-breakfast on the mansion’s 100th anniversary, according to Castle Marne’s website.
Mr. Peiker and his family are selling it for several reasons. Mr. Peiker, who turns 84 next week, lost his wife in November, so he and his children see this as a time to make a change. Additionally, the bed-and-breakfast market is shifting.
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"It’s been a wonderful experience, and it’s enriched our lives immensely but our customer demographic is changing," he said. "The new generation is not interested in this kind of historical experience."
The property, which is comprised of the 5,600-square-foot main house and a 2,300-square-foot carriage house where Mr. Peiker had lived, was first listed in November as a commercial property. But now, listing broker Win King from King Commercial Real Estate sees potential for the historical mansion in the residential market.
Mr. King said whether the home is purchased for residential or commercial use, it will require some renovations.
Being a bed-and-breakfast, Mr. King said the kitchen is more commercial and would require updates. He said some of the bedrooms could be combined to create a master suite, and the carriage house, which currently houses two bedrooms and a loft, could even be turned into two separate units.
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Mr. Peiker said when his family purchased the home, the interior was a mess and had been vandalized, requiring a complete renovation. The original wood floors, crown molding and one-of-a-kind stained glass window have been preserved and all but a couple of original doors had been kept.
The Peikers "restored it to its original grandeur," Mr. King said. "They went to extra lengths to match all the architectural features of the day."
Mr. King said he believes the Peikers hope to find a buyer that will respect the history of the property, and Mr. Peiker added that he’d like to see it return to its original purpose.
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"If a family would buy it and live in it, which was its original purpose, I think that would be the nicest use," he said.
BusinessDen first reported the residential listing.