FAYETTEVILLE, Arkansas — The Dromborg, a stunning castle nestled in the Ozark mountains, is officially off the market— so house hunters will have to find something else to do with their $4.8 million.
According to the property's website, the 12,000-square-foot main residence is surrounded by 40 acres of nature and is "within minutes of [The University of Arkansas], a regional airport, and three Fortune 500 companies."
Listed perks of the Dromborg:
- Library with 12 columns with a stone fireplace (in case you don't like the book you're reading)
- Chapel with "secret bookcase door"
- Elevator
- Map room
- Observation deck
- Pond with lights and a fountain
- On-site golfing green
Ben and Tim Salmonsen are some of the realtors representing sellers Bruce and Joan Johnson, and Ben said, "Any Castle is always going to have its unique characteristics: They're certainly never going to be the same as there was at the Dromborg."
Ben explained the property's four stories were built with a panoramic view of Fayetteville on top. The home uses 4,000 tons of rocks stacked on top of each other to build its exterior. The executive broker explained that the Johnsons' work through White River Hardwoods showed in the home.
"I mean, you could sit in that library and just stare at the ceiling for an hour. There's so many details in the woodworking that go all around the trim, the center, and the shelves in that Corinthian library," Ben said.
Bruce and Joan said they built the home after being inspired by their European travels, bringing the old, worn, and ageless look to south Fayetteville.
They spent four years building the home and then proceeded to live there for 15 years. They worked with Fayetteville architect Robert Sharp and New York designer David Pearson. Their estate's name "Dromborg" means Dream Big— fitting for the Ozark marvel.
"We've lived a wonderful life in one of the most beautiful homes that I've ever seen in the modern world, with modern amenities ...The house is filled with joy, it's permeated with really good vibes, and it just made so many people happy," Joan Johnson tells 5NEWS.
"I almost struggle to call it a home because it's so much more than that. It's a piece of artwork to be admired," Ben explained.
The Johnsons say they were happy to share their home with the community. They've hosted weddings, all sorts of photo shoots, and concerts, and even served as inspiration for Paul Haas, music director of the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas. Joan said it kept busy up until the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I love that house, always love the house and we took really good care of it. We were good stewards of the house. That will be here way after we're gone," Joan Johnson said.
The Dromborg in Fayetteville sold for almost $5 million
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