At Crazy Bored, we’ve always been captivated by abandoned homes, and we may have just found the grandest one yet: a magnificent mansion in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania. This opulent estate, known as Lynnewood Hall, is estimated to be worth a staggering $256 million and has a fascinating connection to the Titanic.
Leland Kent, a passionate explorer of forgotten and unique places in the Southeastern United States, runs a blog and Instagram account called Abandoned Southeast. He’s particularly obsessed with old buildings and historic houses, and Lynnewood Hall has long been on his radar and bucket list.
Earlier this year, Kent embarked on a journey to Philadelphia to see Lynnewood Hall for himself. He spent two full days exploring the entire estate and, upon returning home, delved into weeks of research to uncover the extraordinary past of the property. He found the history of the Widener family, the original owners of the home, both intriguing and poignant.
Kent shares the tragic tale of George and Harry Widener, the son and grandson of Peter Widener, who perished on the Titanic while returning from France to Lynnewood Hall. The Widener family invested approximately $8 million in constructing this mansion, which was built between 1898 and 1900.
According to Kent, a Korean church has owned Lynnewood Hall since 1996, with the church itself located within the building. However, due to financial constraints, the church was unable to maintain the property and quietly vacated it several years ago. Dr. Richard Yoon, the church leader, even fought against the local municipality over the property’s tax-exempt status, as the property taxes alone amounted to over $100,000 per year.
Considering the enormous expense required to restore this magnificent estate to its former glory, the church eventually decided to put Lynnewood Hall up for sale. Surprisingly, they rejected several offers that exceeded their asking price. Currently, the mansion remains privately owned and unoccupied, with uncertain prospects for its future.
Despite the unknown fate of Lynnewood Hall, we can only hope that one day it will be restored to its former splendor, recapturing the grandeur it once possessed.
