Missouri mansion with a Ferris wheel, bowling alley, and lazy river goes on sale for $20 million

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A home dubbed the ‘most entertaining’ property in the US thanks to its incredible array of wacky amenities has hit the market for a staggering $20 million. 

The sprawling home, which is located in Wentzville, just outside St. Louis, Missouri, features a host of quirky features that are sure to entertain even the most hard-to-please residents, from a mini Ferris wheel to an indoor basketball court, and even a two-story library.  

Sitting on 20 acres of land, the 15,638 sq ft home is billed by real estate agents as having an ‘English County Estate’ feel, with an online listing describing the property as being perfect for large, multigenerational families thanks to its large size and multi-bedroom set-up.  

Inside, the house boasts seven bedrooms, 13 bathrooms, a conference room, a games room, and even a two-lane bowling alley – but it is the backyard where the property really makes its mark. 

The outdoor resort-style pool is large enough for multiple people to swim around in, and it also comes complete with a lazy river, a swim-up bar, two water slides, a grotto, and a waterfall. 

And if the pool proves too cool, the large hot tub should suffice to keep any future residents content. 

For anyone who wants to remain out of the water, the two-story pagoda that overlooks the water serves as the perfect people-watching spot. 

Elsewhere in the mansion’s grounds, there are large stables that can house several horses – and equestrian enthusiasts will also get the run of a riding ring and paddocks where the animals can be ridden and trained.  

According to Fox 2 Now, the stables were ‘fashioned after The Clydesdale Facility at Busch Gardens’ – helping to add to the property’s theme park-esque feel.   

Should all the dedicated riding facilities prove to be too limited a space however, there is an option to increase the property’s 20-acre estate to 130 acres with the additional purchase of extra land that sits alongside the sprawling mansion, according to the real estate brokers. 

Any younger residents or guests at the property will no doubt be drawn to the mansion’s playground, which boasts several unique elements that elevate it beyond a traditional residential play area, including a mini Ferris wheel and a roundabout, as well as a large jungle gym and a swing set. 

Then there are the indoor play areas, which include a full-size basketball court, a two-lane bowling alley, and a games room that comes fully stocked with several arcade games and machines.  

Residents who are of legal drinking age can take full advantage of the indoor bar, which is accompanied by a theatre and dance floor for endless entertainment opportunities. 

The home also offers several areas for those looking to partake in any professional opportunities from the comfort of their mansion, including a two-story library and study, and an in-house conference room.  

Two separate gyms – one of which is house above the stables, while the other is located on a lower level of the main house – provide ample opportunities for at-home workouts, and an in-house elevator means that navigating the property’s multiple levels is as easy as can be.

There is even a chapel with stained glass windows that overlook the home’s large driveway and four-car garages. 

‘This one of a kind English County Estate feels worlds away but is in easy proximity to St. Louis Lambert International Airport and Spirit of St. Louis Business Aviation Center,’ real estate agency Coldwell Banker says of the property. 

‘Embrace over 20,000 sq. ft. of “Luxury Meant to be Lived In” built to suit multigenerational families with room for all.  

‘The 20+ acres include stables, sports field, playground, Ferris wheel, event/sports venue, raised bed gardens, and a resort worthy pool with racing slides, swim up bar, lazy river, waterfall covered grotto, dive board, and zero edge entry.  

‘The warm interior boast radius moldings, eight masonry fireplaces, private chapel, two primary suites, two-story study/library, and the exterior is full masonry. 

‘The lower level is unbelievable with bowling lanes, expansive bar, theatre, dance floor, conference room, dual changing rooms/showers for pool, and unending fun! Finally, you can have safety, security, family space and entertainment that will span decades.’  

According to the team of real estate agents looking after the property, if it is purchased for the list price of $20 million, the sale could potentially go down in history as the most expensive ever in the St. Louis area. 

‘It’s different than everything in the area,’ Coldwell Banker broker Saundra Pogrelis told the Wall Street Journal, which reports that the median asking price in Wentzville is $339,900. 

Pogrelis added that the property has become all the more desirable in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has enabled more families and corporate employees to seek out homes in more remote areas – like the small town that this mansion is located in. 

Meanwhile, the home’s many entertaining amenities make it ideal for anyone looking to hide away in their home amid the ongoing public health and safety concerns. 

‘Location isn’t as critical [anymore],’ she said. ‘It’s more about the amenities, the safety.’

Although the home was originally built in 2001, its current owner Matthew Bross – a partner at venture capitalist firm CloudScale Capital Partners – actually purchased his first three acres of the land that it now sits on decades ago when he was just a teenager. 

Back then, the three-acre plot was priced at around $3,500, the WSJ reports, however he soon began expanding the lot to add more than 140 more acres to the estate – 20 of which are included in the asking price, although Bross and his wife are happy to part with more land if the price is right. 

The property, which Bross estimates cost around $13.5 million to build, brings to life its owner’s ‘big kid’ nature, although he notes that after his five children moved out of the home, it became a little too much for the couple to handle by themselves.