A storied estate overlooking the Severn River in Maryland has hit the market for $25 million.
David DeSantis and Brad Kappel of TTR Sotheby's International Realty represent the listing.
Source: Sotheby's International Realty
Known as the Friary on the Severn, the home is situated on 23 wooded acres about 10 minutes from downtown Annapolis and less than hour from Washington, DC.
Source: Sotheby's International Realty
Built in 1922 by bootlegger E. Bartlett Hayward, the home later housed Capuchin friars and a Japanese boarding school before falling into disrepair.
Source: Sotheby's International Realty, Trulia, Bloomberg
When current owners Maxine and Steve Phillips purchased the home in 2002, it had been abandoned for over a decade and raccoons lived in it, they told Bloomberg in a recent interview about the estate.
Source: Sotheby's International Realty, Bloomberg
Phillips, the millionaire CEO of Maryland-based Phillips Seafood, purchased the estate for $2.5 million in 2002 with the intent of turning it into a dream home and embarked on a multi-year renovation.
Source: Sotheby's International Realty, Bloomberg
The end result is a far departure from a raccoon-filled decaying estate.
Source: Sotheby's International Realty
In place of the friars' dormitory, the Phillipses built a 60-foot-long infinity pool ...
Source: Sotheby's International Realty, Bloomberg
... surrounded by modern outdoor lounges.
Source: Sotheby's International Realty
The former friary is now a spacious ballroom ...
Source: Sotheby's International Realty, Bloomberg
... and in place of a dated bowling alley is a sleek indoor resistance pool.
Source: Sotheby's International Realty, Bloomberg
Some rooms, like this wood-paneled den, feel of another era ...
Source: Sotheby's International Realty
... while others, like this windowed sitting area, are bright and contemporary.
Source: Sotheby's International Realty
The home is built for entertaining. Between the main residence and guest quarters, there are 11 fireplaces ...
Source: Sotheby's International Realty
... 7 bedrooms, and 11 bathrooms.
Source: Sotheby's International Realty
One of the more lavish features is the estate's nine-car garage.
Source: Sotheby's International Realty
After dinner, residents and guests could head to the wine cellar for a nightcap ...
Source: Sotheby's International Realty
... or to the game room for a round of billiards.
Source: Sotheby's International Realty
A covered pavilion offers a peaceful respite in nature ...
Source: Sotheby's International Realty
... and walkways wind along the water's edge from the six-slip private dock with a boat lift.
Source: Sotheby's International Realty
To get to the dock from the house, residents have their choice of options: They can take a small funicular, or walk through a secret tunnel built during the days when the house served as a base for smuggling booze and guns. The tunnel is hidden behind a vault in the billiards room, listing agent David DeSantis told Trulia.
Source: Sotheby's International Realty, Bloomberg, Trulia