Landmarked ‘castle’ in NJ relists for $39M

An English-style castle in New Jersey has returned to the market, offering potential buyers the chance to feel like royalty near the Ramapo Mountains. Asking $39 million, the three-story Darlington Mansion sits on over 12 acres in Mahwah and contains 58 rooms. Constructed in 1907 by George Crocker, the son of railroad baron Charles Crocker, the estate has been modernly restored over the last decade, all while retaining original materials and architectural elements. The mansion, also known as the Crocker Mansion, last listed in 2017 for $48 million.

Designed by architect James Brite, who also created the original Madison Square Garden and D.C.’s Lincoln Memorial, the mansion was modeled after the Bramshill House in Hampshire, England.

The 50,000-square-foot home boasts ornate hand-carved woodwork, 30-foot-high ceilings, and a great hall organ from 1906. Darlington has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1997.

“The right buyer for Darlington will appreciate the property’s rich history and unique craftsmanship, exceptional modern amenities, privacy, bucolic setting, and the New York Metro area location being just 25 miles from Manhattan,” Sonja Cullaro, an agent with Christie’s International Real Estate, the firm handling the sale, said. “Darlington is truly one of a kind and an architectural masterpiece.”

The estate’s owner Ilija Pavlovic bought the site for $8.8 million in 2008, as the Wall Street Journal reported in 2017. Pavlovic, who renovated the home with new mechanical systems, 476 new windows, and 12,000 square feet of new living area, told the WSJ he liked the “challenge” of both preserving the historic home while also meetings 21st-century standards. To stay consistent with original design work, Pavlovic employed Italian woodcarvers, whose resume included work at the Ritz-Carlton and Waldorf-Astoria.

The massive home includes a restaurant-style kitchen, wine cellar, cigar room, beauty salon, a theater, billiard room with a bar, a spa with a lap pool and sauna, and an exercise room.

Outside, find a tennis court with cabana, two fountains, two pergolas, and an outdoor pool with a cabana. Plus, there’s an eight-car garage and staff quarters with five suites.

According to the listing, the property’s zoning allows for the home to be used as a corporate retreat.

[Darlington Mansion by Sonja Cullaro and Kathleen Coumou for Christie’s International Real Estate]

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All photos courtesy of Christie’s International Real Estate