At The Abandoned World, we’ve always been captivated by abandoned homes, and we’ve recently come across an incredibly luxurious one: a mansion in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania. This opulent mansion, known as Lynnewood Hall, is estimated to be worth a staggering $256 million and has connections to the famous Titanic.
When it comes to exploring forgotten, historic, and off-the-beaten-path places in the Southeast of the United States, Leland Kent is a true enthusiast. He runs a blog and an Instagram account called Abandoned Southeast, where he shares his passion for old buildings and historic houses. Lynnewood Hall has been on his radar and bucket list for quite some time.
Earlier this year, Kent embarked on a journey to Philadelphia to see Lynnewood Hall for himself. He spent not just one, but two days exploring the entire estate. After returning home, Kent dedicated several weeks to uncovering the extraordinary past of the property. The author finds the history of the Widener family, the original owners of the mansion, both intriguing and sad. George and Harry Widener, son and grandson of Peter Widener, the owner of Lynnewood Hall, tragically lost their lives aboard the ill-fated Titanic while returning home from France. The mansion itself was built between 1898 and 1900, with an estimated cost of $8 million.
According to Kent, since 1996, a Korean church has been in possession of this magnificent estate from the Gilded Period. The church is currently located within the building. Unfortunately, they couldn’t afford the upkeep of the property and quietly left Lynnewood Hall several years ago. Dr. Richard Yoon, the leader of the Korean church, even fought against the local municipality regarding the property’s tax-exempt status. The property taxes alone amount to over $100,000 each year.
Realizing the substantial amount of money required to restore the mansion to its former glory, the church made the decision to put Lynnewood Hall up for sale. Interestingly, they rejected all proposals, even though they exceeded the asking price for the land. As of now, Lynnewood Hall remains privately owned and unoccupied, with no clear future plans.
While we don’t know what lies ahead for Lynnewood Hall, we sincerely hope that one day it will be restored to its magnificent splendor.
