That dream you’ve had of owning a piece of heaven can finally come true, if you’ve got $5.49 million to spend.
That’s the asking price of a century-old stone castle-like mansion once owned by Father Divine, founder of the International Peace Mission movement, who referred to the Tarrytown estate as “heaven.”
The manor perched atop a hill on Carriage Trail in the exclusive gated community of Greystone on Hudson is listed by the HCH Team at Julia B. Fee Sotheby’s International Realty.
The three-story mansion was built in 1926 by real estate mogul Alexander Maximilian Bing, but its claim to fame began in 1940, when Father Divine purchased the then-70-acre estate for $36,000 in cash.
The estate was described as “situated … atop the highest hill in Tarrytown and commanding a panoramic view of the Hudson River and parts of four States” by The New York Times.
The leader of the predominantly Black congregation and his staff relocated to the turreted manor, much to the chagrin of the Duchess de Talleyrand (daughter of railroad magnate Jay Gould), who lived across South Broadway, The Times reported.
According to Mark Donovan’s blog on Gilded Age Hudson Valley estates, the International Peace Mission owned the estate until 1986.
The original 70 acres has since been subdivided, with the mansion now sitting on 5.56 acres. The current owner is Shane Coppola, CEO of American Sports Entertainment Company, which owns and operates ice rinks nationwide.
The 15,456-square-foot, 16-room main house has six bedrooms, seven full and two partial bathrooms, cathedral and vaulted ceilings, a breakfast bar, in-ground pool, billiards room, four-plus fireplaces, sunken living room with fireplace and chandelier, catering kitchen and in-law suite.
Even in a neighborhood of multimillion-dollar mansions, the property stands out.
“Their home is the only home in the development that has its own carriage house,” said Beth Hargraves of the HCH Team, “a three-bedroom, two- bath carriage house with a five-bay garage.” It’s also the only property with its own gated entrance besides Greystone on Hudson’s front entryway.
“It was built on the highest point of the development and is the only home there with unobstructed views of the Hudson River from the Tappan Zee Bridge to the New York City skyline,” Hargraves added.
Recent owners have added a family room off the kitchen and enclosed an open porch near the poolside to create a family room with a full bath, pool table and full bar.
There is no homeowners fee because the mansion was on the property when the Greystone community sprung up around it.
Any changes to the exterior have been matched with the original stone, said Bernadette Haley of the HCH Team, which also includes Maria Carlino. The home has updated sewer and water lines, electrical, heating and windows.
“The uniqueness of its location within this gated community is unparalleled to anything else,” Haley said. “It’s also so convenient to everything. It’s in the area where at one time all the robber barons had all their properties, so it’s an amazing location. The current owners added this beautiful fire pit — you feel like you’re looking at the world. They have a new pickleball court as well. You can go home and you’re living a vacation.”
Added Hargraves: “For such a large home, when you’re inside, it’s very cozy. And every room has a view of the Hudson.”
The property is suitable for use as a retreat or as a single-family or extended-family home, she said
The price was reduced to $5.49 million from $6.99 million last year. Property taxes on the estate, which is in the Irvington school district, are $172,380 annually.
