The abandoned glass mansion in Leesburg, Virginia is an enthralling tale of real estate and land development, laced with a touch of international intrigue. This architectural marvel, constructed in the 1980s, boasts a breathtaking design of wood and glass across three stories, offering splendid views of the former vast estate.
Originally intended as a grand showcase for lavish entertaining, the mansion fell into abandonment over time. Its opulence includes a six-car garage with a modern “living roof” now adorned with overgrowth, blending harmoniously with the surrounding landscape. Within its walls, you’ll find luxury amenities like a full bar and an indoor shooting range doubling as a panic room.
The story of this forsaken glass mansion begins in 1979 when Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz al Saud acquired the 2,000- acre farm, previously owned by radio personality Arthur Godfrey, for $6 million. The prince constructed the beautiful mansion, maintaining the vast acreage as a private retreat. However, in 1996, he sold the mansion separately to an undisclosed buyer.
Speculations and rumors have swirled around the identity of the 1996 buyer and the current owner of the mansion. Theories range from a tech entrepreneur whose ventures took a downturn to a drug lord who abandoned the mansion following a bust. Yet, since 2003, the mansion has stood empty, shrouded in mystery.
The estate surrounding the abandoned mansion holds a complex history, as various international stakeholders and developers have considered transforming the land into a golf course or resort. Despite the passing of almost five decades since its sale as farmland, the estate remains mostly undeveloped.
Following the 1996 sale, the Beacon Hill golf course, designed by PGA champion Johnny Miller, emerged on the estate. The mansion was intended to serve as the opulent clubhouse, but the venture faced failure, leading to a change of ownership in the early 2000s.
The Beacon Hill golf course encountered further turmoil in 2007 when Brett Amendola of Ashburn allegedly orchestrated a $5 million Ponzi scheme involving fraudulent golf membership sales on the estate. After being tried and sentenced to jail in 2013, Amendola’s actions resulted in the course being acquired once again in 2014 for a nominal sum along with back taxes owed.
Presently owned by the Beacon Hill Community Association, the golf course is rekindling hopes of a golf community to revitalize the old estate and its abandoned mansion. New investors, as well as neighboring residents, are supportive of transforming the area into a world-class golf community in Leesburg, with plans to reopen the course as early as 2024. Nevertheless, the abandoned mansion continues to gaze over the picturesque Loudoun County, awaiting new owners to restore its former grandeur.
