Mansions Modeled After Malls

Rich people are different than us. When they want to shop, they build a home equipped with every amenity, just like a mall.

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Publish date:: Aug 29, 2010 7:00 AM EDT

Rich people are different than us. When they want to shop, they build a home equipped with every amenity, just like a mall.

Rich people are different than us. They just are. They fly private, they buy BMWs for their teenagers, and they have the financial wherewithal to indulge their residential whims and architectural flights of fancy with lavish and sprawling mansions appointed with private entertainment and sports complexes include massage rooms, bowling alleys and state-of-the-art movie theaters. Photo Credit: dysturb

In 1996 software company founder Frank Pritt shelled out $13 million for three oceanfront lots on the rugged bluffs of Corona del Mar, a casual but expensive enclave in southern California’s Orange County. Pritt spent the next six years building Portobello, a sprawling 22,0000-square-foot contemporary mansion with an organically undulating roofline and a private mall. That’s right, a private mall. Photo Credit: The McMonigle Group, John McMonigle / Coldwell Banker Previews International

In addition to two waterpark-worthy saltwater swimming pools connected by a 200-foot spiral tunnel slide and an underground 15-car garage/car museum with hydraulic lift, the über custom mansion includes a kitchy subterranean mall-like entertainment complex modeled after the owner’s hometown of Charleston, W. Va. Photo Credit: The McMonigle Group, John McMonigle / Coldwell Banker Previews International

A full-size, two-lane bowling alley has automatic ball return and pin setting, electronic scoreboard, bowling shoes of every size and balls of every weight and color. A mirrored wall reflects a curving wall of floor to ceiling glass that opens out into the lower level of the inner courtyard where the swimming pools are located. Photo Credit: The McMonigle Group, John McMonigle / Coldwell Banker Previews International

Neon lights, movie posters and a marquee that reads ‘RIALTO’ signifies the entrance to the glammy, Old Hollywood-style movie theater with stadium style seating for 12 and a blue velvet tasseled curtain. In addition to DVDs, the cinema is equipped with satellite television. Photo Credit: The McMonigle Group, John McMonigle / Coldwell Banker Previews International

Milkshakes and other 50s fare can be whipped up at the diner, named the Blossom Dairy Café. Pritt had the walls covered with murals that depict his scenes from his hometown including the house in which he grew up and the college he attended. Photo Credit: The McMonigle Group, John McMonigle / Coldwell Banker Previews International

Beads and baubles can be displayed in the mock jewelry store with glass windows and display cases. Presumably it has been emptied out now that the property is on the open market, but the storefront leads to a large, super-secure vault for stashing and hiding valuables. After failing to sell in 2006 when it was listed with a hefty asking price of $75 million, the eight-bedroom and 10-bathroom property was recently re-listed with a much lower but still blistering price tag of $49.6 million. Photo Credit: The McMonigle Group, John McMonigle / Coldwell Banker Previews International

During the past 10 or 15 years, newly constructed, unimaginably huge and amenity-laden mansions have popped up all over the Hamptons, the hoity toity summertime playground of the rich and famous. One property fitted and kitted with a wide plethora of entertainment and sports options is Sandcastle, a 11.5-acre estate in Bridgehampton with a 26,500-square-foot house currently listed at a knee-bucking price of $49.5 million. Photo Credit: Chris Burnside, Brown Harris Stevens

At first glance the 12-bedroom and 12-bathroom house looks like any of the many other massive mansions in the Hamptons, right down to the state-of-the-art 10-seat movie theater with interactive leather seating and the 60-foot swimming pool equipped with an underwater stereo system. But descend by stair or elevator to the lower level where there is a full-size two-lane bowling alley that’s a only the tip of the home’s sports and entertainment options iceberg. Photo Credit: Chris Burnside, Brown Harris Stevens

In addition to the home gym and indoor squash/racquetball court, the lower level includes a lounge area with not just one but five wall-mounted plasma televisions, a full bar and disco, rock-climbing wall, and virtual golf room. There’s even an indoor half-pipe for daredevil skate boarders and in-line skaters. Photo Credit: Chris Burnside, Brown Harris Stevens

$When the homeowner and guests tire of all the entertainment and exercise options available at Sandcastle, they can head to the complete spa facility that includes a relaxing massage area with fireplace, Jacuzzi and steam and sauna rooms. Sandcastle, offered as a super posh short-term rental this summer, was leased for five weeks to a Tampa, Fla.-based millionairess at a reported rate of $250,000 per week. That’s a lot of money even by billionaire standards, but it’s still just a fraction of the purchase and maintenance costs of the fantasy estate. Photo Credit: Chris Burnside, Brown Harris Stevens$

Although once priced at $45 million, the lavish and amenity rich La Reve estate outside of Atlanta fell into foreclosure and is now listed for sale fully furnished with a much lower asking price of $21 million. The roughly 70-acre estate has a 47,000-square-foot main house that spreads out over four floors and includes 82 rooms, 62 televisions, seven bedrooms, nine full and eleven half bathrooms, 10 fireplaces and a 12-car heated and cooled garage. Photo Credit: Troy Stowe, Beacham & Company

The palatial pile, completed in 2007, was built by former train conductor turned mortgage mogul Hubert Humphry who not surprisingly installed an elaborate model train room. There is also a billiard room, arcade, massage room, and a pink and paneled movie theater that seats 27 people. Photo Credit: Troy Stowe, Beacham & Company

A popular feature of mansions with private sports and entertainment complexes are retro style diners. La Reve’s in-house eatery includes classic 1950s diner elements such as neon signage, black and white checkerboard floors and a soda fountain as well as more modern amenities such as a couple of flat-screen televisions. Photo Credit: Troy Stowe, Beacham & Company

Fitness and exercise facilities include a massive gym with checkerboard floor and a massage room. The extensive grounds include a 4.5-acre private lake, swimming pool and pool house, spa, stables and horse riding trails, children’s playground, amphitheatre, grass tennis court and a nine-hole golf course that can be played two ways. If the weather’s not cooperating there’s a two-lane bowling alley and a golf simulator inside the house that enables virtual play on world class golf courses around the world. Photo Credit: Troy Stowe, Beacham & Company

Out behind a large and well appointed seven-bedroom and six full- and two half-bathroom mansion in New Canaan, Conn., listed at $12.5 million stands a massive three-story sports and entertainment pavilion with 10,600 square feet of interior space. All three levels of the Sports Barn can be accessed by elevator or by the circular log staircase that was handcrafted in Colorado and assembled on site. Photo Credit: Barbara Cleary’s Realty Guild

The main floor includes a full French country style kitchen and 30-seat dining area that over looks a basketball court and stage perfect private performances and children’s recitals. The basketball court is regulation sized half-court and the stage has velvet curtain and Broadway quality lighting and sound systems. The Sports Barn is also equipped with a state of the art golf simulator room, movie theater with leather seating for 25, and a single lane bowling alley. Photo Credit: Barbara Cleary’s Realty Guild

There are TV lounges on all three floors as well as a paneled game room with pool table, pinball machine and milkshake bar. Top floor guest quarters offer three bedrooms and three bathrooms. The sports and entertainment options are not limited to indoor activities. In addition to the Sports Barn, the 6.4-acre estate includes a swimming pool, spa, cabana with full kitchen and barbecue facilities and a stocked trout pond with waterfall. Photo Credit: Barbara Cleary’s Realty Guild

A waterfront mansion in the super swish enclave of Sands Point on the nabobish North Shore of Long Island, currently offered fully furnished at $17.5 million, has six bedrooms, six full and five half bathrooms, a living room large enough to do double duty as a ball room, banquet hall sized dining room, distant views of New York City and 3.9 acres of rolling lawns that tumble down to the Long Island Sound. Photo Credit: Harding Real Estate

The Mediterranean mansion has an opulent opera house style movie theater with double height lobby area, authentic box office, his and her bathrooms, popcorn machine and a viewing room that soars two stories with additional seating in two balconies. Photo Credit: Harding Real Estate

Additional luxuries include a billiard room with electronic poker and gambling machines, a European style spa with indoor pool, hot tub, wet bar and lounge aream and a full arcade set up with everything from pin ball to Pac Man machines. Photo Credit: Harding Real Estate

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Home Is Where the Mall Is

Rich people are different than us. They just are. They fly private, they buy BMWs for their teenagers, and they have the financial wherewithal to indulge their residential whims and architectural flights of fancy with lavish and sprawling mansions appointed with private entertainment and sports complexes include massage rooms, bowling alleys and state-of-the-art movie theaters. Photo Credit: dysturb