Sad news in America
Celebrity real estate news typically involves Paris Hilton or someone famous for being famous that real estate insiders could care less about, but this news stood out as relevant from a historical perspective. The mansion that inspired F. Scott Fitzgerald’s great American novel, The Great Gatsby has been purchased, allegedly too expensive to maintain and has now been condemned and demolished.
The house at Sands Point will now have five separate homes built in its place for roughly $10 million each.
The site inspired one of the most famous tales in our history and parties that took place on site hosted historical figures like Winston Churchill and captured the imagination of the world with tales of luxury and love.
Why are people so upset? Because they read the story in middle school, high school and college, each time picking up new pieces of the story and connected with it deeply. It’s a historical monument of sorts.
But why get so upset? Many people didn’t even know it was based on a real place and those that did had no idea what the state of disrepair was. It’s a sad note to American history, but when a structure is dilapidated and can no longer see the glory of its former days, any owner is entitled to do as they wish. Nonetheless, we say goodbye to the house that inspired Fitzgerald and captured America’s imaginations.
Lani is the COO and News Director at The American Genius, has co-authored a book, co-founded BASHH, Austin Digital Jobs, Remote Digital Jobs, and is a seasoned business writer and editorialist with a penchant for the irreverent.
