This location was shared with me by a member of my website named Outlawkid. I didn’t find it on my own 🙂 We drove up to the Midland area to explore it. The front of the property showed clear damage. The front walls of the upper floors had been torn away possibly by the bulldozer in the back yard.

We made our way around to the back of the mansion in thick snow. The indoor pool doors were open. The pool had water in it which was now frozen. I observed a mouse frozen under the water. The pool area is perhaps the highlight of the house.

 

Next we moved onto the living room area. The ceiling was very high compared to the houses I’m used to. The walls were adorned with art paintings. A wall unit was filled with books. Whomever lived here appreciated the arts.

 

This house was listed for sale in 2015 for 1.6 million, 100 acres, 10 bedrooms, 5 baths, fresh spring water ponds and 2 quest houses. Unfortunately due to the damage caused by the fire we weren’t about to see what the upper floors looked like.

Also on the property was a guest house.

The mansion has since been repaired and is active property again. Please don’t go looking for it. 🙂

I was driving around the GTA area when we passed this gorgeous abandoned mansion. At the time there were workers on the property and they’d just started demolition. We waited a short while until 5 pm when the workers left for the day.

The baseboard and door trim has been removed which I think was because the demolition company planned to save it. This house had ceiling medallions, recessed wall shelves, two staircases, a stone fireplace and a basement bar. 

We returned shortly after the workers left for the day and found entry to be quite easy.

I’m sure this beautiful home will be replaced with some ugly housing.

The Randwood Estate is a 3-plus acre historical estate in Niagara-on-the-Lake. It features a home originally built in 1825. The land was part of a 160-acre tract granted to Peter Russell in 1796. Russell was receiver general and a member of the executive council of Upper Canada. 

In 2016, developer Benny Marotta purchased the property along with the one next door for $8 million. Marotta wanted to build a six-storey hotel and convention centre, with two levels of underground parking. At a community meeting held in 2018, residents were fiercely opposed to the destruction of the heritage property. In late 2020, unable to come to any form of agreement with the community, the property was put back onto the market at $19 million.

Commentary

There’s a lot of acreage and this would be an ideal place for a wedding ceremony. The kitchen is as large as an average apartment. You could just imagine some of the social gatherings that must have taken place here over the years. Some of the prior owners have included Peter Russell, a member of the executive council of Upper Canada; American Civil War general Henry Lansing; Capt. Robert Melville of the Niagara Harbour and Dock Company; the Rand family; and artist Trisha Romance.

 The property looks like it may have operated as a commercial business given the “Exit” signs and lack of bedrooms.

 November 2018

June 2019

 

 

 

Grow Op Mansion

The Abandoned Grow Op Mansion in King City, Ontario was posted to Ontario Abandoned Places in September of 2015 by a member of Ontario Abandoned Places named Drifting Pablo.  A fire had taken place earlier in the year at the house.

The whereabouts of the King City Grow Op Mansion were kept a closely guarded secret until it was mentioned on social media that the property had been used as a marijuana grow operation. This was enough information to allow other people to Google the address. The mansion was located at 14740 Keele Street in King City, Ontario.  From there it was all downhill. Of course it’s difficult to keep properties secret because someone, somewhere will recognize one.

The $1,700,000 mansion was situated on five acres of land with an outdoor pool, patio and tennis court. Inside the house was a designer kitchen, six bathrooms, large recreation room, sauna, spiral staircase, water fall rock wall and skylights. 

An SUV was parked on the property which looked to be in working condition. I could find no visible issue with it. It would later be vandalized by people in the future.

The way inside the mansion was from an unlocked door in the garage. Unlike homes stripped of copper and vandalized, this one retained all of it’s elegance.

 

 Evidence of Marijuana Growing

While I was exploring the abandoned mansion, it was obvious that the home had been used as a marijuana growing operation. The upstairs tub had been fitted with a plastic liner and filled in with potting soil. Hoses were connected to the bathroom sink. In the dusty hallway upstairs I could make out where rows of flower pots had been placed on the floor.

Two packages of unopened electrical fuses were left upstairs. Some doors were sealed, windows boarded and draft areas covered with insulating tape.

Children’s toy cars were left behind in the living room. They stood out in contrast to the purpose of the house. The washer, dryer, stove and fridge appeared to be brand new. 

 

Drug Dealers

When word of the mansion inevitably spread on social media, people’s imaginations ran wild. Lazy people not wanting to research the house, claimed this was an “illegal grow op house” while others claimed that it was owned by “drug dealers”.

Some people claimed that it had been owned by a lady suffering cancer who grew her own medicinal marijuana. Despite the catchy stories attached to the house – the reality is somewhat less dramatic. 

 

The grow op mansion was originally owned by the Fejer family. It was built in 1995 for businessman George Fejer. Fejer founded “Canadian All-Terrain Vehicle Manufacturing” which sold parts for kit cars. George’s son Robert was also part operator of the business. The business closed in 2004.

In 2008 the home was purchased by the Green family. Research indicates that Jeff Green lived in the home with his four children who ranged from 8 to 17 years of age (three sons and a daughter). The family resided here for approximately four years. The home was then listed for sale with Martin Sheikhan Realty.

 

 

The tiled wall you see above had a water falls at each end where water was circulated down the tiles. 

 

The well known clam shell bath – you either loved it or hated it.

The above photos came from a real estate advertisement for the house, taken during a time when it was occupied. The photos below were taken after the house became vacant.

Jeff and Cherri Green had a Florida based moving company named America’s Big Little Moving Company registered to the address in 2012. Whether the home was sold again is not known.

Speculation is that the home was purchased by two real estate investors who in turn began using the property as a grow operation. This information may not be entirely accurate, possibly confused with this story. What is known is that a grow operation began operating in the home, which was reported to be legitimate in origin. 

 

 

Children’s toys in the living room contrast with the drug paraphernalia found upstairs.

Unused kitchen appliances left behind. That’s my reflection in the centre. The kitchen has remained untouched by vandals or thieves.

 

 

Note the fire damage at the bottom of the stairs as the result of an arson.

 

A package of planting soil in the bedroom next to the clam shell tub

Bathtub lined with plastic and filled with planting soil. 

Before: 

After photo of bedroom: 

The house had been adapted to become a grow operation. Windows were boarded, doors sealed shut and insulation tape placed over areas in which the smell might escape. 

 

Fuses, as modification to the hydro would have been necessary 

 

Entrance to the master bedroom. Note the soil on the floor and soot from the fire on the doors.

 

The grow operation was met with concern by surrounding neighbours concerned about the risk of fire and the “undesirable” people that the property might attract.
A public township meeting was held on February 11, 2015 for residents to discuss their concerns.

The day following the meeting a fire was reported at the house which was deemed to be suspicious in nature. Police said that the house was not currently being used as a grow operation but that they’d removed grow op equipment from the property. The fire was started in the entrance to the home and did not appear to be as a result of “bypassing” the hydro. [Link to story]

After the fire the house was abandoned and used neither for residency or growing plants. The township of King City went out to secure the property but vandals kept creating new entrances.  

The basement: 

 

Toronto skyline as found behind the bar 

 

The bar area 

 

 

 

Vandalism or theft, you just know this television won’t remain here very long.

 

Swimming pool 

 

New washer and dryer (photo: LivingGhost) 

And so the vandalism begins…

 

The windows on the Yukon are now smashed – November 2016 (Photo: Timo Explorer) 

 

December 2016 – Couch tossed down the staircase, Trump graffiti (photo: Kat666G) 

 

Some no-talent garbage – December 2016

December 2016 (photo: Kat666G) 

 

 

The kitchen a year after my visit: 

 

 

 

And so the story of the marijuana grow-op house ends in an all too often way. 

The property was destroyed by vandals as is often the case with anything posted to social media.

I’m certain that the outcome would’ve been the same regardless of whether we ever posted it to social media. Social media may have expedited the process though 🙁 

The Grow Op Mansion was demolished in March 2017. Young adults will have to find a new place to trash. 

Photo Credits: OAP, Motleykiwi, Living Ghost, KatG666, Timo Explorer 

Log Mansion Brampton

This gorgeous Ontario log mansion is located in Brampton. It’s hidden away from the newer housing community just west of it and the entrance to the property is a long driveway tucked in a nestle of trees. The property is just feet away from a newer subdivision.

The history of the log house is that it was built in the 1980’s by Thomas Blake, a Quality Assurance Consultant.

There are three bedrooms on the main floor and two in the basement. There are two interior spiral staircases and one exterior one.

The main fireplace is set into a large stone wall that makes up the majority of the wall and forms an arched doorway. Just beyond the arched doorway is another room with a fireplace. Someone had lit a fire either in the fireplace or on the floor and burned a hole through the floor. 

The front doors look as if they belong on a business. Above the doors is a circular stained glass window. In another room is a stained glass window of a unicorn. 

This is a view taken from the top of the staircase on the main floor. There’s no railing here, I felt a sense of danger standing here. As of January 2020 the interior has seen even more vandalism beyond what’s shown in these photos.

The kitchen is modern with a fireplace of its own, the other side of the fireplace opens into the dining room. There’s a large exhaust fan set over the stove and a wall unit oven. The ceiling is made up of wooden beams laid out into rectangular shaped sections.

Vandals have torn the counter off and damaged most every pane of glass. 

A view of the front of the home as seen from the driveway (below). This photo was taken at 9 PM when it was almost dark.

And the inevitable…

 

This vacant mansion was located at 1343 Sunningdale Road East in London, Ontario. It was built in 1984 and sat on 1.88 acres of land. It was listed for sale at $1.5 million dollars. 

In the back of the property is an indoor pool room with 26 feet high wooden ceiling. There’s a strong cedar smell and chlorine aroma as you enter the pool room. Several double doors lead to the outdoor deck from the pool room. The stagnant water has turned a florescent green color that appears to glow in the light of the sun. There’s a small wading pool next to the larger pool. Each of the four walls in the pool area is made up of windows to allow light in, and the lack of neighbours in the back offers some degree of privacy. 

Electricity to the house is provided in part by a solar panel system located on the roof. The electricity was turned off when I visited the party mansion. I tried to turn the solar power on without success.

The house has seven bathrooms and five bedrooms in addition to oak wood floors and a double staircase. Thes front windows looked out to Sunningdale Road.

In the basement you’ll find a child’s play room. There’s a child-height sink and door, plastic slide and a small theatre (just to the right of the green wall). Children watch movies on a large television screen. The play area has windows that look out into the hallway. 

Downstairs was a laundry room, furnace room, apartment and a bar room.

The pool is located in the pointed roof structure. The far right basement was the kitchen/bar area and the kitchen mid-way center.

Video

Below is an advertisement for one of the parties held in the mansion:

The nightclub owner is said to have held events on weekends. An optional party bus would drive you to a night club afterward. Some of the event tickets were claimed to be over $1,000 and included open alcohol and drug bar as well as a seat on the bus. This seems to be somewhat exaggerated to me. 

What’s more believable is that student parties were hosted (as recently as 2016) with over 500 tickets sold on a good night. The prices ranged from $15 to $30. 

I can empathize with the neighbours who wanted a tranquil and quiet area to live. 

It’s believed that the last owner was an overseas investor who paid $1.5 million for the property. They were asking at least $2 million and developers were not willing to pay that amount. The property remained relatively untouched.

While exploring this location we observed a couple in the lot next door salvaging metal objects. On our next visit we observed the heaters in the pool room had been ripped out.

A water pipe in the basement has broken and water is slowly filling the basement. Black mold will soon follow, rendering the house unlivable.  

The house was demolished in late 2019.

I came across this lovely retro home while out for a day of exploring in the Toronto area. It wasn’t on my list of places to see but the overgrown driveway and For Sale sign caught my attention.  It’s not abandoned but it’s not lived in and well.. it just has a great retro appearance.

A realtor was just leaving when I pulled up so I returned a short time later and found my way inside. It isn’t technically abandoned but regular followers to my social media know that I use the term ‘abandoned’ in a vast scope of applications. The main floor is quite spacious. The walls have a distinct 1970’s appearance to them. In the far corner of the room is an old vinyl record player built into the wall unit. The couch is unusually large, able to fit at least six persons.

The highlight of the house is the children’s bedroom with the 60’s style wallpaper even on the ceiling. 

There’s an outdoor pool in the backyard, filled with murky water.  Someone has thrown the dolls into the pool.

I visited this location again three years later, that post can be found here.   

This mansion is located in the Greater Toronto Area. It was built around 1985. I named it the “Wasted Space Mansion” because I find that it has too much room and not enough character. You could fill it with furniture and still have too much empty space left over.

The mansion was purchased in 1985 for $835,000 by a wealthy developer. Today’s value is approximately $4.5 million dollars. 

Once you enter inside the main doors, you’re greeted by a security camera on the right wall. It does move, though it didn’t seem to be tracking anything. Just off to your left will be a glass tiled wall and water fountain. If you walk behind that fountain you’ll find a bathroom.

 

 

 

Further inside the house on the left is a large kitchen with patio doors leading to the outside yard and pool. Just off to the right is what would be the living room, with a fireplace. The lighting in this room is extensive, with spotlights and then trim lights that light up just the walls.

Moving down to the left of the main lobby you’ll come to a laundry room and the door to the garage.

 

Take a right from the main lobby and you’ll come to the bedrooms and walk in closet. There’s a metal gate here which purpose I’m not clear on, unless you want to keep your pets out or something.

Your first stop as you turn right should be the entertainment room. This room has a fabric (not wallpaper) flower pattern on the wall which matches the couch. The couch appears to be part of the wall. The switches to raise and lower the curtains and screen (or light blocking screen?) are just behind the couch. There’s a bar and a fridge in this room. Perfect for movie nights and sports playoffs. 

 

Around the corner is another bathroom with two stalls: one toilet and bidet, one toilet. I guess if you want to listen to one another take a crap this is for you. The bathroom is huge.

There’s a stairway leading to the basement where you’ll find a mini kitchen, a bar area and gym equipment. There’s more wasted space with a large room with a purpose that would seem pointless. 

 

 

The property is vacant because of alleged fraudulent activity that took place regarding investments for purchasing several homes in the area, including this one. 

 November 2022 update : The house is now being renovated with plumbing upgrades and new windows.