Nobody puts this listing in a corner

This $4.75 million Hill Country ranch has a dance floor built for Patrick Swayze

A Texas Hill Country ranch with a dance floor designed for the late actor Patrick Swayze hit the auction block with a price tag of $4.75 million.

Twisted Rose Farm, once an Arabian horse farm, sits on 235 acres near Kerrville. With a 2,900-square-foot main house, a guest cottage, and other living quarters, the farm offers 11 bedrooms and seven bathrooms. A private lake encompasses more than 13 acres.

But the most unique feature is inside the main barn — a grand ballroom with a dance floor created especially for the late actor, a trained dancer best known for his role on Dirty Dancing. Swayze was a horse lover and Houston native who was a frequent visitor. Movie posters from some of Swayze's other hits, including Ghost and Roadhouse, hang on the walls.

"Swayze frequented (the ranch) on the regular, so much so that the private dance floor was installed for his personal practice use," writes listing agent Madelyn Bricken in a blog post about the property. "Immediately, you feel pangs of nostalgia, and perhaps a dash of 'fan-girl' when you realize you’re standing on glorified sacred turf."

Besides the ballroom, the bar also contains a catering kitchen and wet bar. A terraced outdoor entertaining space includes spots for barbecuing and dining, and for soaking in the hot tub. A fireside lounge affords views of Hill Country sunsets.

The listing suggests Twisted Rose Farm could be used as a family compound, retreat, vacation rental property, or hunting and fishing lodge.

The listing notes that the property, at 1626 Harper Rd., “delivers an unparalleled equestrian lifestyle,” thanks to a 30-stall horse barn, a 16-stall mare barn, two six-stall stud barns, two covered arenas, 20 paddocks, and an outdoor arena with amphitheater seating.

The current owners of the equestrian estate are Murphy and Dianne Lents. They bought it in 2013 for about $2.8 million.

Elizabeth Kuper, Charlie Kuper, and Bricken, all of Kuper Sotheby’s International Realty, have the listing. Concierge Auctions is handling the bidding.

Once an Arabian horse farm, the property still has a 30-stall horse barn, a 16-stall mare barn, two six-stall stud barns, two covered arenas, and 20 paddocks.

Photo courtesy of San Antonio Board of Realtors

Once an Arabian horse farm, the property still has a 30-stall horse barn, a 16-stall mare barn, two six-stall stud barns, two covered arenas, and 20 paddocks.

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House For Sale

Untouched 'blast from the past' '60s home in NE Dallas is for sale

8454 Swift

A mid-century-ish house with only one owner is for sale in northeast Dallas, and it comes with lots of original wood, as well as a kooky checkerboard carpet that — yikes — extends right into the kitchen.

It's located at 8454 Swift Ave., in the Hillridge neighborhood, an enclave of houses east of Ferguson Road and north of I-30, built in the 1960s, whose value has more than doubled since 2018, with most homes in the area appraised in the mid- to high $400Ks.

This home was built in 1962, and has 2,160 square feet, with 3 bedrooms and 3 baths, on an 8,842-square-foot lot that includes a storage building in the backyard.

The asking price is $390,000, and the listing calls it "a blast from the past," with no discernible updates made to the interior.

That means

a tiled terrazzo floor in the foyer
a family room with wood paneling and an entire wall with built-in shelves and desk area, boasting scalloped wood trim
a dining room, also wood-paneled, with built-in cabinets and drawers for silver and china, including cabinet doors with punched-tin facades
a kitchen, also wood paneled, also scalloped edges, with formica counters and built-in electric cooktop (they're saying lately that gas is unhealthy)

Dining nook at 8454 Swift features wood paneling and checkerboard carpet. 8454 Swift

The bathrooms are original tile, but since it's the '60s, they're not in fun '50s pinks or blues, but are rather white and a mottled gray. Not the prettiest, but original tile is always preferable to "updated" bathrooms that will look dated in less than five years

Two of the bedrooms have true-to-the-period built-in bureaus, so handy.

8454 Swift

Kitchen at 8454 Swift features more wood paneling and - yuck! - checkerboard carpet.

The entire house is carpeted, and that includes carpeting in the kitchen, which is a disaster. It's an extension of a cool multi-colored square-patterned carpet that starts in the family room and has been extended all the way to the kitchen. Who has carpet in a wet area?

The listing describes a big kitchen, large living areas, a smart layout, several bonus rooms, generous storage, and great neighbors. There's also an enclosed patio-sunroom, not currently counted in the square footage, a nice sized-yard, and a rear-entry two-car garage.

According to the listing, the home officially hits the market on Friday, August 8, with the first showing opportunity during an Open House on Saturday August 9, from 10-11:30 am. They plan to review offers the week after the Open House, and recommend bringing "your strongest offer" from the start.

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