Home / Lifestyle / Iconic Grey Gardens Finds New Owner for $15.5M
Iconic Grey Gardens Finds New Owner for $15.5M
3 Oct
Summary
- Iconic Grey Gardens estate sold for $15.5 million in late 2017.
- Journalists Sally Quinn and Ben Bradlee bought it for $220,000 in 1979.
- The mansion gained fame from a 1975 documentary about its eccentric residents.
The renowned Grey Gardens estate in East Hampton, originally built in 1897, recently sold for $15.5 million in late 2017. This iconic property was famously rescued in 1979 for $220,000 by Washington Post journalists Sally Quinn and Ben Bradlee, who used it as their summer residence for decades.
Before Quinn and Bradlee's intervention, the mansion gained notoriety as the home of Edith Bouvier Beale and her daughter Little Edie. Their unusual lifestyle, amid the home's decay, was immortalized in the 1975 Maysles brothers' documentary "Grey Gardens."
Quinn and Bradlee embarked on an extensive restoration, preserving the mansion's unique character while returning it to its former elegance. They maintained the 6,000-square-foot, 12-room estate on 1.7 acres as a cherished summer retreat until Bradlee's death in 2014 and Quinn's subsequent decision to sell.
The property was initially listed for $20 million in early 2017, eventually selling for $15.5 million. The buyer's identity remains undisclosed, adding to the mystique of this culturally significant estate. The sale underscores the lasting appeal of properties blending architectural history with pop culture resonance.
This transaction highlights Grey Gardens' unique position in the Hamptons real estate market, where historical significance and prime location command premium prices. The sale not only validated Quinn and Bradlee's vision but also marked the end of an era for the estate's remarkable transformation.
