SAN DIEGO — The seaside mansion known as the "sandcastle" estate hit the market Tuesday for a whopping $108 million. The architectural wonder was designed to resemble the Chateau de Versailles.
“Here we are at the guest residence, and it’s fashioned after the Petit Trianon," said Compass co-listing agent, Brett Dickinson, as he gave CBS 8 a tour. "You see the arches, you see the structure, three bedrooms upstairs, spectacular family room, game room, and phenomenal bar area.”
Next Dickinson showed CBS 8 the elaborate main dining room.
“It’s an ellipse and it has 18 and 24-karat gold all throughout," Dickinson explained. "It has curved furniture and curved art, as well as crystal chandeliers.”
Billionaire Darwin Deason bought the home in 2009 from San Diego hotelier Doug Manchester. A few years later, he bought the home next to it and joined the two lots together in an epic remodel.
“He bought the house next door and went through years and years of permitting, went back and forth, hired the best people you can get, and then he put this together, this amazing property,” said co-listing agent Ross Clark.
It’s 13,000 square feet with 10 bedrooms and breathtaking balcony views, but what makes it even more unique are grandfathered-in features that wouldn't be allowed by the California Coastal Commission if it were built today, such as the sea wall and stairway for beach access.
“What I have here is the same sand they use at Augusta," said Clark while crouched down with a fistful of sand. "This is sand that’s not local. It was imported sand. You have your own private beach down here, which is elevated about ten feet off of the sand, so you have extreme privacy.”
And if that isn't enough, the home has even more one-of-a-kind features.
“This is a cave that goes quite a ways back, 80 yards to be exact,” said Clark as he motioned toward a small door leading to the cave.
The property has served as a vacation home for Deason, but it hasn't gotten has much use in recent years.
“The owner of the property has enjoyed it," said Dickinson. "It was a dream. It was a vision but like many of our sellers, it went through its process. His kids were here. His grandkids were here. Everybody enjoyed it and he just wants to sell it.”
If the property is sold for the $108 million-dollar asking price or anywhere close to it, the home sale would obliterate real estate records in San Diego County. A $44 million-dollar home sale in Del Mar last year currently holds the record.