La Reve, Estate of the Day
Like me, the Real Estalker Mama has a weakness for gawking at truly outlandish homes. And he unearthed a doozy. La Reve, the home of Hubert and Norma Humphrey in Cumming Georgia has just about everything you could think of. Private bowling alley? Check. Golf course? Yup. How about a huge move theater, a complete gym, massage room and a toy train room. The movie is a replica of Atlanta's Fox Theatre and the train room is a replica of the old Central Georgia Railroad from Atlanta to Macon to Savannah that Hubert Humphrey worked on for 17 years as a train conductor.
This home is another in the long line of what I call Xanadu homes, the ones where someone spends a great deal of cash constructing a home of epic proportions and then finds it a little unlivable. This one is approximately 47,000 square feet on 90 acres and is a stunning monument to excess. There are 82 rooms, two elevators and 62 televisions. The grounds include a heated swimming pool, pool house, spa, private playground, stables, tennis court, formal gardens and a guest house. At $45 million this is easily the most expensive estate in Georgia. As the Atlanta Constitution noted, it might be a while before this one is sold, homes of this magnitude often sit on the market for a while and although the home may well be worth the price, finding someone willing to pay it will be a challenge.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
eric bonwit Mar 23rd 2008 1:32PM
I had no idea working as a train conductor paid so well, lol.
Trey Mar 23rd 2008 11:05PM
Hubert Humphrey wasn't a conductor when he made his fortune. He's the king of a group of multi level marketing companies that mainly sell very overpriced investment products.
Jim Mar 23rd 2008 2:25PM
If Elvis was still alive, this is would be Graceland II.
zzoeyy Mar 23rd 2008 2:34PM
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL and thats an understatement. :) I would love to spend a week exploring that place. Pretty place. Unfortunately I believe it will be on the market quite awhile.
William Mar 23rd 2008 7:20PM
that certainly is a monument to excess....!!!
By the way, I'm assuming you meant "movie theater" instead of "move theater" and that the movie room, not the train room, is a replica of the Fox Theatre?
Henry Mar 23rd 2008 7:59PM
No indoor target shooting range is a glaring oversight. One garage door for a 12 car garage seems to be a bit inadequate. Otherwise tastefully done considering the size and location.
adam Mar 23rd 2008 11:37PM
haha wow this is completely beyond insane.. I may add that although it is so extreme, this is a very lovely home with a lot of potential. but on the other hand, it would probably take me a few hours to get inside and out of this place. 82 is a large number. and there is only 20 rooms without televisions...that's sad ..America is all about the tv's and entertainment.
Javaflash Mar 24th 2008 12:04PM
That's not a house. It's a hotel.
Spectacular Bid Mar 24th 2008 2:22PM
>> That's not a house. It's a hotel.
Al Mar 24th 2008 5:22PM
This should be made into a resort. No one needs this much space all to themselves.
Cristal Mar 26th 2008 2:48PM
I can easily see myself living in La Reve. I would spend my time living in all its grandeur and letting its ambience consume me. It is truely a masterpiecehomagetoexcessandIloveit home. Considering that I live not far from this Wonder, I am inching closer to my goal of living in it -- if only for a moment. Try to get me out -- just try!