Historic mansion built for the Pillsbury family is set to be torn down

May 2024 · 3 minute read

A historic mansion that was once up for sale as the most expensive home in Minnesota is now set to be torn down after more than a decade on the market.

The mansion on Lake Minnetonka was built for the Pillsbury family - who made their fortune running flour mills in Minneapolis - way back in 1919. 

It has been on the market for 11 years with no interested buyers after being listed for sale for a record-breaking $54million in 2007.

The mansion on Lake Minnetonka in Minnesota was built for the Pillsbury family - who made their fortune running flour mills in Minneapolis - way back in 1919

The mansion on Lake Minnetonka in Minnesota was built for the Pillsbury family - who made their fortune running flour mills in Minneapolis - way back in 1919

The home has been on the market for 11 years after being listed for sale for a record-breaking $54million in 2007

The home has been on the market for 11 years after being listed for sale for a record-breaking $54million in 2007

The price of the Jacobean-style manor house, which sat on 13-acres, was then reduced to $24million but still failed to sell. 

The sprawling property was later subdivided into five separate pieces of land.

The original 32,000 square foot mansion and 3.3 acres of land was relisted for sale this year for $7.9million. The seven-bedroom, 13-bathroom listing still included a caretaker’s cottage, swimming pool, tennis complex, teahouse and extensive lakefront.

A demolition permit was recently applied for by the current owners and issued by the city of Orono for the landmark property.

Orono Mayor Denny Walsh told the Star Tribune they had consulted with attorneys and a historic preservation committee but found no grounds to reject the permit.

'It's unfortunate, no question about it,' Walsh said, adding that demolition could happen at any time.  

The home was originally built almost 100 years ago for John S. Pillsbury (left) and his wife Eleanor. It was sold to current owners, James (right) and Joann Jundt, when Eleanor died in 1992 for $5million

The historic mansion was once up for sale as the most expensive home in Minnesota

The historic mansion was once up for sale as the most expensive home in Minnesota

The property is now set to be torn down after more than a decade on the market

The property is now set to be torn down after more than a decade on the market

The price of the Jacobean-style manor house, which sat on 13-acres, was then reduced to $24million but still failed to sell

The price of the Jacobean-style manor house, which sat on 13-acres, was then reduced to $24million but still failed to sell

The home was designed by architect Harrie T. Lindeberg and was officially completed in 1919

The home was designed by architect Harrie T. Lindeberg and was officially completed in 1919

The home was originally built almost 100 years ago for John S. Pillsbury and his wife Eleanor as their summer residence. John was the son of Pillsbury Company cofounder Charles Alfred Pillsbury.

It was designed by architect Harrie T. Lindeberg and was officially completed in 1919.  

It was sold to current owners, former hedgefund manager James and Joann Jundt, when Eleanor died in 1992 for $5million. 

The Jundts extensively renovated the seven-bedroom, 13-bathroom manor and winterized it before deciding to downsize and move to Arizona.  

It is not clear what they plan to do with the land if the home is demolished.  

The Jundts extensively renovated the seven-bedroom, 13-bathroom manor before deciding to downsize and move to Arizona

The Jundts extensively renovated the seven-bedroom, 13-bathroom manor before deciding to downsize and move to Arizona

The property, which maintains some of its historic charm, was sold to current owners, James and Joann Jundt, when Eleanor died in 1992 for $5million

The property, which maintains some of its historic charm, was sold to current owners, James and Joann Jundt, when Eleanor died in 1992 for $5million

The original 32,000 square foot mansion and 3.3 acres of land was relisted for sale this year for $7.9million

The original 32,000 square foot mansion and 3.3 acres of land was relisted for sale this year for $7.9million

A demolition permit was recently applied for by the current owners and issued by the city of Orono for the landmark property

A demolition permit was recently applied for by the current owners and issued by the city of Orono for the landmark property

The original 32,000 square foot mansion and 3.3 acres of land was relisted for sale this year for $7.9million

The original 32,000 square foot mansion and 3.3 acres of land was relisted for sale this year for $7.9million

The original listing was subdivided and the main property shrunk from 13 acres to 3.4 acres several years ago but still found no takers. It sits on a point and has extensive lake frontage

The original listing was subdivided and the main property shrunk from 13 acres to 3.4 acres several years ago but still found no takers. It sits on a point and has extensive lake frontage

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