In 1984, Lou Dobbs acquired a New Jersey farm and expanded it over four decades; now the 283-acre estate with an 11-acre pond and development potential is listed for $6 million
A large 283-acre farm built up over four decades by the late television anchor and radio host Lou Dobbs has been put on the market for $6 million. Known as Hickory Hollow Farm, the estate is located at 112 Quarry Road in Sussex County’s Wantage Township, near the New Jersey border with New York. The property includes an 11-acre spring-fed pond, extensive horse facilities, several guest homes and land with possible residential development potential, according to the New York Post and WRNJ Radio. Dobbs, a founding figure at CNN who later hosted Lou Dobbs Tonight on Fox Business, died in July 2024 at the age of 78. He first bought part of the property in 1984. Over the next 40 years, he continued buying nearby parcels, turning the land into one of the largest connected private farms in northwestern New Jersey. The property is currently listed by real estate agent Jaime Luongo of Weichert Realtors, according to listing documents cited by local media.
Main residence and estate amenities
At the centre of the estate is a 5,419-square-foot colonial-style main house built in 1977. The home has five bedrooms and four bathrooms, along with a large kitchen, private office, sunroom and family room with a double-sided fireplace. Large windows across the main living areas provide views of the central 11-acre pond and the surrounding rolling pastures. Two bedrooms are located on the ground floor, while the second floor has the main bedroom suite, two more bedrooms and additional flexible living space. The main house is surrounded by several leisure facilities, including a four-car garage, a heated in-ground Gunite swimming pool, a full tennis court and a half-court basketball area. The property also has separate accommodation, including a two-bedroom, two-bathroom guest house and a two-bedroom, one-bathroom caretaker’s cottage.
Professional equestrian infrastructure and working grounds
Hickory Hollow Farm was designed to operate as a large horse breeding and training facility. The main horse barn has 11 large stalls, a wash area, feed room, hay room and storage loft. The main barn connects directly to a sand riding ring. A second barn has three oversized stalls. Across the property are 17 grass paddocks with turnout sheds, a 150-by-200-foot fenced riding arena and an equipment garage for farm machinery. Beyond the managed pastures, the 282.72-acre property includes wooded areas, natural mountain views and a freshwater stream. The estate uses a private well, septic system and propane gas for its utilities. Public tax records included in the listing show that annual property taxes for the farm are about $37,000.
Four-decade assembly and land potential
Dobbs bought his first piece of land in Wantage Township in the mid-1980s while building his career as a founding anchor and managing editor of CNN’s financial reporting division. Over the years, the farm became both a working horse property and a private retreat where Dobbs hosted major seasonal gatherings, including annual Fourth of July events. The estate’s zoning and layout give potential buyers several options. The land could continue to be used for horse-related and agricultural activities, become a private family compound or potentially be divided for residential development, subject to approval from local authorities. The $6 million asking price works out to about $1,107 per square foot for the main living structures, while also reflecting the value of the entire 283-acre property. The listing comes after the earlier sale of Dobbs’ second home in West Palm Beach, Florida. That property was listed for $2.9 million shortly before his death in 2024.
