In 2004, Ken Griffey Jr. paid $2.575 million for 11.58 lakefront acres near Orlando; four years later he completed a 22,108-sq-ft custom mansion, and the estate is now listed for $27 million
Baseball Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. has listed his custom-built lakefront mansion near Orlando for $27 million (£21.2 million), putting a price on a property he has owned for more than 20 years. The 13-time Major League Baseball All-Star bought the 11.58-acre site on Cypress Lake in 2004 for $2.575 million, according to Orange County property records cited by Mansion Global and Orlando Weekly. After buying the undeveloped land, the former Seattle Mariners and Cincinnati Reds outfielder spent four years designing and building a huge 22,108-square-foot Mediterranean-style home. Construction was completed in 2008. Located at 5603 Marleon Drive in the gated community of Windermere, the estate has more than 440 feet of direct shoreline along the Butler Chain of Lakes. The $27 million asking price is more than 10 times what Griffey paid for the land 22 years ago.
Large scale and detailed design
The property is entered through a security gate that leads to a circular driveway and a covered entrance surrounded by stone columns and turret-style wings. Inside, a 28-foot-high grand foyer features high ceilings and a double staircase with custom ironwork. The home is divided into several living areas, combining formal rooms for entertaining with private spaces for the family. According to listing information from Premier Sotheby’s International Realty and Realtor.com, the main house has seven bedrooms and 10 bathrooms, including eight full bathrooms and two half-baths. The interior has a large gourmet kitchen with two islands, custom cabinets, a commercial-grade stove and a hidden pantry nearby. The main living spaces feature detailed wooden ceiling beams, stone fireplaces and floor-to-ceiling glass doors that open onto outdoor loggias. The property also has a separate guest wing with two bedrooms, its own living room and a private outside entrance for staff or visiting family members.
Sports and luxury amenities
Built while Griffey was at the height of his baseball career, the home was designed with custom entertainment and sports features across its three floors.
Indoor amenities include:
- A modern private movie theater with tiered leather seats.
- An indoor golf simulator and several game rooms.
- A glass-enclosed, climate-controlled wine tasting room.
- A fully equipped commercial-style gym and sauna.
- A private elevator serving all three floors.
The outdoor grounds are designed like a private resort. At the back of the home is a 125,000-gallon saltwater pool with rock waterfalls, a built-in water slide, a diving board and an attached spa. Other features across the 11.58-acre property include a full-size private basketball court, a covered outdoor kitchen, a large boat dock and a 10-car garage with vehicle lifts.
Luxury community on the Butler Chain
The estate is in Windermere, a suburb that has long attracted professional athletes, business executives and celebrities because of its privacy, location near Orlando and access to the connected Butler Chain of Lakes. Listing agent Llin Lu of Premier Sotheby’s International Realty is handling the sale. The property is among the most expensive homes currently listed in Orange County. In addition to the private dock, the estate has access to a private boat ramp, giving residents direct access to Cypress Lake and the larger network of waterways. Griffey was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2016 after receiving a record 99.3 per cent of the vote. He lived at the property during the later part of his playing career and after retirement. The sale comes as his children have grown up, bringing an end to the baseball star’s 22-year chapter in Central Florida.
