It’s time to move on for baseball hall of famer Ken Griffey Jr. and his family. Their sprawling Windermere estate just hit the market for $27 million.
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It’s huge.
“It’s the grandness of the scale of this particular property, the fact that it’s a 22,000-square-foot home on 11 acres in Windermere, which in terms of land, space, and lot size, there’s just not that much acreage of that size,” Llin Lu, global real estate advisor with Premier Sotheby’s International Realty’s Southwest Orlando office, told GrowthSpotter. “It is a very unique property, being the sheer size of it and the amount of acres that it comes with.”
Griffey Jr. played in the majors for 22 years, mostly for the Seattle Mariners and Cincinnati Reds. He retired in 2010 and is widely considered one of the best centerfielders of all time.
It’s not clear why the Griffeys are selling or where they’re headed.He and his wife, Melissa, were looking for a Florida lifestyle when they moved to the Orlando area in the mid-1990s and built the lakefront house for his family in 2008.
“All the design features that they put into this home are just perfection. Nothing was overlooked. Everything was designed specifically for them,” Lu said. “This house will resemble something that you’ll see in Orange County in California. The only difference is the price is not as much as what a property would go for out there.”
There are seven bedrooms and eight full bathrooms, which include a two-bedroom guest wing with a separate entrance, and much more — including a gym, salon room, wine room, and even a special place for furry friends.
Inside, a 28-foot grand foyer unfolds beneath soaring ceilings, anchored by a spectacular double staircase with intricate custom ironwork that evokes the elegance of a world-class villa. (Photo by VICTOR QUINTERO – VTR IMAGE)
Designed for intimate living and large-scale entertaining, the interiors blend timeless craftsmanship with modern refinement. (Photo by VICTOR QUINTERO – VTR IMAGE)
A spacious home office features custom cabinetry and wood coffered ceilings. (Photo by VICTOR QUINTERO – VTR IMAGE)
Inside, a 28-foot grand foyer unfolds beneath soaring ceilings, anchored by a spectacular double staircase with intricate custom ironwork that evokes the elegance of a world-class villa. (Photo by VICTOR QUINTERO – VTR IMAGE)
The gourmet chef’s kitchen features custom wood cabinetry, expansive stone countertops, professional-grade appliances, a dramatic custom range hood, oversized center island, hidden pantry and richly detailed ceiling treatments that elevate the space into a culinary centerpiece. (Photo by VICTOR QUINTERO – VTR IMAGE)
Elegant fireplaces and sophisticated entertaining spaces add warmth and intimacy throughout the home, including in the primary suite. (Photo by VICTOR QUINTERO – VTR IMAGE)
“It’s got a very cute dog room,” Lu said with a laugh. “It’s a very unique thing to have. The home was designed for the family and to cater to everyone in the family.”
With so many square feet, there is definitely plenty of room.
“When you walk in, it’s very grand. The ceiling is about 28 feet, and it’s got a double staircase that’s wrapped with travertine marble all around. It’s very, very large,” he said, adding the foyer is 39 by 49 feet. But the whole house does not seem overwhelming, he insisted: “When someone sees that it’s 22,000 square feet, the number is huge, but at the same time, it also feels cozy.”
Another rarity, particularly in Florida, is the walkout basement with plenty of recreation and entertaining space.
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The new owners will enjoy a 125,000-gallon resort-style pool complete with cascading waterfalls, bordered by natural stones, a water slide, diving board and expansive terraces. (Photo by VICTOR QUINTERO – VTR IMAGE)
The grand entrance of the estate features a porte cochere and a facade marked by arched windows and twin turrets. (Photo by Victor Quintero /VTR IMAGE)
For the automotive enthusiast, the estate includes a 10-car garage equipped with two vehicle lifts. (Photo by VICTOR QUINTERO – VTR IMAGE)
The private basketball court is the perfect spot to practice a free throw or game of HORSE. (Photo by VICTOR QUINTERO – VTR IMAGE)
The lanai features a wood-burning fireplace and summer kitchen. (Photo by VICTOR QUINTERO – VTR IMAGE)
The walled, gated estate home sits on 11+ acres in Windermere. (Photo by Victor Quintero /VTR IMAGE)
“The lot is unique. It does look down a little bit in the back,” Lu said. “The way they built and designed this home was from the front, where you’ll notice that it’s two floors, and you get a peek at the basement windows from the front of the house.”
The home’s U-shaped garage area has room for a dozen cars with ten designated bays, including two with lifts.
The outside area rivals a five-star resort, including a 125,000-gallon pool with a waterfall and slide, and a terrace area with views of Cypress Lake. The land has 440 feet of lakefront with a boat dock.
Even from the lakeside, the entire estate is very private, which Lu said is his favorite feature.
“Most people who are in the area don’t even know this house even exists behind the gates. You’ve got a concrete block wall that surrounds the property, so you can’t see it from the main road. This is for someone that wants ultimate privacy in the Windermere market.”
While this home is one of the highest-priced listings ever in the area, it is part of a changing Central Florida market.
“We’ve definitely seen a shift in our ultra luxury market here. In prior years, anything over $10 million would be considered ultra luxury,” he explained, adding that in the past year, half a dozen properties sold for more than that and others are on the market and pending. “It just shows you that people are looking into this particular market as a luxury market.”
Have a tip about Central Florida development? Contact me at [email protected] or (407) 420-6261. Follow GrowthSpotter on Facebook and LinkedIn.
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