14 private towns and the people who bought them

Privately-owned towns and the people who bought them

While owning a mansion or fancy equestrian estate is undeniably impressive, telling people you own a town has got to be the ultimate real estate brag – even if it's a Schitt's Creek-style dive.

Believe it or not, plenty of bold big-shots have pulled out all the stops and bagged whole municipalities, scooping up everything from shops and bars to churches.

Read on to meet 14 plucky people who really did go to town and purchase a whole community...

Sir Thomas Ingilby's Ripley, UK

If you fancy yourself as lord or lady of the manor, then there may well be a small village in Yorkshire, England with your name on it. In the summer of 2024, Sir Thomas (pictured above in this YouTube video) and Lady Ingilby announced their plans to sell Ripley Castle Estate, a parcel which comprises their Grade I-listed 14th-century country house, a beloved village pub and an assortment of stone cottages.

Sir Thomas Ingilby's Ripley, UK

Ripley Castle has been in the Ingleby family since 1308, when it was presented as a dowry to an earlier Sir Thomas Ingilby when he married the heiress, Edeline Thwenge.

The castle has been the Ingilby family seat ever since, but after 24 generations of ownership, the current Sir Thomas has decided to call it quits, planning to place the property on the market with Carter Jonas in October 2024 for an as-yet undisclosed sum.

Sir Thomas Ingilby's Ripley, UK

Of course, the ownership of the estate also comes with the stewardship of the local village, an expensive and time-consuming undertaking which has caused much of the country’s land-owning gentry to throw in the towel.

Fortunately, the castle, at least, is in excellent condition, operating as a business in its own right.

Sir Thomas Ingilby's Ripley, UK

The manor house itself, known as Ripley Castle, is a magnificent Grade I-listed stately home complete with walled gardens, spectacular state rooms and an impressive collection of art and antiquities from its more than 700 years of history.

While technically the Ingleby family home, the castle is also open for tours and events.

Sir Thomas Ingilby's Ripley, UK

If this charming Yorkshire parish, with its 55 Grade II-listed buildings and two Grade I-listed buildings, seems like your cup of tea, then you’ll certainly need both deep pockets and plenty of energy to take it on. We can’t wait to find out who’s up to the challenge!

Bruce Krall's Bridgeville, USA

Founded in the late 19th century and originally known as Robinsons Crossing, the town of Bridgeville in Humboldt County is a small, tight-knit community, transected by the scenic Van Duzen River.

The town itself was named after the bridge, which was built across the river in 1875. Today, the historic settlement features quaint streets lined with white-picket fences and shiplap-clad homes, encircled by the rural scenery of Northern California.

Bruce Krall's Bridgeville, USA

However, for all its rustic charms, Bridgeville was largely unheard of until the tiny town made national headlines after being listed on eBay in 2002.

While the initial sale of the 83-acre (33ha) community fell through, the town was eventually snapped up by real estate developer Bruce Krall (pictured), who went on to sell Bridgeville again via eBay in 2006.

Bruce Krall's Bridgeville, USA

In a bizarre twist of fate, the town was placed on the market yet again just months later, following the sudden passing of the settlement's new owner.

In the years that followed, Bridgeville has been listed and unlisted numerous times, but in 2024 it was back on the market with Compass for $1.5 million (£1.2m) and in search of a new owner to help write the next chapter of its story.

Bruce Krall's Bridgeville, USA

In spite of the hefty price tag, there's still plenty of work required to breathe new life into this timeworn town, which is in need of a buyer with vision to maximise its true potential.

In addition to the substantial acreage and numerous homes and cabins – all of which underwent significant renovations in the early 2000s – the parcel includes a 150-year-old post office, a vacant café and a cemetery.

Bruce Krall's Bridgeville, USA

The town is zoned as a Rural Community Zone, which means it is open to development as a ranch, campsite, farm, mobile home park, or shopping centre, to name but a few.

While the property may not offer the height of luxury so often associated with California living, it certainly presents the potential to create something remarkable out of this historic site.

Stefan Persson's Linkenholt, UK

If being lord of the manor doesn’t cut it for you, you can always try buying up the local village as well. Perhaps that’s exactly what Swedish billionaire and former owner of fashion juggernaut H&M, Stefan Persson had in mind when he acquired the sleepy little village of Linkenholt, near Andover in Hampshire, England.

Carl Stefan Erling Persson inherited H&M from his father, Erling Persson, who founded the company, initially known as Hennes & Mauritz, in 1947. The 76-year-old tycoon was at the head of the retail empire, which had an estimated annual revenue of $22.3 billion (£17.6bn) in 2022. He stepped down as chairman in May 2020 after 22 years in the role.

Stefan Persson's Linkenholt, UK

Persson spent around $32.2 million (£25m) to acquire the village in 2009, which includes an enormous Edwardian manor house, as well as 1,500 acres (607ha) of farmland, a 425-acre (171ha) wood, a cricket ground and 21 cottages leased to villagers.

Presson, whose social circle includes the king and queen of Sweden and who already owns an 8,500-acre (3,440ha) country estate in nearby Wiltshire, boasts an estimated net worth of around $17.5 billion (£13.5bn). According to Forbes, it was while at a pheasant shoot with the King that Persson fell in love with this corner of the English countryside.

Stefan Persson's Linkenholt, UK

The Linkenholt property had most recently been managed by a charitable trust following the death of its previous owner, the English cricketer and racehorse trainer Herbert Blagrave.

With its collection of stone cottages, village shop, and ancient forge, the village itself is incredibly bucolic, and has indeed been designated an ‘area of outstanding natural beauty'.

Stefan Persson's Linkenholt, UK

Presson’s acquisition of Linkenholt marked the conclusion of a reportedly tense bidding war with multiple other unnamed potential buyers, according to British newspaper The Guardian.

Presson’s offer came in at the top end of the $29.6 million (£23m) to $32.2 million (£25m) guide price, securing him the 2,000-acre (809ha) estate and all of its rental properties.

Persson went on in 2013 to buy another 8,700 acres (3,520ha) from the Crown Estate, the property and business arm of the British royal family, on the historic Savernake Estate. Persson is said to live in the nearby village, Ramsbury.

Stefan Persson's Linkenholt, UK

The manor house, meanwhile, reportedly receives mention in the Domesday Book of 1086, and from the reign of Edward the Confessor (1042-66) until the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the mid-1500s was granted by successive monarchs to the abbot and convent of St Peter.

Today, the village church remains St. Peter’s church, which stands on the site of the original convent. It was the only structure not included in the sale. "That", real estate agent Tim Sherston told NBC News at the time, "is owned by God".

Kim Basinger's Braselton, USA

Back in 1989, at the height of her fame, Kim Basinger teamed up with family members and a group of pension fund investors to snap up the town of Braselton in her home state of Georgia.

All in all, the 9 ½ Weeks and Batman star acquired 1,751 acres (709ha), including the local grocery store and bank, a 600-acre (243ha) industrial park and 1,200 acres (486ha) of additional real estate.

Kim Basinger's Braselton, USA

The total price paid was $20 million (£15.8m), which translates to $50.7 million (£39.4m) in today's money.

Founded in the late 19th century by Harrison Braselton – who escaped the grind of life as a dirt farmer by marrying the daughter of a wealthy plantation owner – the town contains a number of evocative turn-of-the-century buildings built by Braselton and his descendants, including the family's eponymous store.

Kim Basinger's Braselton, USA

At the time Basinger purchased the town, it was still owned by 24 of Braselton's descendants, who managed to keep hold of their historic homes following the transaction.

Residents joked that, before the sale, the most exciting activity in the town involved “breadin' chicken” and chasing the fire truck, so the population of 500 was understandably riveted by news of its new owner.

Kim Basinger's Braselton, USA

Pictured here is the John O. Braselton House in the town's Historic District. Basinger had lofty (albeit vague) plans to restore Braselton's old buildings and transform the town into a leading tourist attraction with movie studios, a theme park, hotels and swish stores, plus the added appeal of a film festival that would draw visitors from far and wide. Then the early 1990s recession hit.

Kim Basinger's Braselton, USA

The actress found herself unable to attract further investors, and Braselton was left languishing, with the Chicago Tribune describing it as “the town that Kim forgot”. Facing bankruptcy, Basinger threw in the towel In 1993 and sold the town at a huge loss, netting just $1 million (£777k).

The debacle led to tensions within the Basinger family, and the star went on to tell Barbara Walters that “nothing good” came of buying Braselton.

Johnny Depp's Gassin, France

Johnny Depp went for broke in 2001 when he bought Gassin, a charming 37-acre (15ha) hamlet located amid ancient olive groves and 300-year-old oak trees in the hills near Saint-Tropez.

A love nest for the star and his then-partner, Vanessa Paradis, Gassin dates back to before the French Revolution and had been abandoned sometime during the 20th century.

Johnny Depp's Gassin, France

Depp set about restoring the locale's 12 rustic stone and wood-beamed buildings, including its dinky chapel, and ended up splashing a reported $11.4 million (£9m) on the revamp.

In addition to the 4,300-square-foot (399 sqm) main house, Gassin now has six guest homes, bringing the total number of bedrooms to 15, along with heaps of wonderfully quirky amenities.

Johnny Depp's Gassin, France

They include Chez Marceline, a bona fide traditional French bistro kitted out with a proper chef's kitchen and a classic zinc bar. On the other side of the bijou village square is the blanchisserie (Gassin's converted laundry), and just off to the north is the characterful repurposed church.

Johnny Depp's Gassin, France

Reinvented as the principal guest house, the former place of worship retains some of its original furnishings, including the wooden confessional, which was turned into a wardrobe.

There's also a covered wagon in the hamlet boasting a kitchen and bathroom; an art studio; a gym; two swimming pools (one of which features a sandy 'beach'); and a skate park with a half pipe.

Johnny Depp's Gassin, France

Depp even created a Pirates of the Caribbean-themed wine cave in which to savour his finest vintages. However, plagued by financial and legal problems, the star has been trying to get rid of the bucolic bolthole since 2015, with the asking price fluctuating between around $15 million (£12m) and $63 million (£49.6m).

Unable to find a buyer, it was recently reported by British newspaper the Daily Mail, that Depp plans to give the estate a new lease on life, shelling out yet another fortune to renovate the property.

Daniele Kihlgren's Santo Stefano di Sessanio, Italy

Riding his motorbike around Southern Italy's Abruzzo region one fateful day in 1999, Swedish-Italian entrepreneur Daniele Kihlgren chanced upon the medieval hilltop town of Santo Stefano di Sessanio and was instantly smitten by its unspoilt charm. The historic town had been largely abandoned, with only 70 or so residents remaining.

Daniele Kihlgren's Santo Stefano di Sessanio, Italy

The town's long period of decline had kept developers away, perfectly preserving its historic character. Not even a single modern building had been constructed, but the surviving structures weren't in the best of shape.

The wealthy scion of a family of cement magnates, Kihlgren vowed to restore the entire settlement and turn it into a "diffuse hotel", a concept he went on to pioneer.

Daniele Kihlgren's Santo Stefano di Sessanio, Italy

The entrepreneur negotiated a deal with the local authorities, agreeing to pump millions into Santo Stefano di Sessanio to preserve its picturesque structures, in exchange for a ban on any new construction and the use of concrete.

A believer in conservative restoration, which aims to retain as many original features as possible, Kihlgren has since renovated 32 of the town's buildings to date.

Daniele Kihlgren's Santo Stefano di Sessanio, Italy

While several of these properties have been sold and now function as second homes, the bulk serves as accommodation for the Sextantio Albergo Diffuso, the innovative diffuse hotel which is scattered throughout the town.

Kihlgren bent over backwards to ensure authenticity, decorating the houses with furniture and artefacts from the region, and talking to historians as well as some of the town's elderly residents to figure out how people lived there in the past.

Daniele Kihlgren's Santo Stefano di Sessanio, Italy

But the rejuvenation of Santo Stefano di Sessanio, which now has a population of 125, is just the start for Kihlgren, who is on a mission to revive as many struggling historic hilltop towns in Southern Italy as he can and bring them back from the brink.

The millionaire's latest project involves the renovation of Sassi di Matera's famous cave dwellings, which are being restored with the same ultra-sensitive conservation ethos in mind.

Rob Bartley's Mellonsfolly Ranch, New Zealand

From a genuine Wild West town to a handsome imitation. Mellonsfolly Ranch in New Zealand's North Island was built in 2006 at a cost of around $6 million (£4.7m) by cowboy-obsessed businessman John Bedogni, whose dream was to create a replica of an 1860s Wyoming frontier settlement.

When Bedogni fell on hard times in 2012, his friend, car parts tycoon Rob Bartley, stepped in and bought the town and ranch for an undisclosed sum.

Rob Bartley's Mellonsfolly Ranch, New Zealand

Whereas Bedogni used the ranch as a whimsical private retreat for friends and family, Bartley turned it into a diffuse boutique hotel with accommodation for up to 22 people, serving as a conference and wedding venue to boot, and renting it out in its entirety for a not-too-shabby $5,300 (£4.2k) a night. Here it's pictured in a promotional YouTube video.

Rob Bartley's Mellonsfolly Ranch, New Zealand

Nestled within 900 acres (364ha) of land, the ranch – which has been beautifully maintained since its completion – consists of 10 period-style buildings, including a fully licensed saloon, Miss Nancy Ann's Hotel (which provides plush guest accommodation), a general store, a robbable bank for mock hold-ups, a bathhouse with clawfoot tubs, stables and an assay office.

Rob Bartley's Mellonsfolly Ranch, New Zealand

Other structures include the courthouse (which is actually a vintage-inspired cinema) and is the billiards lounge, while the ranch harbours a manuka honey farm with about 600 hives.

In 2020, Bartley made the difficult decision to sell Mellonsfolly Ranch after he was diagnosed with cancer. With a heavy heart, he put it on the market for $7.5 million (£5.9m).

Rob Bartley's Mellonsfolly Ranch, New Zealand

Sadly, Bartley lost his cancer battle in March 2021. As for the ranch, its fate is uncertain. The hotel stopped taking bookings in 2020 due to the pandemic, and while the property listing has been removed, no sale has been confirmed. Here's hoping the new owner – if there is one – will be as passionate about the faux Western town as its former 'sheriffs' were.

Nicholas Johnston's Bantham, UK

An old Etonian and founder of the Johnston Quarry Group, Nicholas Johnston was no stranger to running an entire settlement – along with his family, he owned Oxfordshire's enormous Great Tew estate – when he bought the village of Bantham in Devon, England back in 2014 for around $14 million (£11m).

He made the purchase on a whim, after stumbling upon the listing in a newspaper and recalling fond childhood memories of holidays in the area.

Nicholas Johnston's Bantham, UK

A friend of former UK prime minister David Cameron and part of the so-called Chipping Norton social set, Johnston mopped up 728 acres (295ha) of land including the beach and estuary, together with 20 cottages, some of which date back to the 17th century, and the nostalgia-inducing village shop. The local pub, however, remains in the ownership of the brewery.

Nicholas Johnston's Bantham, UK

From the get-go, villagers wondered how the entrepreneurial landowner would make his mark on Bantham. After all, the Johnstons had transformed the Great Tew estate, establishing the Soho Farmhouse hotel and members' club there and selling off properties to the likes of David and Victoria Beckham and Rupert Murdoch.

Some were becoming increasingly worried the new owner would end up spoiling their seaside idyll.

Nicholas Johnston's Bantham, UK

Tensions came to a head in 2017 after the millionaire revealed plans to build a beach club, complete with a gym, pool and cafe, an underground car park and a boat restoration yard.

Furious villagers launched an anti-Johnston campaign and the Save Bantham pressure group was formed. More recently, a villager reported Johnston to the police for breaching lockdown restrictions during the pandemic.

Nicholas Johnston's Bantham, UK

Despite the hate from some quarters, Johnston also has plenty of fans in Bantham. Plus, he insists the plan was never a serious proposal, just an idea floated to the parish council after a “blue sky-thinking” brainstorm.

The landowner's actual proposals are reassuringly sustainable and involve the construction of a glamping park with yurts and a small housing development away from the beach, using local materials like stone and thatch.

Saji Daniel's Foxburg, USA

With ties to the founding of the Quaker religious movement, this idyllic riverfront estate in the historic town of Foxburg, Pennsylvania dates back to 1796, when the Fox brothers purchased 6,600 acres (2,670ha) of land from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania along with their two brothers-in-law, with it eventually becoming known as Fox Mansion.

Saji Daniel's Foxburg, USA

In the 200 years since the mansion was built, there have been many additions made to the Federal-style property, which spans three floors.

Foxburg however, which was once a thriving railroad town, had sadly seen a decline in its economic fortunes. Aside from one “greasy spoon”, there was almost nothing on the unpaved main street.

Saji Daniel's Foxburg, USA

According to Mansion Global, in the late 1990s after retiring from his Cleveland medical practice, Dr Art Steffee and his wife Patricia paid around $5 million (£3.9m) for the vast estate, as well as the once-thriving former railroad town of Foxburg nearby.

After renovating the estate, the doctor spent decades and about $6 million (£4.7m) rebuilding the town, purchasing dilapidated buildings, building a small hotel, a restaurant and a pizza shop, plus turning the existing 'greasy spoon' into a winery and starting a tour business. He also launched a gallery and renovated an old concert hall.

Saji Daniel's Foxburg, USA

However, the vast holdings soon became too much for the ageing doctor, and it was time to bid Foxburg farewell. Last listed for sale for $15 million (£11.8m) in 2019, the house and town were purchased by a Cleveland couple with big plans.

In 2020, businessman Saji Daniel and sports manager, Shannon McGauley Daniel fell in love with Foxburg, and while they had originally been looking for a much smaller project, decided to tackle the charming historical town.

Saji Daniel's Foxburg, USA

Keen to maintain Foxburg’s quaint atmosphere, their first move was to hire a consulting company to devise the best strategy for development. When it comes to the town of Foxburg, the Daniels' ongoing goal is to create jobs and get the community thriving again.

The biggest challenge so far has been finding workers to staff the local businesses, and the couple have been called upon to fill in on occasion, even helping to bottle wine at the winery or make beds at the hotel. The couple are certainly taking their town ownership seriously!