Inside the abandoned governor's mansion built on legendary gold

Discover the secrets of this grand estate

An exquisite example of pre-Civil War architecture, Rockwell House in Georgia was left vacant following a devastating fire in 1969. Renovation has been underway since 1971, but the enigmatic mansion has more recently received serious investment and even hit the real estate market.

Mysterious rumours about buried gold and a fence that caused a heart attack are just the beginning though.

Read on to take a look inside this Southern mansion and discover the truth...

Capturing Rockwell

Fortunately, photographer Leland Kent of Abandoned Southeast captured the tumbledown treasure in all its derelict glory before renovations began and in February 2021, was invited back to the Rockwell House to capture the restoration.

Southern belle

Built in 1838 for Colonel Samuel Rockwell, an attorney, slaveholder and veteran of the Creek Indian War, this magnificent house is located in the quaint historic town of Milledgeville, which, at the time, served as the capital of Georgia.

Palatial property

Rockwell hired Maine architect Joseph Lane to design the house. No expense was spared on the imposing mansion, which commands an enviable elevated position in a grove of ancient oak and magnolia trees.

Every single piece of lumber that went into the construction was hand-cut and crafted with the utmost skill.

Unusual façade

Unlike many other Southern mansions of the period which were painted in pristine white, Rockwell House was originally finished in light yellow and offset by Charleston green shutters, though these have long since been removed.

This picture shows how the house looked in February 2021 after it was restored to its unusual shade but you'll see a drastic change in the next image...

Hefty price tag

Languishing under mould and foliage, Rockwell House had a faded façade and looked far from welcoming. Staggeringly, the wrought-iron fence you see that runs around the front of the property is said to have cost the same amount as the house to make.

The story goes that Colonel Rockwell had a heart attack when he saw the bill totalling around $2,600 (£2k), which was a fortune at the time, or around $94,000 (£72.9k) today. Rockwell died at the mansion in 1841 – whether the extortionate fence hastened his passing is left up to speculation.

Famous former resident

The property eventually passed on to Georgia Governor Herschel Vespasian Johnson (pictured) in the 1850s and was used as his summer retreat.

One of the property's best-known residents, Johnson was a prominent American politician and even ran as Vice President for the Democratic Party in 1860.

Changing hands

Following Johnson's death in 1880, Rockwell House was home to a succession of wealthy merchants and farmers before it was acquired in 1904 by Marshall Bland, an agent for the New York Life Insurance Company.

Bland attempted to sell the house in 1910 to a man from out of town but despite paying a deposit, the buyer mysteriously failed to claim the property. The mansion was eventually bought by Bland's cousin, Oscar Ennis.

Grand entrance

Back to the 21st century and stepping inside the entrance, it's not hard to imagine this regal residence's grand former life.

Flanked by intricate glasswork and ornate covings, the front door is a work of art, while the curved sweeping staircase would've offered an impressive welcome to Milledgeville's well-to-do.

Elegant proportions

When Leland Kent photographed the interior in 2019, signs of damage and wear and tear were evident, yet the palatial property's ground floor has weathered the years pretty well.

This light-filled sitting room is particularly charming, with its decorative fireplace and stunning sash windows.

Period gems

Gorgeous period features abound in the light-filled space, from the carved wooden doorways to the ceiling rose and wainscotting.

Ennis and his family called the residence home until 1962 when it was purchased by local dentist, Dr Robert Watson.

Ambitious restoration

When Dr Watson acquired the home, it was in a sorry state of disrepair, so he embarked on an ambitious renovation project to restore the property to its former glory.

The extensive revamp was making impressive progress until one fateful day in August 1969...

Devastating blaze

While removing paint with a blow torch – never a good idea in a historic house made largely of woodwork – accidentally set fire to the upstairs southeast bedroom, just above this staircase, causing extensive (and expensive!) damage throughout the upper storey.

Shadow of its former self

The fire damage was made good, but the room, which is likely to have been exposed to the elements and neglected for some time following the blaze, still showed signs of severe water damage when it was captured by Leland Kent.

With its worn floorboards and damaged hearth, this once-regal room was crying out for a thorough revamp.

A detailed recreation

Not long after the fire, the mansion's beautiful dining room was selected for preservation at the Winterthur Museum near Wilmington, Delaware. The dining room was painstakingly recreated in all its splendour at the museum and is now known as the Georgia Room.

The museum purchased the black marble mantle, intricate woodwork, architrave and impressions of the plaster around the ceiling from the original room.

Property in peril

The proceeds of the sale went towards repairing the fire- and smoke-damaged interiors, which were in dire need of restoration. Despite being stripped of its features, the bare bones of the real dining room still dazzle, from the stunning panelling to the ceiling cornice.

However, the property's heritage was put in peril in the early 1970s when a local man planned to purchase the property and sell off its remaining original features. Fortunately, realtors Joanne and Cecil Ogden snapped up the property instead.

Retro nostalgia

Placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, little work was carried out on the home apart from the bare essentials and the mansion deteriorated further.

However, the spectacular sweeping staircase that greets guests upon entering the foyer was still in impressive shape when captured by Leland.

Architecture worth saving

Other elements that weathered the home's neglect include the breathtaking double doors on the first-floor landing that lead out to the front balcony.

Mirroring the design of the grand entryway below with their intricate leaded-glass surround, they flood the open stairway with natural light.

Thrown a lifeline

Photographed here with flaking plasterwork throughout the first floor and a staircase badly in need of attention, the dilapidated dream home remained vacant until 2019.

Things then took a turn for the better when Rockwell House was acquired for a bargain $350,000 (£271k) by a team of investors led by Atlanta realtor Ross Sheppard, who specialises in restoring historic properties.

Attention to detail

Sheppard enlisted the assistance of conservation expert Kyle Campbell of Preservation South to oversee the renovation.

While the conservation team stuck religiously to authentic, heritage materials for the job, they employed some innovative modern techniques to restore the interiors and exterior of the property.

State-of-the-art restoration

The ornate woodwork in the dining room, which now resides in the Winterthur Museum in Delaware, was recreated using the latest 3D scanning and printing techniques.

The conservationists were keen to faithfully recreate every aspect of the house down to the light fittings.

Sprawling estate

Outside, the historic mansion's stunning grounds span 12 rolling acres (5ha) and feature a spring-fed pond, plus several outhouses that were once living quarters for slaves.

A covered porch to the rear offers shelter from the sweltering Georgia summers. However, you wouldn't realise from a photo like this that this home has a strange rumour attached to it...

An enduring mystery

According to local legend, there's much more to the grounds than meets the eye. Rumour has it that a hoard of gold is buried somewhere on the land.

No one is entirely certain who hid the potential goldmine or why, but it's an interesting tale, with some even speculating that the treasure is nestled under the foundations, although as yet, none has yet been unearthed.

Faithful finishes

A registered historic landmark, much of the home's original woodwork and period features are well-preserved. However, during the 1940s, the front porch column bases were remodelled in concrete and brick rather than their original wood.

Campbell and the team have since remedied this and restored the exterior to its past splendour.

A historic landmark reborn

Shown here repainted its original sunny yellow as part of the overhaul, this once derelict and unloved home is now reclaiming its pride.

The investors tidied up the overgrowth and landscaped the verdant grounds while preserving the 12-acre (5ha) garden’s grove of old oak and magnolia trees.

A popular holiday let

After the renovations, the palatial property enjoyed an era of activity, serving as a wedding venue, and even as a spectacular Airbnb for holidaymakers.

With all of its spaces faithfully finished to an incredibly high standard, the home was certainly ready to open a new chapter. The living room, pictured here, is hardly recognisable.

Another change in fortunes

However, in the spring of 2024, Rockwell House’s investors announced that the mansion had been put on the market and ultimately sold for $850,000 (£668k), according to Zillow's property records.

While the former owners reportedly turned their attentions to a restoration project elsewhere in Georgia, its new proprietors appear equally committed to preserving the home’s heritage, as well as to ensuring its future as an event venue and holiday rental, according to its website and new rental listing.

A bright future?

While it remains to be seen what lies in store for this historic landmark, Rockwell House seems to be in safe hands now that it has been restored and is once again a stately home.

There may or may not be any gold hiding on the property grounds, but the home's exquisite detail and rich heritage make it an architectural gem in its own right.