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3.6
8 votes

Sauer's Castle

935 Shawnee Rd, Kansas City, Kansas 66103 USA

  • Independent
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Private Property

This location is on private property and is presented for information purposes only.

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“abandoned 19th century "castle" house”

This place is on private property. Listing for informational purposes only. Please do not visit without express permission from the land owner. Several family members died here, and paranormal sightings such as apparitions, orbs and floating lights have been reported. The Sauer Castle was the residence of Anton Sauer. Sauer had married his wife Francesca in Vienna, Austria at age 18 and a half. There, they had their five children: Gustave O.L., Anthony Philip Jr., Julius J., Emil, and Johanna. In 1858 they decided to move to New York City to be with Anton's mother and sisters that had already been there for some time. Due to his worsening case of tuberculosis and Francesca's death in 1868, he decided to move his family to Kansas City. After his business became successful, he began courting a young 28 year old widow, Mary (Maria) Einhellig Messerschmidt, who had two daughters of her own: Anna and Maria. After marrying in 1869 they had five daughters (four survived to maturity): Eva Marie, Antoinette, Josephine (sometimes listed as Fosefa), and Clara. Daughter Helen (sometimes listed as Frances) died in infancy age 14 months. By 1872 the mansion was finally fully furnished, sitting on the Shawnee Indian trail that was part of the old Santa Fe Trail that many wagons passed. After Anton's death on August 16, 1879 in the second floor master bedroom, Mary and the children continued living in the house, as did the children continue living there after Mary's death in 1919. Five generations of the Sauer family continued living in the mansion until the owner of a home heating oil company, Paul Berry, bought the house after Eve's death. He lived in the mansion until his own death in December 1986. Because of ghost stories originating in 1930, the house was constantly trespassed and vandalized, which Barry and his dog fought off themselves. NOTE: This is private property. Please respect and admire from the road.

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Reviewed by
sbutler72

  • 6 Reviews
  • 3 Helpful
August 27, 2014
Rated 4.0

I love photographing abandon buildings and this was a wonderful site. It is sad that it has been vandalized. It is supposedly being restore, but other than the sign stating that I didn't see any signs of restoration.

3 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by
Meghan

  • 30 Reviews
  • 6 Helpful
June 01, 2017
Rated 3.0

Drove by and took a quick photo from the fence. Wasn't much to see.

2 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by
sara.coe.71

  • 1 Review
  • 2 Helpful
July 27, 2014
Rated 4.0

Amazing! So sad it is in such disrepair. A wonderful piece of history rotting away, sadly. Amazing sight.

2 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by
brendajo.rodgers

  • 1 Review
  • 0 Helpful
June 11, 2014
Rated

Beautiful.

1 person found this review helpful

Reviewed by
apryl.yoder

  • 1 Review
  • 1 Helpful
January 07, 2014
Rated

This would make an amazing Inn! The Sauer Castle Inn and Bistro! ;-)

1 person found this review helpful

Reviewed by
kszymanski72

  • 1 Review
  • 1 Helpful
November 14, 2013
Rated

Everyone who has lived in Kansas City knows about this place and we have all tried to break in it in our youth. Honestly I wish the current owner would just sell it off because I know they do not care. Haunted? Doubted. Neglected...definitely. This house perhaps has one of the most beautiful views of our great city. Now all of us our residences try to do is break in the place. Sad.

1 person found this review helpful

Reviewed by
MeeshaRene

  • 12 Reviews
  • 2 Helpful
July 06, 2017
Rated 4.0

This is on a fairly busy road and it has a little place on the side you can pull over to take pictures. It is very spooky looking and right down the street from my Mom's new house so a great first road trip stop for us. The caretaker came out with his dog and said we could feel free to take pictures. He seemed very nice. We just took some pictures and left. I hope they actually do restore it and start tours. I'm afraid this gem will be lost if not restored soon. Worth a look if you go through KCK.

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  • 1 Review
  • 0 Helpful
March 12, 2015
Rated 5.0

Beautiful home! Grew up in the area, created a Facebook group for the castle and shared your story: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Sauer.Castle/

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Sauer's Castle

935 Shawnee Rd
Kansas City, Kansas
66103 USA
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