I have to share photos of this abandoned mansion in Rusk, Texas with you. It’s located about half a block away from the post office and across the street from the old movie theater.
Last time I saw it (the day these photos were shot), the old place was still abandoned. It’s fallen into disrepair — several window panes were broken, there’s some wood rot, and the house could use some patching and a good paint job.
According to the literature taped to the front door, the old house is apparently bank-owned.
This is what I’m assuming: the economy in Rusk is not the greatest, the house is a foreclosure, and due to its size and state of disrepair, people are not rushing in to buy it.
Still, for the right person — perhaps a couple wanting to retire in East Texas? — this house could be fixed up so nicely!
I looked inside and shot this one photo of two gorgeous doors. (I’m surprised this photo was good enough to share because the interior of the house was not well lit due to all the plywood over the windows!)
Overall, the house is in great shape, I think, from what I could tell.
The porch is in relatively good condition, and the architectural features are so pretty. I love the porches and the corbels!
Anyway, perhaps you know of someone looking for an old home to retire to and fix up? I know it’s quite common for people from the Austin, Dallas and Houston areas to retire to the more affordable East Texas.
If so, would you share this post with them?
[UPDATE AS OF 3/29/16: Per Sandy’s comment below, this house is now for sale. I verified this on Realtor.com — the home is listed for $49,999.]
Oldie but goodie. {{sighs}} Yes, I know how you feel about this place Kim. Our house is 105 years old. For sure, I understand. Saving these structures seem worth it, in big and positive ways. Especially if history is known, a bonus. On another (very important) point, one needs lots and lots of money. We are still doing tons of things after 15+ years. It’s always something. If you cannot do rehab alone, hiring a responsible team is a biggie. Huge challenge. House Hunters Renovation, and Property Brothers, etc. aren’t really around when you need them! Besides $$$, you must trust folks that do your remodel. I can easily close my eyes and picture a good sized family living in the beautiful home after it’s been all dolled up! Thanks for sharing. ; ))
I just drooled over the pictures of this home! I can see so much potential for a gorgeous home! It also makes me sad that a home such as this sits empty. But I can also understand that is would take a lot of money to bring it to where it needs to be. This is a home crying out for a DYI person who can do most of the renovations themselves. If I had the time and money, I would love to grab it and give it a go! Thank you for sharing your pictures.
Its beautiful. I hope it finds a new owner soon. Isn’t it sad that no matter where you live there are these homes just sitting waiting to be rescued. I live in a small town and there is a once beautiful Victorian sitting on the corner of our town in such disrepair that the city has tried to get involved. Once a show place and a favorite spot for new brides to have their bridal portraits taken on the staircase it literally makes my heart ache every time I drive by. You just can’t build homes like these anymore.
looks like a house for rehab addict. i hope u view her show on hgtv.
Beautiful old farmhouse! Love! Love! It! It should be against the law to tear them down!
While there’s probably quite a lot of work you’d have to put into this, what is there is left here is GORGEOUS! I’m a little jealous for whoever eventually snaps this place up, if someone does… Thanks for sharing these beautiful pics.
it makes me so sad, that a house, once a beautiful home, is allowed to die this way. Hopefully someone will see your photos, and fall in love with the house, and turn it into what it once was..
It is gorgeous but I can see the dollar signs and many many many! man hours that will be required. Just the researching(see site) that I have been doing to try and save a church/parsonage tells me this is a PRICEY project. Just finding a good substitute for all that shake if original will be mighty pricey and lucky to see 10 years from it. With the property I am looking at despite failing foundations and supporting timbers is a size that can be tackled with 12foot ladders. This property is so huge that scaffolding would have to be erected and probably stay up for a year or two. At the end of the day the few of us able to dedicate our lives to restore a home just must pass on something like this as just the cost of materials require you to work a 40 hour a week job as an attorney.
Hi Kim, thanks for posting. I’m not from TX but I’m hoping you can give an ball park figure on what a house like this is worth considering it’s condition. Your best guess will do. I looked at Zillow and it is not listed. Thanks. Have a great day!
I would love to know too! I was telling my buddy maybe if we get enough roommates together we can all tackle the project together. Who wants to buy a time share? lol
I think that the house would be worth about $150,000 – $200,000, given its size and condition. Granted, I am not a realtor, nor an appraiser.
That is certainly a beautiful house. The details are so lovely, I especially like the chimney. Aren’t there some grants available for rescuing and restoring a house like that? I have to agree with chris h. it does look like a perfect project for “the Rehab Addict’ on hgtv. Please keep us posted Kim as to what happens to this old beauty.
Kim, This place is a beauty. I’m sure it was a showplace in it’s day, as were many around Rusk. Makes me so sad to see these treasures in such bad repair. Know the $$$$$$ we have spent on our 1902 home here, and the increase in supplies since we bought it 8 years ago, you can just about triple or quadruple what we have spent to “fix” this one….but then you and Mark know all about this too! It is an expensive undertaking and you have to have a deep love for the house to do it right. Keep us posted on what happens with this home in need of TLC.
Looks like a job for Chip and Joanna Gaines. They are in Texas, would be right up their alley. What an amazing piece . I say go for it Fixer Upper. Love that show and them. I hope someone rescues it.
Wow! I am so excited to get out there FULL TIME so I can track down these wonderful finds… I only wish I could have all of them. This home has and incredible curb appeal. It has many more architectural features than our “Railroad house”. Time is flying by though and we will finally be there to live the dream we have been building! I do so love the history of the homes, the area, and the people who built such wonderful pieces of history. It is EXTREMELY expensive. Even as a previous B&B that actually did pretty well, the maintenance on a 116 year old home is incredibly challenging and quite pricey. We are slowly bringing our home around and getting it cleaned up erasing much of the neglect it suffered during the previous owner’s long absence before we found it. There is always stuff to do. Even our guest house (the original Jim Walter home in Palestine) needs much TLC. Plumbing leaks, electrical issues, freezing cold winter and sweltering summers with no insulation (at all) we love it more than we can even express! It is us and we are proud to be the stewards of such history.
Thank you for showing us this treasure! Our next trip out is set and we are actually going to get out and travel around a bit to see what lies beyond the horizon. We have been so busy on our last several trips that we never made it any further east than our own home lol. I want to see Rusk, Neches, Nacodoches, Jacksonville, and all of the little bits of heaven we can before our time runs out and we have to get home here and back to the grind. It was nice to see a post with some old house. It has been a while! Thank you!
Take care!
I have friends who grew up in Rusk. In the late 1970’s one of them lived in the apartment in the bottom right of this house. I will never forget the wonderful Summer afternoon and evening we all spent together in that place. They used the door on the little side porch as their front door. It opened into what had probably originally been a dining room. The bedroom was the front room with the bay window. The four windows on the side were the kitchen if I remember correctly. At that time the shingles on the front of the upper story were painted dark green. The interior, if memory serves me, was all wood paneling. It was pretty fabulous at the time and I think I do have a couple of pictures. How exciting to see it here!
Oh, how awesome! I love hearing more of the history of this old place. By the way, the last time we drove by this house, there was an auction announcement in front of the house. Perhaps by now, the house has a new owner.
the house is now on the market for $49,000. In case anyone wondered.
Thanks for letting me know!
Closing the loop here for future finders. Was bought and restored, appraised in 2023 for over $425k.
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/182-W-5th-St-Rusk-TX-75785/87226755_zpid/?utm_campaign=androidappmessage&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=txtshare
Love that house and delighed it was bought and restored!