Mount Vernon - 4009 W. Lawther Drive, Dallas, TX

Magnificent Lakefront Manor on Ten Beautiful Acres

Mount Vernon - 4009 W. Lawther, Dallas TX

A Historic Dallas Residence

Eight miles northeast of downtown Dallas, on ten graceful acres facing picturesque White Rock Lake, sits Texas' most famous estate, Mount Vernon, a larger replica of the national landmark.

January 1, 1938, legendary oilman H.L. Hunt moved his family into the neoclassical Georgian home, built in 1930. Specimen live oak and pecan trees planted by Mrs. Hunt still grace this majestic property.

Additions to the house during the six Hunt decades included one of Dallas' first private residential pools, pool house, tennis courts, guest house, garage, and utility buildings - all air conditioned space, a residential rarity at that time.

In 2000, current owners John and Teresa Amend began meticulous renovation of the house, outbuildings and grounds, completing the massive restoration in 2002. During that time, a new two story guest house was completed, plus a showroom garage. In 2004, the nation's finest professionally equipped private bowling center hosted its inaugural event.

Much of the original structure remains - wood floors, doors and paneling, foot-thick concrete walls, marble fireplaces and hearths, a remarkable "Spirit of America" mural. The timeless aura of comfort and livability is reinforced with technology and amenities for today's lifestyle.

Dallas' most famous estate is irreplaceable. Its appeal as a residential retreat and incomparable entertaining venue is established and cherished, and its legend is enduring.

Main House

The magnificent manor comprises approximately 10,500 square feet in a classic L-shape floorplan. Easily accessible is additional attic storage and a 2,700 square foot basement with elevator, full bath, laundry and climate controlled wine storage.

Natural light suffuses the first and second floors through traditional multipane windows. A great Palladian arch window provides additional light to the half floor landing. Original wainscoting, molding and plank floors establish the timeless character of the space, flanked by the formal living and dining rooms. A vault passage marks the original back of the house, now graced by a sunlit garden room, with floor-to-ceiling windows viewing the west grounds and tennis courts.

Adjacent through an arched doorway, both the living room and morning room feature original semi-rouge marble fireplaces, two of nine total in the house. Hand carving is evident on the pristine mantel in the library, with original Red Gum wood paneling and shelving.

In addition to celebrating lake views, the dining room charm is derived from the unique "Spirit of America" mural whose counterpart is in the White House. Months of painstaking restoration reclaimed its original beauty.

Original wide plank floors yield to herringbone brick in the kitchen and family areas. Brick columns and shelter over the professional Wolf range add texture to the stained cabinetry and furniture-style storage. With panoramic views of the lake and east garden, a less formal dining room is situated in the corner with an open flow to the small family room. The livability ease continues into the large family room, with brick hearth and fireplace, wet bar with wine storage, and French doors to a broad patio.

Second level living via stairway or elevator encompasses three bedroom areas. The main grand stairway culminates in a library, wrapped with floor-to-ceiling built in book cases and a spectacular view of the lake.

The master suite with fireplace and lake view includes a reading room or office with coffee bar, and master bath with spa amenities and heated Bianca Carrera marble floors.

The east wing comprises two lake view bedroom and bath suites. The north wing features two bedrooms with fireplaces and private baths. Between the two bedroom wings are a mirrored exercise room with full bath and marble steam room with professional Steam Mist technology.

A private stair provides access to the south roof deck, for breathtaking unobstructed views of the great lawn, lake and glorious sunsets.

The rolling lawn and gardens are home to magnificent specimen pecan and live oak trees, some nearing their first century. Seasonal color gardens, Japanese maple and dogwood trees grace the grounds.

Guest House and Garage

Completed in 2002 and located just north of the main house, the 4,200 square foot guest house is a symmetrical two story structure with verandas, the east facing azalea gardens and one of two putting greens, and the west overlooking the tennis courts, gardens and pool.

A favorite gathering place for viewing major sports events, the first level has informal dining and wine tasting areas ideal for entertaining, with fireplace and prep kitchen, slate floors, and big media room with fireplace Five pairs of French doors on the east and west sides afford abundant light plus access and views of the east gardens and tennis court/pool areas.

With oak hardwood floors that were original to the main house, the upstairs floor plan is centered by a full kitchen with custom tile counters and backsplash. Two west facing bedrooms with sloping ceilings and baths with tub/shower combination have French doors that open to a balcony. Two east side bedrooms have the same dramatic ceiling and baths with showers. An exterior stair is on the east side near the driveway.

Next to the guest house, six sets of massive double arched glass doors mark entry points from the exposed aggregate drive to the 4,800 square foot showroom garage, styled as a giant carriage house, with capacity for 16 vehicles or seated dining for 300 guests. Completed in 2002, with full bath, polished scored and stained concrete floor and narrow groove wood cathedral ceiling; the air conditioned space has two NCAA collapsible glass backboards at either end. Upon completion of the extensive estate renovation in 2002, the respected Dallas Historical Society hosted a black tie seated dinner in the new carriage house showroom, where members of the Hunt family shared their personal memories of Dallas' best known home.

An adjacent wash bay with separate entry is designed as part of the carriage house, with a staff office and grounds care garage positioned on the opposite side of the driveway.

On the west side of the carriage house is the central utility and engineering plant housing electrical and telephone service. The central chilled water system and boiler serves the main and guest houses. The pool house and bowling center each has regular residential split systems.

West Buildings

West of the main house, a broad stone walkway leads through gardens past the lighted tennis courts to a 1,200 square foot pool house, with palazzo facing the heated pool and continuing about the perimeter. Window walls create a bright interior with slate floor, partial kitchen featuring granite counters and stainless appliances, cross beamed ceiling and two full baths. The pool, with decking seamlessly flowing from that of the pool house, has a large limestone fireplace at the northeast corner, balanced by a gazebo on the southeast edge. Bordering the pool is a multi-hole putting green.

The shared entertaining area features an outdoor kitchen with grill, large fireplace and professional wood fired Renato pizza oven.

Adjoining is the incredible 4,700 square foot bowling center, completed in 2004 in consultation with Brunswick Corporation, the nation's leading bowling supplier. It is among the largest, if not the largest, best equipped private bowling facility in the nation. Without peer as an entertainment venue, the four regulation lane center has electronic scoreboards and pin setting, flat screen television monitors, a boardwalk photo booth, full soda fountain with triple cooler, plus cocktail tables and chairs. Another national first for residential installation is the colorful Touchtune digital jukebox, currently with over 500,000 songs available through a concert hall quality sound system. Up to 150 guests can be comfortably acommodated. Its popularity is attested by over 400 events held there since completion.

Following the center's inaugural in 2004, attended by VIP guests from around the nation, Dallas retail icon Neiman Marcus sought permission to feature the unique facility as the highly publicized " His and Hers " luxury gift in their famed Christmas catalog.

Many Dallas business leaders enjoy regular competition in the Executive Bowling League established by Mr. Amend, an activity that also attracts guest sports professionals.

Specifications

Overall Description: 5 Bedrooms / 6 Full Baths, 1 Half Bath / Formal Dining Breakfast Room / Study / Library / Exercise Room / Garden Room / Game Room-Media Room / 2 Private Sitting Areas / Wine Storage / Basement / Bowling Center / Pool / Cabana / Guest House / 9 Bay Garage

Square Footage: 10,511 Sq. Ft. Per Appraiser (Main House)

Main House: (10,511 sq. ft. 5 bedrooms / 6.1 baths / 4 living areas / Formal Dining / Breakfast / Study / Library / 2 Private Sitting Rooms / Exercise Room / Basement / Wine Storage

First Floor: Entry – 24 x 14; Formal Living – 30 x 20; Formal Dining – 19 x 15; Kitchen – 25 x 17; Breakfast Room – 17 x 14; Small Family Room – 18 x 15 (off kitchen); Large Family Room – 31 x 24; Garden Room – 19 x 13; Study – 16 x 16; Prayer Room – 15 x 12

Second Floor: Master Bedroom – 20 x 20; Master Sitting Room – 15 x 12; 2nd Bedroom – 20 x 14; 3rd Bedroom – 15 x 14; 4th Bedroom – 21 x 14; 5th Bedroom – 26 x 14; Exercise Room – 27 x 15; Library – 16 x 14

Attic: Storage – 30 x 12

Basement: Wine Storage 1 – 31 x 7; Wine Storage 2 – 9 x 9; Laundry / Utility Area 20 x 30

Guest House: (4,168 sq. ft. 4 bedrooms / 4.1 baths / Gameroom / Dining / Wine Tasting Room)

First Floor: Gameroom / Media Room – 34 x 20; Storage – 9 x 8; Dining Room / Wine; Tasting Room – 24 x 17; Kitchenette – 17 x 10

Second Floor: Kitchen – 12 x 11; Breakfast 11 x 9; Bedroom 1 – 22 x 12; Bedroom 2 – 22 x 12; Bedroom 3 – 20 x 12; Bedroom 4 – 17 x 12

Bowling Center: (4,668 sq. ft.); 4 Bowling Lanes; Bar Area; Half Bath

Cabana: (1,228 sq. ft.- Party Area / Kitchenette / Men's Bath / Ladies' Bath); Party Area – 28 x 25; Kitchenette 13 x 9

Utilities Building: (1,002 sq. ft.)

Show Garage: (4,760 sq. ft.)

Property Manager Offices: (815 sq. ft.); Garage – 26 x 19; Office 1 14 x 9; Office 2 11 x 9