An over-the-top Tampa Bay home that once belonged to W.K. Kellogg, the wealthy cereal magnate who invented Corn Flakes, is scheduled for demolition.
Located at 129 Buena Vista Drive South, in Dunedin, "The Kellogg Mansion" was built in 1925, at the peak of the Roaring '20s, and as you can see from the photos, the styles pretty much vary from room to room. Every room, regardless of era, drips with old money flourishes. There are tile mosaics of ancient kings above nearly every doorway. Columns end in gold accents. Massive stained glass windows throw light on dark wood studies. It's gorgeous and it's not long for this world.
According to the Tampa Bay Times, the home has been purchased and a permit to demolish the structure has been filed. Knowing Florida real estate, we can expect these frescoes and painted floors to be replaced with some all-white marble monster, wasting precious space with a massive and lifeless grand foyer. You know the drill if you've ever been to a lawyer's house.
The 7,667-square-foot home that currently sits on the land is registered on the National Register of Historic Places. It has five bedrooms and seven bathrooms, as well as a game room with an antique bar and glass-domed ceiling, a rooftop terrace, a hot tub, a deep water dock, and 300 feet of seawall along St. Joseph's Sound.
Kellogg, who died in 1951, was said to have invented Corn Flakes while working at his family's sanitarium in Battle Creek, Michigan. The flakes were made in secret, but he allowed sanitarium guests to observe his process, including a guy named C.W. Post, who , as the story goes, later stole his idea and founded Post Consumer Brands, which became General Mills.
Photos via Realtor.com
