Lake Forest’s palatial Morton Salt estate returns asking $7.9M

The slow-to-sell historic mansion has seen its price widely fluctuate for the better part of a decade

By Jay Koziarz Aug 31, 2017, 1:43pm CDT

The historic and architecturally significant Morton estate is once again up for grabs in suburban Lake Forest, Illinois. Designed by renowned Chicago area architect David Adler for Morton Salt Company founder Joy Morton’s daughter in 1915, the neo-French Provincial style mansion imitates the sort of 17th century opulence commonly associated with King Louis XVI.

Situated on two-plus acres of wooded North Shore real estate, the 11,000-square-foot manor features a gated private driveway, eight bedrooms, eleven bathrooms, formal gardens, a tennis court, and a swimming pool—inflatable golden swans presumably sold separately.

The slow-to-sell property first hit the market in June 2010 asking $7.9 million. After receiving new electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems, the home re-listed for $8.9 million in 2014. The sprawling estate subsequently raised its price as high as $11 million before taking a huge chop all the way down to $4.9 million last summer.

Reappearing this week for $7.9 million, Lake Forest’s famous Morton Estate seems to have come full circle by returning to its original 2010 price. After a year of failing to land a buyer at $4.9 million, the home’s sudden $3 million price increase might be a rather optimistic move on the part of its owners.